BY RAY WILDE

Sports correspondent

WILLIAMSPORT — The Mifflin County Babe Ruth 15-16-year-olds finished second in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals to West End of Williamsport, the same team that it lost to in the Pennsylvania state finals. Mifflin County finished with a 7-3 record.

The 15-16-year-olds were the 14th team to reach the regional finals. They were just the eighth team to be a regional runner-up.

Other teams that were second in the region from Mifflin County were 1960, 14-15-year-olds; 2003, 14-year-olds; 2004,13-year-olds; 2009, 15-year-olds; 2017, 15-year-olds; 2021, 13-year-olds and 2022, 15-year-olds.

This will mark West End’s seventh trip to a World Series, which is the state record. Last year, West End went to the 15-16-year-old tournament in Branson, Missouri (same site in 2025) and went 4-2.

WEST END 8, MIFFLIN COUNTY 0

WILLIAMSPORT — For the first time in either the Pennsylvania state tournament or the Mid-Atlantic Regional tourney, West End had to play a full game.

Mifflin County made West End go seven innings in the regional final before losing, 8-0, on Friday night.

Mifflin County only had one hit, a double by Karl Shirey, in the fourth. Shirey was the only base runner Mifflin County had.

West End’s Trey Damschden struck out 11 and walked no one.

“We played a much better game tonight than we did in the last meeting on Friday,” said Travis Parkes, the Mifflin County manager. “They have a great team. Their pitcher is one of the top ones in Babe Ruth baseball.”

West End scored six runs in the second and never looked back. West End had nine players get hits and finished with 13.

One highlight for Mifflin County was Lucas Shawver, the Mifflin County catcher, who threw out two runners.

MIFFLIN COUNTY 1, SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY 0

WILLIAMSPORT — Liam Shaffer, the Mifflin County regular season batting champ, is known for his hitting skills, but on Friday afternoon, he used his arm to help Mifflin County to a 1-0 victory over Southern New Jersey (Millville) in the regional semifinal.

In the sixth, Millville had the bases loaded with one out and a ball was hit to right field. Shaffer, the MC rightfielder, caught the ball and threw home for a double play.

Mifflin County won the game in the bottom of the seventh. Luke Shawver opened with a double. Jaren Kenny drew a walk. Jude Zook then hit a single to left field and when the Millville outfielder misplayed the ball Shawver raced home with the winning run.

Mifflin County only had five hits and only had two in the first four innings.

“We were not patient at the start of the game,” reflected Travis Parkes, the Mifflin County manager. “The two double plays were very big in the game. We started to work deeper into the counts as the game went on. Luke (Shawver) and Jude (Zook) came through in the last innings. Karl (Shirey) pitched a great game and we had to take him out when he ran out of pitches.”

Shirey went deep into the seventh. He allowed no runs, struck out eight, walked three and gave up four hits. Shaffer finished the game.

The other double play came in the fourth as Zook caught a line drive at shortstop and flipped to Jake Knable at second for the second out.

Mifflin County had singles from Jaden King, Wyatt Parkes and a double from Shaffer.

WEST END 15, MIFFLIN COUNTY 0

WILLIAMSPORT — It was 969 games between no-hitters thrown at the Mifflin County Babe Ruth League. This time it was only 11 games.

West End’s Nate Crowe tossed a no-hitter at Mifflin County on Thursday night in a 15-0 win that lasted just four innings due to the 15-run rule.

The last no-hitter thrown at Mifflin County was on July 4 in the same ballpark in a 14-year-old state tournament game by West End (Parker Frederick), the host team, 10-0.

Mifflin County only had two base runners. Thad Gerwick walked in the second and Jaden King walked in the fourth.

West End pounded out nine hits against three Mifflin County pitchers. The trio of pitchers also gave up nine walks.

Travis Parkes finished his first year as an All-Star manager with a 7-3 record. His overall record after two years is 22-26.