15s split, must win to remain alive

Mifflin County faces Broomall-Newtown today at 11 a.m.

WILLIAMSPORT -- The Mifflin County Babe Ruth 15-year-old All-Stars almost pulled off a stunner on Sunday.

Mifflin County gave the defending state champions everything they wanted as they dropped a 3-0 game to Altoona in the Pennsylvania Babe Ruth state tournament.

Mifflin County plays today at 11 a.m. against Broomall-Newtown. Miffllin County must win to stay in the tournament and make the final four.

Altoona scored a run in the second and added two more in the third.

Mifflin County just couldn't get a run across as it left seven men on base and in three innings had two men on, but just couldn't score

Aidan Arnold led the Mifflin County batters with two hits, while Clay Ammon, Logan Alexander and Aidan Attivo each had a single.

Attivo threw the first five innings for Mifflin County as he gave just five hits, walked one and struck out two. Jacob Ross came in threw two shutout innings as he gave up just one hit.

"Our pitchers did a good job. Aidan was really good and Jake (Ross) came in and did a good job, too. Jake only threw a small number of pitches." said Josh Snook, the Mifflin County manager. "We just couldn't string together enough hits to score."

Altoona scored its two runs in the third on a single, a hit batter, a sacrifice bunt. a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch.

In the second, Altoona scored its lone run as Jay Alracane reached on an error and Caden Gibbons doubled him home.

Saturday

Mifflin County 2, Scranton 1

WILLIAMSPORT -- Finally.

Last year as 14-year-olds, the Mifflin County Babe Ruth team went 1-3 and dropped three games by scores of 4-3, 4-3 and 8-6.

On Saturday in the opening game of the 15-year-old Pennsylvania Babe Ruth tournament, Mifflin County came through with a close victory, 2-1 over Scranton.

Cole Keister got the start and pitched five innings and got the win. He gave up the lone run on just three hits. He struck out four and walked three.

Clay Ammon got the save. He went the final two innings. He gave up three hits and struck out one.

"I was very pleased with our pitching today," said Josh Snook, the Mifflin County manager, "Cole pitched a great game and Clay came in and did the job right behind him."

Scranton scored its only run in the fourth inning. Gavin Ferguson and Caiden Berardi singled to open the inning. Berardi moved up to second and third on fielder's choices. Mark Russo was on first thanks to one of those and then Russo and Berardi pulled off a double steal.

Mifflin County's Hayden Yoder had a great day as he filled up the numbers in his box score. He scored a run, tripled, knocked in a run, walked and had a stolen base.

He opened the first by getting on base on a fielding error and then went to second on the same play on a throwing miscue. Ammon singled to left and when the Scranton left fielder let the ball get by him, Yoder scored

In the third, Max Weader started the inning off with a single. moved to second on a ground out and went to third on a wild pitch. Yoder then knocked Weader home with a triple.

Mifflin County finished with five hits. Kaden Walter and Logan Alexander each had singles in the fourth inning.

Aidan Arnold (Mifflin County's catcher) had a big day behind the plate as he threw out two runners, one in the first and one in the third.