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By RAY WILDE
Sports correspondent
WILLIAMSPORT -- It was hard to believe that it could happen two days in a row. But it did.
For the second straight day, the Mifflin County 15-16-year-old All-Stars came from behind late in a game to snatch victory away from defeat.
On Sunday, in the semifinals, Landon Pecht smashed a bases-loaded triple in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Southern New Jersey (Atlantic Shore), 5-4.
Then on Monday evening, Mifflin County scored five runs in the top of the seventh to take home the Mid-Atlantic regional championship over the host team, West End of Williamsport. 8-5.
Mifflin County will now advance to the World Series in Branson, Missouri, starting on Aug. 5.
This is the seventh time that Mifflin County has sent a team to the World Series.
Mifflin County is now tied for the state lead in that department with Broomall-Newtown and West End. However, that could change as West End and Broomall each have a team in the 14-year-old regionals and Broomall has a team in the 13-year-old regionals.
Mifflin County has now sent a team in all the age brackets to a World Series, 15-year-olds, 2002, 2004, 2018 and 2021; 14-year-olds, 2022 and 13-year-olds, 2016.
Going into the seventh inning on Monday night things didn't look good for Mifflin County. Trialing 5-2, the local All-Stars put on a rally for the ages.
Haven Bridge opened the inning with a walk. Max Trawitz erased Bridge with a fielder's choice. Maverick Smith walked and Cam Kauffman was sent into pinch run. Landon Pecht was hit by a pitch and Caden McClure was sent into pinch run for Pecht.
Jude Zook then drew a walk that scored Trawitz. Kooper Walters struck out for the second out. But, Colton Aumiller walked to score Kauffman.
Then came Liam Shaffer. The Mifflin County third baseman ripped a ball to deep left center and the runners took off. By the time the dust settled, Shaffer was at third with a triple and McClure, Zook and Aumiller were home and Mifflin County was ahead, 7-5.
And then something strange happened. West End tried to pull off the hidden ball trick and was caught. Shaffer was awarded home (on a balk) and it was 8-5.
"I just wanted to help the team win," said Shaffer of his big hit. "I want to give thanks to all my teammates for cheering us on."
Mifflin County led 2-0 for most of the game thanks to Kooper Walters. Walters opened the game with a single and stole second. Aumiller drew a walk and went to second on a stolen base. Walters was on third due to a West End throwing error. Shaffer, who finished with five RBIs, knocked home Walters with a sacrifice fly.
Walters again scored in the sixth. He led off with a single and moved to second as Aumiller struck out as the ball was out in front of the plate and the catcher had to throw out Aumiller at first. Shaffer then knocked Walters home with a base hit.
Haven Bridge controlled the West End bats for most of the game. He had to leave the sixth when his pitch count was at its end. Bridge gave up just four hits, two runs, walked four and struck out 10.
"I just wanted to help the team win," Bridge said. "I wanted us to go to the World Series. It was nice to hear all our players cheering for each other."
Bridge walked the first two men he faced in the sixth and Aumiller was sent into relief. Aumiller gave up three hits and Mifflin County had an error and a hit by pitch. The inning ended when Mifflin County's second baseman, Max Trawitz, got an out at second base and that turned into a double play as a West End runner was called out for interference.
In the seventh, Aumiller had a 1-2-3 inning. He struck out the first batter, and Collin Brandt then popped up behind the plate and Luke Shawver, the Mifflin County catcher, made a great catch for the second out.
Aumiller then got James Naughton on three straight strikes to end the game and win the regional title.
"When I first came in the sixth, I was a little nervous," Aumiller said. "But once we got the lead in the seventh, I found my groove and I was much more relaxed."
After the game, Denny Yetter, the Mifflin County manager, was all smiles.
"I'm really happy for our players. The players never gave up," Yetter said. " We were down in the seventh and came back two days in a row. We only have 13 players and they all contributed to the title. They all had different parts of the game to fulfill for us to win and they all did their jobs. Now we will be playing in Missouri.”