By RAY WILDE

Sports correspondent

This is the second story in a series about the 25 state championships won by the Mifflin County Babe Ruth League. Mifflin County holds state records for most state titles. 25; most state runners-up, 28; most times in the state finals, 53 and most times in the Pennsylvania Final Four, 90.

1980s

The Mifflin County 14-15-year-old All-Stars won their title at home. The 13-year-olds had to win on the road to complete the sweep. The tournament was located in Royersford. Mifflin County lost its second game of the tournament 15-2 to Caln Township.

Needless to say, the Bill Corbin-coached team had to work its way back. Mifflin County had to win three games in a row to get to the state finals. In succession, Mifflin County beat Broomall-Newtown, 5-4; Mountain Top, 15-6 and Middletown Township, 15-3.

Waiting for Mifflin County was Caln Township. In the first game of the finals, Mifflin County won 15-2 to even the score. Then in the last game of the tournament, Mifflin County pulled out the state title, 7-5 in eight innings. Some of the highlights during the week included Brian Fultz’s game-winning hit against Broomall-Newtown; a home run from John Weber in the big win against Caln and Kris Hagemeyer’s relief pitching.

It marked the first sweep of the state for Mifflin County.

1990s

It didn’t take long for Bill Corbin to get his second state championship. Three years to be exact. This one occurred in a small town in the northern part of the state, Westfield.

Mifflin County won its first three games in the state tourney to reach the state finals, beating Drexel Hill, 8-4; Wellsboro, 15-8 and Hazleton, 2-1. Phoenixville won the first game of the finals, 8-4 and led going into the bottom of the seventh in the second game, 4-1.

Phoenixville never recorded an out in the seventh. Brad McCardle drove in the winning run, which was scored by Chris Hartley. Bobby Smith was the winning pitcher. During the tournament, Mifflin County got key production from Josh Garver, Jason Hassinger and Eric Yoder.

The 1997, 14-15-year-old state tournament was held at the Armagh Memorial Field. It turned out not to be Philadelphia’s favorite field. Mifflin County won the title, beating four straight teams from the Philadelphia area. Mifflin County beat Drexel Hill, Caln Township, Levittown and then Broomall-Newtown for the title.

The Drexel Hill win was especially big to open the tourney. Two years before as 13-year-olds Drexel had beat Mifflin County, 16-0. Drexel Hill then went on to win the regional and finish third in the nation.

Broomall-Newtown won the first game of the finals, 6-5. forcing a ‘if necessary’ game. But, Mifflin County responded with a 14-6 win for the state title. Kenny Wagner hit a three-run homer and Chris Keefer had three hits. Todd Yoder picked up the win on the mound.

The manager of the team was Dave Wolfkill. It was his first state title.

Two years later at home Mifflin County claimed its ninth state championship. The manager was Bruce Brumbaugh.

Mifflin County trailed 6-4 going into the bottom of the seventh of the first game of the state finals against Broomall-Newtown. Mifflin County pulled out the win with some clutch hitting. The first two key hits came from Tom Baughman and Jason Mattern. Mifflin County also received two walks to aid the big inning. With two outs, Jason Cunningham came through with a two-run single to win the state title.

Mifflin County got some strong pitching efforts from Mattern, Cody Zong and Kris Armstrong during the week-long tournament,

Seven of the players came from McVeytown. Later on they would be named the “McVeytown Seven”, and would help lead Lewistown High School to a state title in 2002.