MILROY — The Mifflin County Babe Ruth 14-year-olds looked like they were in control of the game with Broomall-Newtown Sunday night, leading 5-0 after two innings.

But Broomall-Newtwon had other plans.

Broomall scored nine runs in the third inning and went on to win 9-6.

Mifflin County will now play Northern New Jersey (Hillsborough) today at 7 p.m. in a single-elimination semifinal game. The other semifinal will have two Pennsylvania teams, Broomall and West End of Williamsport.

On Sunday, West End knocked out the defending national champion, Atlantic Shore (Southern New Jersey).

Mifflin County finished with just four hits on Sunday. Madden Weaver scored Mifflin County’s first run in the first inning as he walked, stole second and scored when Braxton Smith reached on an error.

In the second, Mifflin County came up with four runs. Gavin Powell knocked in a run with a fielder’s choice and Weaver had an RBI single. Logan Ruth smashed a two-run doubleto make it 5-0.

But in the bottom of the third Broomall sent 14 men to the plate and came away with five hits. Sean Grogan had one of the key hits, an RBI single.

Broomall’s Austin Conaty finished the second inning and then went the rest of the game. He held Mifflin County to just one more run and one hit after the third.

Mifflin County picked up a run in the fifth as Ruth got his second hit of the night. He went to second on a wild pitch and scored when Reese Christine reached on an error.

One highlight for Mifflin County was the pitching of Chase Leister. He came in and got the third out of the fourth and then kept Broomall off the scoreboard for the rest of the game. He gave up one hit and walked one.

Broomall also defeated Mifflin County in the state tournament, 9-1.

Saturday

Mifflin County 13,

Southern New Jersey 4

MILROY — Mifflin County used a strong third inning to pull away from Southern New Jersey (Hamilton) in a 13-4 win.

The victory put Mifflin County into the regional final four, which gets underway today. This is the 17th time that a Mifflin County team has made it into the Mid-Atlantic regional final four.

Hamilton jumped out on top 2-0 in the second inning and Mifflin County cut the margin in half on an RBI single by Elliott Yetter in the bottom of the inning.

Then in the third, Mifflin County sent 14 men to the plate as it scored 11 runs on six hits.

Braxton Smith had a big inning as he had two doubles and knocked in three runs. Logan Ruth also had two hits in the inning and knocked in two runs with his second base hit.

Jayden Smith had an RBI single, but the big hit in the inning that kept the rally going came from Bo Reeder, who had a pinch-hit single that produced another run in the middle of the rally.

“For the second night, Bo Reeder, came up with a big pinch hit for us,” said Bill Corbin. the Mifflin County manager.

Mifflin County finished with nine hits, but Jacob Szkubiel came in relief for Hamilton and he shut down the MIfflin County bats. After the third inning, he only gave up one more run and one hit over the last three innings.

Mifflin County’s last run came in the sixth as Reese Christine reached on an error, stole second and later scored on a wild pitch.

Yetter started for Mifflin County on the mound and he went into the fourth inning. He gave up four runs on three hits and walked four.

Chase Hartung finished for Mifflin County. He had a strong outing as he gave up just one hit, no runs, walked no one and struck out eight.

“Elliott got us off to a good start and Chase really looked good tonight,” Corbin said.

The Mifflin County defense committed just one error and turned three double plays.

Notes: This is Corbin’s third trip into a regional final four, which tied a Mifflin County league record. Scott Reigle also had three finishes in the regional final four. In 2002, the Mifflin County 15-year-olds won the title and went onto the World Series and finished in a tie for fifth in the country. In 2008, another 15-year-old team was tied for third as it lost in the semifinals. Then in 2016, the Mifflin County 13-year-olds won the regional and went on to win the national title … Corbin’s other two finishes came in 2019 as his 13-year-old team lost in the semifinals and last year he coached the 15-year-olds, who won the regional and went on to finish second in the country in the Babe Ruth World Series in Texas.