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By RAY WILDE
Sports correspondent
Branson, MO -- If you ever go to Branson, Missouri be sure to bring plenty of green.
This place is like Hershey on steroids.
No wonder Babe Ruth baseball has fallen in love with this place. It is very family-friendly.
There are three World Series being played here this week, the Cal Ripken 12-year-olds; 17-18-year-olds and the 15-16-year-olds.
One good omen for the Mifflin County team is that the Hawaii 12-year-olds are staying in the same hotel as the team from back home.
In 2016, in Ottumwa, Iowa and Hawaii stayed in the same hotel as Mifflin County and Mifflin County won the national championship, beating Hawaii, 5-3.
All the players and their families arrived here on Tuesday. Twelve of the families drove (it was close to a 20-hour drive). One family flew into Branson.
The team has already had two practices. Also, on Wednesday, the team has to have their pictures taken for tournament purposes. Also, the team received their new uniforms (Mid-Atlantic).
Also, the parents had a picnic-style lunch for the team with hamburgers, hot dogs and side dishes.
The games do not start until Friday, so it will be some time until Mifflin County takes the field in earnest.
On a sad note, I would like to acknowledge two recent deaths.
Larry Wolfe was a former Strodes Mills manager and All-Star manager. He managed the Mifflin County 14-year-olds in 2001 in Gettysburg. Mifflin County had a 2-2 record. Mifflin County finished second in the districts.
John Stroup, a high school classmate, passed away recently.
He was the only Stroup (from Belleville or Mifflin County) ever to make the Mifflin County All-Stars (1966, 15-year-olds).