Sentinel photo by BOB HOCKENBROCK Mifflin County’s softball team celebrates after winning the District 6 championship. The Huskies topped Central Mountain, 14-10.

By Kenny Varner

Sports correspondent

LEWISTOWN — When the season comes to an end for this year’s Mifflin County softball team they will be remembered for never giving up and refusing to let their record stop them from making it to this year’s D6 5A championship game. They’ll also be remembered for being 2026 District 5A champs.

On Thursday afternoon, the underdog Lady Huskies went head-to-head for the third time this season against Central Mountain for the District 6 title.

In their previous two attempts, Mifflin County fell short. They were hoping the third time would be the charm.

And it was.

It would be a night the Huskies would never forget as they upset the Wildcats, 14-10, to punch their ticket to the next round and add to its distinguished list of championship wins.

Offense paved the way to the Mifflin County win as they finished with 17 hits. Piper Specht’s 2-run home run in the seventh all but clinched it for the Huskies squad. Mifflin County got multiple hit efforts from Malaina Maxwell (2-for-3 three runs), Ava Baker (4-for-5 four RBIs, three runs), Piper Specht (3-for-4, four RBIs), Macy Pietzsch (3-for-5, run), Mya Felmlee (2-for-4 three RBIs).

“You know, everyone looks at our record and looks at the scores, and if you’re looking on paper, our record’s not that good, but these kids just fight, they’re fighters. We’re fighters. I can’t even put into words,” said Mifflin County coach Craig Weston.

“They just fight, man. And we told him it doesn’t matter what has happened in the past, it’s about the future. And we had adversity today.”

Pitching for Mifflin County was Addisyn Velez as she did battle in the circle against Camdyn Weaver.

In the first, Mifflin County started as the away team.

Leadoff hitter Malaina Maxwell walked to start the game.

Ava Baker blasted a triple to score Maxwell.

Baker scored the Huskies second run on a Piper Specht RBI sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Central Mountain also got their leadoff hitter on base in the bottom of the inning when Aubrey Eiler reached on a Huskies’ miscue.

With two out, Eiler stole second and moved up to third on a Mifflin County overthrow. But she was left stranded.

Defensively, the Wildcats set down Mifflin County 1-2-3 in the second.

Aubrey Miller led off the Central Mountain’s part of the second reaching on another Mifflin County error.

With two out, Payton Hall kept the inning going with a walk.

Charlee Probst loaded the bases with a walk of her own, setting the stage for Eiler.

Eiler brought in three on a stand-up double to right center. Eiler moved to third on a wild pitch.

Cirstyn Watson kept things going with a walk of her own. Eiler scored on an overthrow at second trying to catch Watson stealing. Watson would be gunned down at third trying to advance.

Going into the third, the Wildcats jumped into the lead 4-2.

Maxwell posted the team’s second hit in the third as she hit a hard smash into shallow right field.

Maxwell scored from first on an error by the Wildcats, cutting it to 4-3. She slid under the catcher’s glove to pick up the run.

Wyland scored on another collision on a hit by Piper Specht.

Carly Dickson kept the momentum going as she hit a double into centerfield, putting runners on second and third.

Going into the bottom of the inning Mifflin County tied the contest at four.

The Wildcats gained threatened via a Weaver was hit by a pitch and Miller singled.

But the Huskies defense settled in, leaving the runners stranded.

Velez started the inning with a single that ricochet off the Wildcat pitcher.

Mya Felmlee blasted a single into right.

However, the Wildcats shut the Huskies down to take the tie into the bottom of the fourth.

The Huskies jumped back into it as Ava Baker led off things in the fifth with a double. She scored when Specht went to the opposite field.

She was replaced by pinch runner Emily Shirey. Dickson kept the rally going with a single of her own. Macy Pietzch hit a seeing-eye infield single to load the bases. Velez reached on a Wildcats error. All with nobody out.

With the bases loaded, Felmlee blasted a three-run double to clear the bases and put Mifflin County up 9-4.

Lexi Trutt followed with a bloop single to centerfield.

Batting for the second time in the inning, Baker brought in Trutt and Felmlee on a bloop hit over the second basemen’s head, increasing the lead to seven runs.

Trailing 11-4, the Wildcats started their charge at the Huskies’ lead. Central Mountain added three in the fifth and three in the sixth to cut the Mifflin County lead to 11-10.

But the night belonged to the Lady Huskies as they were able to score three in the seventh. The game was clinched with a Specht 2-run home run. When it was time for the Wildcats’ last at-bats, Mifflin County led 14-10.

That was all the Velez would need as she put the Central Mountain bats down 1-2-3 to clinch the D6 championship.

The Huskies will be back in action Tuesday as they travel to DuBois for a postseason play-in game.

Mifflin County 14, Central Mountain 10

MC 202 070 4 – 14 11 5

CM 040 033 0 – 10 6 4

WP: Addison Velez

LP: Camdyn Weaver

Multiple hitters: MC – Malaina Maxwell 2-for-3 3runs, Ava Baker 4-for-5 4RBIs, 3 runs, Piper Specht 3-for-4, 4 RBIs, Macy Pietzsch 3-for-5, run, Mya Felmlee 2-for-4 3RBIs. CM – Aubrey Eiler 2-for-5, 2runs, 5 RBIs, Camdyn Weaver 2-for-4 2RBIs,run. Audrey Miller 2-for-4, run,RBI.

HR: MC – Piper Specht. CM – None.

3B: MC – Ava Baker(2), Macy Pietzsch. CM – Weaver.

2B: MC – Mya Felmlee, Carly Dickson. CM – Eiler.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

SOFTBALL

Raiders drop Indians, 5-2

LEWISTOWN — No. 1 Bellefonte softball topped No. 2 Juniata on Thursday, 5-2, in the District 6 Class 4A Championship.

Bellefonte (11-8) broke a 0-0 tie with a run in the fourth frame. Then, the Raiders tacked on four insurance runs in the fifth inning.

Juniata (4-16) posted a pair of runs in the seventh frame before Bellefonte closed the door.

The Raiders had six hits and no errors. Juniata tallied six hits with two miscues.

The game was played on Mifflin County’s softball field.

Juniata went 2-11 over their final 13 games. Bellefonte won six of their past eight games.