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BEAVER SPRINGS -- A group of teenagers are discovering the riches of success come with a pretty hefty price tag at times. Still, the memories their families and friends retain should be priceless.
As the Mifflin County 15-16-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars prepare for this year's World Series in Branson, Mo., the team has been frantically trying to raise $40,000 to cover the cost of expenses for the trip.
"If there are any businesses out there interested in being a part of this, please don’t hesitate to reach out," a social media post read last week. "No donation is too small. … or large. We are having the boys do most of the work, as it teaches them how much work is involved in the process. They worked hard yesterday, but we only have one more week until we leave."
Since that post, nearly 30 businesses (and counting) have reached out with mostly financial support.
You might see donation jugs out and about to help raise funds for the players from Mifflin and Snyder counties traveling to Branson, but that's a lot of coin to gather in a short period of time.
And while the league might be called the Mifflin County Babe Ruth League, the team consists of nine athletes from Mifflin County and four players from Snyder County.
Beaver Springs won this year's league title with an 18-2 record.
"We hit a lot of milestones this year," said Bo Trawitz, who serves as the team's assistant coach with Travis Zook. "It's an exceptional team."
And has reached even bigger heights when combining with the league's other All-Stars.
"It's been extra special to say the least," Trawitz added. "Having this opportunity to share this experience with him (son Max) on the field will be something we cherish for a lifetime."
Max Trawitz is the youngest player on the team at 14. He was third in the Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament with a .400 average.
After sitting out for a year, Colton Aumiller, a 16-year-old Midd-West High School student, returned to the game this year and was recognized as Most Valuable Player by the league managers after breaking the 2013 league batting record with a .647 average.
Sixteen-year-old Midd-West student Maverick Smith has also been playing with the team for several years and this year he led the regional tournament with a .462 average.
Haven Bridge, a junior at Midd-West, was recognized as Most Outstanding Pitcher in the league with a 4-0 record and 0.00 ERA.
“We just try to keep them grounded and tell them to play the way they have during the regular season,” Trawitz said of his coaching style. “It’s just a game and games are meant to be fun.”
A longtime coach, Trawitz played in a Division II College World Series game in 2000 while attending Slippery Rock University and understands the opportunity and pressure the young athletes face.
Mifflin County held a car wash and chicken barbecue on Saturday and were back at it with a food truck event on Sunday.
"The car wash and chicken (barbecue) were a huge success," the coach said Saturday.
Mifflin County plays its first game against a team from San Carlos, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 7.
To follow the Beaver Springs Babe Ruth or Mifflin County Babe Ruth 15-16-year-olds, find them on Facebook.