LEWISTOWN — Every young athlete dreams of stepping onto the varsity field and delivering the game-winning hit. But before that moment ever arrives, players need a place to grow, compete and learn what it means to represent their school.

This spring, that place finally exists for Mifflin County’s seventh- and eighth-graders.

For the first time, two Mifflin County junior high baseball teams are taking the field, marking a major step forward for the program and giving younger athletes a true scholastic baseball experience. The excitement surrounding the launch is unmistakable — and years in the making.

The newborn Huskies made their debut at home – the Mifflin County Middle School junior varsity field – on March 24 against Tyrone, with the seventh-graders winning 6-3 and the eighth-graders falling 9-3. The baseball teams, coached by John Pannizzo, Keith Baker, Bryce Dobson and Owen Mock, play on the same days, although the eighth-graders have a few more games scheduled.

Huskies varsity head coach Ray Hoppel sees the enthusiasm firsthand with the seventh- and eighth-grade teams. “We have two teams. I’m not surprised at all,” he said. “We had good turnout for our fundraising efforts and the open gyms, so the interest was pretty evident.

“It’s such an advantage for those kids to get the additional scholastic-level competition,” Hoppel added. “Every school team is an all-star team, so to have to compete against teams of that caliber day in and day out is going to force you to be a better version of yourself. I look forward to the challenge for the kids.”

The push for junior high baseball has been building for several years, and Hoppel says the timing finally felt right.

“Just been a push for it over the past few years and the time came to address it,” he explains during an informational meeting and short practice at the varsity field, where roughly 30 players show up ready to work. With that turnout, the Huskies immediately commit to forming two teams of 15 players each.

The teams begin with club status, meaning families and supporters cover costs such as uniforms, umpires and transportation. School officials expect the program to operate on a two-year probationary basis before potential full approval. Hoppel estimates it costs up to $6,000 to field one team — a significant investment, but one he believes pays off quickly in player development.

Hoppel’s coaching roots run deep in Mifflin County. He has been part of the district’s baseball landscape since 1997, serving as the first assistant and pitching coach for Lewistown Area High School’s 2002 PIAA Class 2A championship team — still the county’s only scholastic baseball state title. He later becomes the Panthers’ head coach until the 2011 merger that forms Mifflin County High School.

Now in his third season leading the varsity Huskies, Hoppel sees junior high baseball as a natural extension of the program’s growth. “It allows the kids to become familiar with some of the varsity program’s expectations and also allows them to play some additional school-level competition outside of Babe Ruth,” he said.

Currently, younger players are spread across nine Babe Ruth teams, meaning talent is scattered and players rarely compete together until high school.

The junior high teams change that dynamic immediately. They practice together, learn the same system, and begin building chemistry years before they reach the varsity level.

Scheduling is designed to support multi-sport and multi-league athletes. The junior high teams play on the same days as the varsity and JV squads, reducing conflicts and allowing players to continue participating in Babe Ruth. “They would try to play if possible on the days varsity and JV plays as not to take more days away from Babe Ruth and allow kids to play both,” Hoppel said.

Player development has always been central to Hoppel’s coaching philosophy. Beyond his scholastic roles, he has spent the past 15 years involved in nearly every level of local youth baseball — T-ball, Cal Ripken, Junior Babe Ruth, Mifflin County Eagles Travel Baseball, and even Little League softball. That experience shapes his belief that the earlier players learn the fundamentals of the Huskies’ system, the stronger the varsity program becomes.

Now, with two junior high teams officially competing, that vision is becoming reality. Seventh- and eighth-graders are wearing Huskies uniforms, taking the field together, and learning what it means to represent Mifflin County long before they reach high school.

The first pitches of the season mark more than the start of games — they mark the beginning of a new era. The junior high Huskies aren’t just playing baseball; they’re building the foundation of the program’s future, one inning at a time.

Eighth-grade roster

The roster of the Mifflin County Junior High School eighth-grade baseball team is: Gabriel Clark, Trey Cline, Wyatt Foltz, Gage Geissinger, Brayden Hess, Crue Kochenderfer, Cameron Kowalczik, Benjamin Link and Mason Mathews.

Also, Kaden Peachey, Cohen Ritchey, Quincy Scheffel, Levi Sharp, Isaac Sharp, Tanner Shawver, Kolton Yeater and Bronn Zook.

Seventh-grade roster

The roster of the Mifflin County Junior High School seventh-grade baseball team is: Nicholas Baughman, Nathan Casner, Titan Cherry, Brooks Druckenmiller, Jacob Hagemeyer, Maddon Lawson, Connor Lucas and Caleb Peachey.

Also, J. Grant Peachey, Brennyn Rhodes, Koby Scheffel, Grant Shank, Jadon Tate, Andrew Toddes and Easton Zong.

Eighth-grade schedule

March 24 Tyrone (9-3 loss)

Today Central Mountain

April 8 Altoona

April 10 at Juniata Valley

April 13 at Huntingdon

April 17 Penns Valley

April 22 at Altoona

April 25 at Central Mountain

April 29 Huntingdon

May 1 at Penns Valley

May 4 Juniata Valley

May 9 Lewisburg

*Home games start at 4 p.m. and are played on the Mifflin County Middle School JV Baseball Field.

Seventh-grade schedule

March 24 Tyrone (6-3 win)

Today Central Mountain

April 8 Altoona

April 13 at Huntingdon

April 17 Penns Valley

April 22 at Altoona

April 29 Huntingdon

May 1 at Penns Valley

May 9 Lewisburg

*Home games start at 5:45 p.m. and are played on the Mifflin County Middle School JV Baseball Field.