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ALTOONA -- The Mifflin County Babe Ruth 15-year-old all stars opened the Pennsylvania state tournament with a 2-1 win over Scranton.
On Sunday, Mifflin County played another 2-1 game, but at a much higher level.
This time, Mifflin County dropped a 2-1 game to Southern New Jersey in the Mid-Atlantic regional final. Hamilton (Southern New Jersey) will now move on to the Babe Ruth World Series in Virginia.
For the Mifflin County 15-year-olds, they will be among the top 12 finishers in the 68-year history of the league, being tied with six other second-place teams that made it to the regional finals but failed to win.
Southern New Jersey pushed across two runs in the bottom of the third inning. They put together four hits and a walk to score the runs. And all the damage came with two outs in the inning.
Cole Keister went the distance for Mifflin County. He gave up eight hits and walked only two. He struck out four.
Mifflin County made no errors behind Keister.
"Cole (Keister) pitched a great game," said Josh Snook, the Mifflin County manager, "They just got some hits that fell in. Again as we have done all tournament, we played great defense."
On offense, Mifflin County only had four hits. Ryan Anderson kept the Mifflin County bats quiet for six innings. He struck out seven and only walked one batter.
In the seventh Mifflin County came to life. Aidan Arnold walked and Trevor Miles was sent in to pinch run. Logan Alexander laid down a bunt that the pitcher couldn't handle and Miles ended up at third. Alexander stole second to put runners in scoring position.
Brett Zook then worked a full count before he fouled off pitch after pitch until he hit a ground ball toward third. Miles scored, but Zook was out at first.
Anderson was taken out after the Zook grounder. After a strikeout, Grady Hoppel walked and Jeremiah Partchey was sent into pinch run. He stole second and with two outs, Mifflin County had runners at second and third, but the next batter struck out and the game was over.
Alexander had a single in the second inning and Keister had a base hit in the third. The other two base hits came from Hayden Yoder, who had singles in the third and sixth.
Saturday
Mifflin County 6, Altoona 1
ALTOONA -- Logan Alexander had only gotten one start throughout the Mifflin County 15-year-olds' tournament trail.
Alexander started in a state game in Williamsport and went five innings in a 7-6 loss to West End of Williamsport. In that game he only gave up two runs on four hits. He was not credited with the loss as Mifflin County gave up five runs late in the game.
His second outing came on Saturday afternoon in the Mid-Atlantic regional semifinals against Altoona.
It was even better than his first.
Alexander pitched a complete game as Mifflin County stunned the host team, 6-1.
Altoona had finished in the regional final four as 14-year-olds and also were the defending state champions. Altoona came into the game undefeated as it was 3-0 in the regionals and was 5-0 in the state tournament.
Alexander kept the Altoona batters off balance. He gave up six hits and walked only two.
Mifflin County had a big third inning when it scored four runs. Cole Keister opened the out burst with a single. One out later, Mifflin County put together three straight hits from Clay Ammon, Aidan Arnold and Alexander. Alexander's single made it 1-0.
Kaden Walter walked with the bases loaded and then Aidan Attivo smashed a two-run single and it was 4-0. The only thing that stopped Mifflin County from scoring more runs was a double play.
Mifflin County added two more runs in the fifth. Walter started the rally with a base hit and Trevor Miles was sent in to pinch run. One out later Grady Hoppel reached on an error. After a strikeout, Brennan Gudio walked to load the bases. Keister then reached on an error and Miles and Hoppel scored.
In the fifth, Altoona had the bases loaded with one out, but Brady Stiner hit a hard grounder to Ammon at shortstop, who turned it into a 6-4-3 double play.
Altoona scored its lone run in the fifth inning.
"It was a great game," said Josh Snook, the Mifflin County manager. "Logan (Alexander) pitched a perfect game for us. He kept them off balance. We got the hits when we needed them.
"It was an emotional win. I'm so happy for our players."