By RAY WILDE

Sports correspondent

BEAVER SPRINGS (18-2) — The Springs had one of the deepest pitching staffs in league history. I can say that with authority since I’ve been here for 57 years. They had four legitimate starters and when they got tired, they had a bullpen that chipped in with innings. In 18 games (there were two forfeits), Beaver Springs gave up just 67 runs (3.7 per game) and had five shutouts. In nine games they held the opponent to two or less runs. The league champion ended the season on an 11-game winning streak.

BELLEVILLE (12-8) — It was an up and down season for the Big Valley Club. It was the most wins for Belleville since 2021. In fact it was the second most wins for Belleville in the last seven years. Belleville had three big wins as it beat league champion Beaver Springs once and second place Reedsville twice.

BELLTOWN (12-8) — Although there is no such award, I always try to name the “Manger of the Year” award in this column. There is no doubt who that would be this year, Keith Baker, the manager of Belltown. Belltown lost five 16-year-olds from last year’s team and got off to an 0-5 start this year. Baker’s team responded by winning 12 of the next 15 games. They beat Belleville three times, Reedsville and Burnham once. The only two losses in the last 12 games were to league champion Beaver Springs. As one manager told me, “Belltown plays hard and never gives up.” What more do you want from a team and a manager?

BURNHAM (9-11) — Burnham got off to a fast start going 5-1. On May 28 after a 6-2 win over Milroy, Burnham was just a half game out of first place. But it was all downhill after that. Burnham lost 10 of its next 14 games. In the early part of the season, Burnham did beat Belltown, 14-1 and Belleville, 11-0. Burnham ended its season on a five-game losing streak.

LEWISTOWN (7-12) — The highwater mark for Lewistown came on May 26 when it beat McVeytown,13-3. Lewistown was in first place by itself with a 6-1 record. But, from that point on the ship went down stream in a hurry as Lewistown dropped its next 10 games in a row.

Lewistown finished in a tie for seventh place.

MILROY (7-12) — Milroy ended its season with a flurry of wins, four in a row over Lewistown, Strodes Mills, McVeytown and Lewistown. Milroy had two six game losing streaks during the year. It did have some tough losses: Reedsville, 2-1, on May 15; Belleville, 12-11, on May 26; Reedsville, 6-4, on June 9 and Belltown, 8-7 on June 12 in eight innings.

MCVEYTOWN (9-10) — After McVeytown won the league last year, you knew this year would be a rebuilding year. The coaching staff did a great job in getting the young team to play together and win games. McVeytown got off to a slow start 0-2, but got a big win over Reedsville, 7-5, on May 21 for its first win. Other big victories came on May 27, 9-4 over Belltown and on June 16, 8-7 over Burnham.

REEDSVILLE (14-6) — Reedsville got off to a quick start winning five of its first six games, but a two-game losing streak late in May had Reedsville at 5-2 and in fourth place. Then they took off and won eight of nine games from May 28 to June 23 to land in second place. Reedsville had two great games against the league champs, Beaver Springs. On May 3, Reedsville had the lead going into the seventh, 6-5, and lost 7-6. Then on June 2, Reedsville went on the road and knocked off the league champs, 9-7.

STRODES MILLS (0-19) — It was a very long season for the boys from Strodes. But give them credit for staying in the game. Late in the season when asked if they wanted to forfeit the rest of the schedule, the players on the team said, “no way,” and kept on playing. It took a lot of guts to come out day after day and keep plugging away. These guys must love the game.