The Huskies were looking to make history in their District 6/7 play-in contest at Mount Aloysius College against McDowell, the same program that ended their postseason hopes a year ago. This time, the stakes were simple: win, and earn the program’s first-ever trip to the PIAA Tournament.

There was no stopping the hard-charging Huskies, who defeated the Trojans 11-1 in five innings under the 10-run rule — and they did it in grand fashion on a walk-off home run by Chase Leister.

Mifflin County sent Chase Hartung to the mound, while Jace O’Neil started for McDowell. Hartung went the full five innings, allowing only three hits.

“What you want to see from your team is growth from beginning to the end of the season,” Mifflin County coach Ray Hoppel said. “If that would have happened at the beginning of the season, maybe we chase some of those pitches, but we’ve played over 20 games now, and they’re starting to get confident at the plate. Their patience led to a good start for us, and we were fortunate to put another big number up in the second inning.”

Sentinel photos by MIKE GOSS
Mifflin County leftfielder Chase Leister makes a diving catch on Tuesday.

Hartung made quick work of the Trojans in the first, retiring them 1-2-3.

Mifflin County came out swinging. Evan Strohecker led off with a single to center. Madden Weaver moved him up with a sacrifice bunt. Jayden Smith walked, and Karl Shirey followed with another walk to load the bases.

The Huskies scored first when Leister walked to force in Strohecker. Easton Lepley drew another bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0.

McDowell answered in the second. Owen McGrath tripled into the left-field corner and later scored on a wild pitch to cut it to 2-1. But Hartung and the defense limited the damage.

Mifflin County immediately seized momentum back. Reese Christine launched a solo homer to center. Strohecker doubled, moved to third on a Weaver sacrifice fly, and scored on Smith’s RBI single. Shirey walked again, and Leister beat out an infield single to load the bases.

Sentinel photos by MIKE GOSS
Mifflin County’s third baseman Lincoln Ruble tries to apply a tag on McDowell’s Owen McGrath on a play at third.

Lepley then doubled to score Smith and Shirey. Leister scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-1, and Thad Gerwick added an RBI groundout. Ruble singled to bring Christine back to the plate for his second at-bat of the inning.

When the dust settled, the Huskies led 8-1.

Hartung continued to cruise, retiring the Trojans 1-2-3 for the second time in three innings.

“We were hoping to get at least four or five innings out of him today,” Hoppel said. “He’s pitching on a little bit of short rest, but he wanted the ball. When guys want the ball, and they’re seniors and leaders, you give it to them. You’re only going to go as far as your leadership can take you, and he’s pitched two dandies for us. Now it’s on to states for the first time.”

The Huskies were rock-solid defensively and finished with 11 hits against their former nemesis.

Sentinel photos by MIKE GOSS
MIfflin County’s Karl Shirey fires a throw to first base.

In the bottom of the fifth, Weaver doubled with two outs. Smith was hit by a pitch, and Shirey lined a single into right to score Weaver.

Then Leister delivered the moment that will live in program history — a towering home run to center to end the game and send the Huskies to the PIAA Tournament for the first time.

Mifflin County dominated from start to finish, 11-1, and punched its long-awaited ticket to the state playoffs.

Mifflin County 11 McDowell 1 (5 innings)

MCD 010 00x x – 1 3 1

Sentinel photos by MIKE GOSS
Mifflin County’s Chase Leister gets showered with water by teammates Chase Hartung, Joel Beamer and Madden Weaver after Leister hit the game-ending RBI single.

MCH 261 02x x -11 11 0

WP: Chase Hartung

LP: Jace O’Neil

Multiple hitters: MCD – None. MCH – Evan Strohecker 3-for-4, 3Runs, Madden Weaver 2-for-2 RBI, 2runs, Chase Leister 2-for-3 3RBIs, 2runs.

HR: MCD – None. MCH – Reese Christine, Chase Leister.

3B: MCD – Owen McGrath. MCH – None.

2B: MCD – None. MCH – Easton Lepley, Madden Weaver (2), Evan Strohecker.