CONGRATULATIONS M.C. 15 YEAR OLDS
Sentinel photo by LILY SHUTT
Members of the 2021 Babe Ruth World Series team are, from left to right, Front row: Coach Jeff Kanagy, Aidan Everly, Manager Bill Corbin, Landen Eichhorn, JohnPaul Pannizzo, Deakon Schaeffer, Trevor Sheaffer, Ryan Hine, Trace Brought (holding the team’s jersey in honor of Danon Beaston), Ryan Kanagy. Back row: Coach Jake Sheaffer, Coach Kalen Gearhart, Hunter Bailey, Aidan Reed, Cole Shutt, Garrett Leitzel, Chris Moon, Parker Kearns, Xavier Smith, Tucker Gill and Doug Weaver.
MC 15s finish as national runner-up By RAY WILDE
Sentinel correspondent Editor’s note: The following story is a notebook comprised of each game that Mifflin County played during the 2021 15-yearold Babe Ruth World Series in Eagle Pass, Texas. Trumbull, Connecticut 4, Mifflin County 0 EAGLE PASS, Texas — When the highlight of the game is your defense, it might be a long day at the ballpark. Mifflin County fell in the first game of the of the 2021 Babe Ruth 15-year World Series, 4-0 to Trumbull, Connecticut, on Wednesday afternoon. Mifflin County (0-1) will continue in pool play today at 5 p.m. (6 p.m. Eastern) Against East Texas, who fell to Tallahassee, Florida, 15-0 on Wednesday. Connecticut’s Sean Francoeur tossed a complete-game five-hitter against the local All-Stars. He walked no one and struck out 11. Connecticut (1-0) made no errors and Francoeur retired the side in order four of the seven innings. He threw 80 pitches. “Their pitcher was very efficient,” Mifflin County manager Bill Corbin said. “We struck out way too much and he didn’t walk anybody.” Mifflin County had five hits, but they all came from the top part of its lineup. Number-two hitter, Trevor Sheaffer, had two hits as did the man right behind him, Xavier Smith. The cleanup hitter Ryan Kanagy had the other base hit. Smith and Kanagy had back-toback hits in the first inning with two outs. Sheaffer and Smith had singles to lead off the seventh, but Mifflin County failed to score. Connecticut scored a single run in the first inning and added two more in the fourth. It wrapped up its scoring with another run in the seventh. Connecticut’s Nick Lobuono had the only extra-base hit of the game, a triple to start the fourth. Mifflin County, which only made one error, made numerous big plays on defense to keep it close. In the first, Connecticut tried a double steal and Tucker Gill, the MC second baseman, gunned done a runner at home plate. In the second, Smith went from
his third base position deep in to foul territory to get the third out of the inning. Smith and Gill pulled off a 5-4 double play in the third and Gill took care of two outs on an unassisted double play in the fourth. Landen Eichhorn, in relief of Ryan Hine, picked off a runner in the fifth. JohnPaul Pannizzo made a great running catch in right field to end the sixth. In the seventh, Mifflin County executed a run down final out of the inning. “We had a lot of good defensive plays,” Corbin said. “I told the team you have nothing to hang your heads about. We didn’t score and it doesn’t matter how good you are on defense, you can’t win without any runs.” NOTES – Mifflin County is now 3-2 in opening games in the World Series……..Belleville’s Bob Mowery, a coach, did not make the trip to Texas. He was replaced on the staff by Beaver Springs’ Jake Sheaffer……….The last time Mifflin County was shutout in the World Series was by Jefferson Parish, Louisiana in 2004 (15-year-olds), 9-0. Jefferson Parish went on to win the national title……..Pennsylvania’s record in the World Series against Connecticut is now 4-4; other states that Mifflin County include Texas, Washington and Florida. Mifflin County is 3-3 against Texas, 13-4 against Washington and 3-7 against Florida. Eichhorn gave up his first run in 20 innings for Mifflin County in the seventh. Mifflin County 19, East Texas 1 EAGLE PASS, TEXAS — The Mifflin County Babe Ruth 15-year-old All-Stars struggled in its opener during their tournament run to get extra-base hits. But two players have been ‘double trouble’ for the opposing pitchers, Doug Weaver and Tucker Gill. On Thursday in the Babe Ruth World Series, Weaver and Gill set the tone for Mifflin County as it beat East Texas, 19-1. The game was stopped after five innings due to the 10-run rule. Mifflin County will take on Kelso, Washington, today at 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. Eastern) in its third game in pool play. Weaver and Gill had combined for 11 doubles going into the game on Thursday. In the first inning, the two hit back-to-back doubles in helping
Sentinel photo by LILY SHUTT
Mifflin County’s Garrett Leitzel delivers a pitch during the 15-year-old Babe Ruth World Series in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Mifflin County take a 3-0 lead. That lead was just the start of a hitting avalanche that gave Mifflin County 19 runs on 14 hits. Before the game was over, 10 players had hits and Mifflin County had eight hits for extra bases. Gill led the way with three hits including two doubles and he drove in five runs. Weaver also had two hits and both of them were doubles. Trevor Sheaffer and Deakon Schaeffer each had two hits. Both Schaeffer’s circled the bases on an error but got thrown out at the plate trying to score on the play and also drove a double in the victory. Garrett Leitzel and JohnPaul Pannizzo also had hits go for extra-bases with each of them recording a double. Manager Bill Corbin appreciated all the hitting, but he was also pleased with what he saw on the mound. Trace Brought started and got the win. He gave up a run on two hits. He struck out four and had two walks. Aidan Reed finished the game in the fifth with three strikeouts. “Trace (Brought) pitched a great game,” Corbin said, “He threw strikes. Today was a step up
in competition and tomorrow will be a step up. I thought Aidan did a real good job in the fifth inning. We threw strikes today and didn’t commit any errors. As a team we hit well.” NOTES: Ryan Kanagy became the league’s 29,000th official atbat with his fielder’s choice in the fourth inning…..Corbin now joins three other Mifflin County managers, who now have won games on all four levels — the district, state, regional and national levels…….. It was five years ago that the Mifflin County 13 year-olds won their first game in Ottumwa, Iowa. In that game Ethan Eichhorn and now his brother, Landen, got their first wins on the same date. Mifflin County 6, Kelso, Washington 1 EAGLE PASS, Texas–The Mifflin County Babe Ruth 15-yearolds have won a lot of big games this summer on the tournament trail. They beat Centre County in the opening game of the state tournament, 8-2; Mifflin County came from behind to edge Broomall-Newtown, 6-5, in a key state game and in the Mid-Atlantic regional final, it downed Centre County again, 9-3.
But, on Friday, it might have won its biggest game of the postseason, as it downed Pacific Northwest (Southern Washington) 6-1. The win boosts the chances of Mifflin County making it into the single elimination play starting on Monday. The local All-Stars have one game remaining in pool play as they take on Southeast (Florida) at noon on Sunday. Mifflin County used its two ace pitchers to gain the win on Friday–Garrett Leitzel started and Landen Eichhorn finished. Leitzel went the first five innings. He gave up just one run on four hits. He walked only two batters and struck out nine. Eichhorn came in and took over and finished the game. He gave up no runs and no hits. He hit one batter and walked one. “Garrett (Leitzel) pitched a good game,” said Bill Corbin, the Mifflin County manager, “He had a real strong three innings, but the heat was getting to him in the fourth and fifth. Landen (Eichhorn) came in and does what he has been doing for us since we started back in July.” Mifflin County got on the See Series / Page D2
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Series
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Wednesday, September 1, 2021
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board first as Trevor Sheaffer reached on an outfield error. Tucker Gill sacrificed him to third on a bunt. Xavier Smith reached on an error and Sheaffer came home with Mifflin County’s first run. In the second, Mifflin County added three more runs on just two hits. Deakon Schaeffer walked, stole second and went to third on an overthrow. He later came home on a balk. But, the balk call would play a part in the next Mifflin County run too. Aidan Reed singled and Eichhorn followed with a bunt single. Reed later scored on another balk call. Eichhorn moved up to second on a Leitzel bunt. He later came home on a passed on ball. Pacific Northwest changed pitchers after the second inning. Easton Marshall kept the Mifflin County bats on hold until the sixth. Trevor Sheaffer opened the fifth with a lead off triple and one out later Smith knocked him home with a double. With two outs in the seventh, Reed singled. JohnPaul Pannizzo was sent into pinch run. Pannizzo stole second and another pinch hitter, Chris Moon, came through with an RBI single giving Mifflin County another insurance run. Mifflin County finished with eight hits with Reed and Ryan Kanagy each getting two. NOTES: Not including the current team, three of the first four teams that Mifflin County has sent to a World Series have made single elimination play. The only team that didn’t make it was in 2004 (15-yearolds) when it was knocked out in the last game of pool play in the bottom of the eighth inning on a two run homer… Mifflin County now has played teams from the state of Washington five times and has four wins… This Mifflin County team has now scored 124 runs and is seventh… The three All-Star teams (13, 14, 15) have now combined for a 21-6 record good enough for 10thplace. In 2019, Mifflin County was 20-13… In 13 games, Mifflin County has only given up 33 runs and has never given up more than five in one game (three times). Tallahassee, Florida 10, Mifflin County 6 EAGLE PASS, Texas — It was not the way Mifflin County manager Bill Corbin had hoped to end pool play in the 2021 Babe Ruth 15-year-old World Series. Mifflin County fell to Florida (Tallahassee) 10-6, Sunday afternoon. The local All-Stars will play North Dakota or Mississippi in the single elimination part of the tournament on Monday at 8 p.m. (9 p.m. Eastern Standard time). “Today we just gave up too many walks and hit batters and we made too many errors, Corbin said, “At this level, you just can’t make that many mistakes.” Mifflin County used five pitchers and they gave up 12 hits, four walks and hit four batters. On top of that,
Sentinel photo by LILY SHUTT
Mifflin County’s Ryan Hine delivers a pitch against New England in the opening round of the Babe Ruth World Series on Wednesday afternoon in Eagle Pass, Texas.
the Mifflin County defense committed six errors. Florida jumped out to a 3-0 lead and the Florida pitcher, Dillon Blair, retired the first 10 batters he faced. Finally with one out in the fourth, Trevor Sheaffer smashed a triple and came home on a Tucker Gill sacrifice fly to put Mifflin County on the board. Mifflin County then cut the Florida lead to a single run in the top of the fifth. Ryan Hine walked and Deakon Schaeffer was hit by a pitch. JohnPaul Pannizzo then drilled a single to make it 3-2.
Eichhorn reached on an error and Bailey drew a walk to load the bases. Trevor Sheaffer then came through with a two-run hit “We kept fighting,” Corbin said, “But we kept scoring and so did they. We have our work cut out for tomorrow. It’s now do or die.” NOTES: Mifflin County used five pitchers. Doug Weaver got the start and he was followed by Aidan Reed, Trace Brought, Pannizzo and Moon… Mifflin County has now played Florida four times (all the teams were from Talla-
Dakota, 2-1, Monday night. The local all-stars will take on Trumbull, Connecticut, Tuesday at 9 p.m. Mifflin County loss to Trumbull 4-0 in the first game of pool play. It will be in the national semifinal for the 15-yearold age group. With one out in the seventh, Landen Eichhorn singled, but he was erased on a Trevor Sheaffer fielder’s choice. Tucker Gill followed with a base hit and then Xavier Smith ripped a two-run double giving Mifflin County the one-run margin. North Dakota scored its
Sentinel photo by LILY SHUTT
Mifflin County’s Xavier Smith, right, attempts to put a tag on New England’s Matt Wood at second base during the team’s opening game of pool play.
But, in the bottom of the fifth, Florida sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six times. Mifflin County aided the Tallahassee cause with two errors, a walk and a hit batter. The Florida bats did some damage too with five hits. Mifflin County added two runs in the sixth as Hunter Bailey led off the inning with a single. Trevor Sheaffer picked up his second hit of the day with a single. Xavier Smith also helped the cause with a base hit. Bailey later scored on wild pitch and Ryan Kanagy knocked home Sheaffer with an RBI ground out. In the seventh, Mifflin County scored two more times. After a double play, Chris Moon singled. Landen
hassee) and has a 1-3 record. The lone win came in pool play (15-year-olds) in 2018, 3-2… Kanagy had some bad luck at the plate as Florida made two outstanding plays in the field to take away hits from the Mifflin County catcher… Kanagy had an outstanding day from behind the plate as he threw out two runners attempting to steal. Mifflin County 2, North Dakota 1 EAGLE PASS, Texas — For the third time in the history of the Mifflin County Babe Ruth League, a local team will play in the final four of a Babe Ruth World Series. Mifflin County scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to edge North
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lone run in he first inning on an error, a stolen base and ground ball. “Landen (Eichhorn) pitched a great game. He didn’t give up many walks,” said Bill Corbin, the Mifflin County manager. “We got the hits at the right time,” Corbin noted. “I’m happy for the team. This was a great game and it was a shame someone had to lose.” Eichhorn used up all his pitches as he went the distance. He struck out six and only walked two. He went on a strike out binge in the fourth and fifth as he struck out four in a row. In the last inning, North Dakota got the leadoff man See Series / Page D3
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All-Stars among best in county history There is nothing like a long trip to Texas to write about more Mifflin County Babe Ruth history. Pennsylvania now has a 90-61 record in World Series play. Mifflin County’s Ray 6-4 win Wilde over Connecticut was the state’s 90th victory. Mifflin County has an 18-10 mark in series play. The 18 wins are tied with Broomall-Newtown for most in the state. Broomall has an 18-7 record. ¯¯¯ Mifflin County has now played against 133 different leagues or regions in the country. The team Mifflin County played in the 15-year-old national finals, Tri-Valley, was from Northern California. The state of California is split into three different regions, South, Central and North. The two teams that Mifflin County played from California in 2002 and 2018 were from the south. ¯¯¯ The other new region that Mifflin County played this summer was Eastern Texas in
Series
Continued from Page D2
on with a walk, but he struck out the next man. Then he got fly out to center field and when Gill got the pop up at second base, Mifflin County was headed to the final four. Mifflin County finished with six hits. Smith had two and Sheaffer, who has been hotter than the Texas sun, also had two. Gill had a hit in the seventh and Ryan Hine picked up his first Babe Ruth World Series hit in the fourth. Mifflin County 6, Trumbull, Connecticut 4 EAGLE PASS, Texas – There must be some magic in those old Mifflin County caps. For the second straight game, Mifflin County came up with a rally in the seventh inning to pull off a dramatic win. On Monday, Mifflin County rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh to edge North Dakota, 2-1. On Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, Mifflin County staged yet another seventh-inning comeback against Connecticut. The local All-Stars scored three runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to get by Connecticut, 6-4, and advance to the national Babe Ruth 15-year-old finals against California today at 3:30 p.m. EST. For the second straight night, Mifflin County was down to its last out before the winning rally began. Chris Moon led off the seventh with a base hit and Parker Kerns was sent into pinch run. Two outs later, it was up to Tucker Gill to keep the Mifflin County hopes alive. And just as he did on Monday, Gill delivered a base hit. Xavier Smith, who crushed a game-winning double on Monday, was next up. He lofted a pop up in the infield
the 15-year-old World Series. The 15-year-olds played a new league in the state tournament, Ashland. The other new league Mifflin County played was Haverford in the 14-year-old state tournament. ¯¯¯ The Mifflin County 15-yearolds finished with a 22-9 record over two years and were tied for sixth place in wins. And the class of 2021 only had two years of competition as it lost a year in 2020 because there was no All-Star play. ¯¯¯ The 15-year-olds played a total of 17 games (13-4) and that ranks fourth in games played in one year by an All-Star team. The three teams ahead of them are the 2018 15-year-olds, who played 22 games (20-2); the 2002, 15-year-olds who played 19 games (15-4) and the 2016 13-year-olds who played 18 games (17-1). All of those teams were World Series squads. ¯¯¯ The three All-Star teams combined for a 23-8 record and that proved good enough to make the top ten in ninth place. The three teams played a total of 31 games, which was good enough for 10th place on the list of games played in one year. ¯¯¯ The team that beat Miff-
lin County in the 13-year-old Mid-Atlantic regional 8-0, Atlantic Shore, won the national title. The only loss that the Mifflin County 13-year-olds had in postseason play was to Atlantic Shore. Mifflin County was 9-1 at the 13-year-old level. ¯¯¯ Chris Moon (Strodes Mills) joined an elite group of pitchers who started national championship games for Mifflin County. The other pitchers were Casey Conner, Belleville, (13-yearolds in 2016) and Colby Bodtorf, McVeytown (15-year-olds in 2018). ¯¯¯ Mifflin County 15-yearold manager, Bill Corbin had a combined record of 28-13 (.693) for 2021. Corbin’s Belleville team was 15-9 and the 15-year-old All-Stars were 13-4. That put Corbin on the 28th spot on wins in one year. Corbin’s most productive year came in 1987 when his combined record was 35-6. His Belleville team was 25-2 and his 13-year-old All-Star team went 10-4. ¯¯¯ One record that was kept in tact was that in every World Series that Mifflin County has gone to, it has lost to the eventual national champion with the exception of one. In 2002, Mifflin County lost to Southern
California, 18-0, in pool play. In 2004 Mifflin County lost to Jefferson Parish (New Orleans), 9-0, also in pool play. In 2018, Mifflin County lost to Tallahassee, Fl, 7-4 in the national final and this year MC fell to Tri-Valley, 9-1 also in the national final. In 2016, the Mifflin County,13-year-olds won the national title. ¯¯¯ Mifflin County has lost a total of eight games to national champions. Four of those came in the World Series. In 2014, Broomall-Newtown beat Mifflin County 8-3 in the 15-yearold state final and went on to win the national title. In 2003, Mifflin County fell to Metro-New York in the Mid-Atlantic final, 9-3, and Metro went on to win the national championship. And in 1960, Mifflin County lost to Huntingdon, WV, 6-1, in the regional final and that West Virginia team went on to win it all. This year the 13-year-olds fell to Atlantic Shore in the regional final, marking the first time that Mifflin County lost to two national championship teams in the same year. ¯¯¯ The Mifflin County season lasted 110 days from May 1 to August 18. The three longest seasons were 125 days in 2002, 2004 and 2016 — all world series years.
and it looked like Mifflin County’s World Series run was over. But, the Connecticut pitcher lost the ball in the lights and the ball dropped in, allowing Kearns to score from third, tying the game at 4. Ryan Kanagy followed, putting Mifflin County ahead for good with a two-run single. “We didn’t deserve to win,” said a stunned Bill Corbin, the Mifflin County manager, after the game, “They (Connecticut) pitched another good game against us.” “Chris Moon was the difference,” Corbin pointed out, “He came in to pitch in a tough situation and held them scoreless. Then he got the hit to lead off the seventh that started the rally. Aidan Reed came through in the seventh to protect the win.” Moon got the win and Reed came up with the save. Mifflin County used four pitchers, as Ryan Hine got the start and Trace Brought came in relief of Hine in the fourth. Mifflin County jumped out a 3-0 lead as it scored a run in the first and added two more in the second. Smith reached on an error with two outs in the first and Kanagy ripped a triple for a 1-0 lead. In the second, Landen Eichhorn singled and went to third when the ball got beyond the left fielder. He scored on a ground out from Reed. Deakon Schaeffer singled and when he stole second, the ball went into center field and Schaeffer ended up on third base. After a walk to Trevor Sheaffer, Gill singled home Schaeffer for a 3-0 lead. Connecticut tied the game in the fourth with three runs on one hit, three walks and sacrifice fly. In the fifth, Trumbull took a 4-3 lead on two more walks, a single and another sacrifice fly. Sean Fracoeur, who beat Mifflin County in the first
game of pool play (4-0), pitched into the seventh. He only gave up six hits, walked two and struck out six. From the fourth to the sixth, he retired nine batters in a row. He left in the seventh on the pitch count rule. Three Mifflin County players had two hits: Gill, Eichhorn and Kanagy, who finished with three RBI’s. This will mark the third time in the 67-year history of the Mifflin County league that it will play for a national title. In 2016, the Mifflin County 13-year-old AllStars won the national championship and in 2018, the same group of players, lost in the national finals to Florida as 15-year-olds. NOTES – The national final four was Tri-Valley, Ca., Meridan, Mississippi, Trumbull, Ct. and Mifflin County…….In the other two national finals, Mifflin County faced Hawaii (2016) and Tallahassee, Fl in 2018……… Coming into this World Series, Mifflin County had only hit one triple, Hunter Wolfley in 2018 (15-year-olds). This series, Mifflin County has four, Trevor Sheaffer, two; Kanagy, one, Deakon Schaeffer, one. Tri-Valley, California 9, Mifflin County 1 EAGLE PASS, Texas – The Alamo is a couple hours north of where the 2021 Babe Ruth World Series took place and it was there in 1836 that Davey Crocket and company made their last stand. On Wednesday, the Mifflin County 15-year-old AllStars made their last stand at the Babe Ruth World Series, falling in the national championship game, 9-1 to Tri-Valley, Ca. Mifflin County tallied six hits and scored its only run in the fourth inning. There was no seventh inning comeback as happened on Monday and Tuesday. JohnPaul Pannizzo led off the seventh with a base hit and Hunter Bailey drew a
walk, but the next two batters struck out and when Trace Brought grounded out to second, the game and the series was over. “We got behind early,” said Mifflin County manager Bill Corbin said. “Once you fall behind (4-0), you can’t take chances. We didn’t throw strikes early, we hit a couple of batters and they got a couple of hits.” Tri-Valley scored once in the first and added three runs in the second. Chris Moon started and went two innings. Doug Weaver threw three shutout innings, but ran in to trouble in the sixth. Before the inning was over Bailey was on the mound and California had five runs across the plate. Mifflin County scored its lone run in the fourth inning when Ryan Hine singled and Landen Eichhorn reached on a fielder’s choice. He moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a Pannizzo base hit. The local All-Stars finished with six hits. Pannizzo had two, while Trevor Sheaffer, Tucker Gill, Hine and Eichhorn each had one. Sheaffer’s hit in the second was a double. NOTES: This Mifflin County team finished in the league’s top ten in official at bats, runs, hits and total chances on defense… Tri-Valley, Ca. is just east of Ockland and San Francisco… In 2011, Tri-Valley defeated Tri-Township (Bucks County) in the national finals in Jamestown, NY. Tri-Township had a 21 game winning streak, longest in Pennsylvania history. Tri-Valley won the game, 3-1, in eight innings… Pennsylvania’s record against California is now 3-12 and Mifflin County’s record is 1-2… Corbin finished his 39th season as a manage with a 109-45 All-Star record and an overall of 743400.
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The Sentinel
D4—Lewistown, PA
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
2021 Mifflin County 15s will stand the test of time Over the last six years, the Mifflin County Babe Ruth league has had three of its teams make it into a national championship game. Don’t take that Ray for grantWilde ed. Since 1952, Pennsylvania has had only 11 teams make it that far. That would be 70 seasons. And in that span only six Pennsylvania leagues have made it to a national championship game. Levittown and Mifflin County have each done it three times, Broomall-Newtown has done it twice. Tri-Township, West End of Williamsport and Drexel Hill have each done it once. It takes a lot of skill from the players, good coaching and all the little things have to go your way to get to a national final. After Mifflin County lost its first game in pool play to Connecticut 4-0, it rebounded with a 19-1 win against East Texas — just what the doctor ordered. In a must win, Garrett Leitzel and Landen Eichhorn pitched Mifflin County to a 6-1 win over Kelso, Washington (Southern Washington). Mifflin County fell to Florida, 10-6, to end pool play at 2-2. Then in two heart-warming, backto-back games, Mifflin County pulled out two dramatic wins. Against Bismark, ND, Mifflin County was down, 1-0 going into the top of the seventh. With two outs and a man on first, Tucker Gill kept the inning alive with a base hit and then Xavier Smith pounded a double to left center for a 2-1 lead. Eichhorn used every-
one of his pitches to clinch the victory in the seventh. After every game, Babe Ruth presents a player of the game pin to a member of each team. Smith received it for Mifflin County and in a good sportsmanship move he gave it to Eichhorn. Then in the very next game against Connecticut, it was another thrilling seventh. Down 4-3, with a runner on first and two outs, Gill again came up with a base hit that kept the inning alive. Mifflin County then got an early Christmas gift as Santa Clause arrived wearing Royal Blue and White as a dropped ball tied the game at 4-4. Ryan Kanagy then stepped up and drilled a 1-2 pitch into right center and Mifflin County was in front 6-4 and got the win. Against Tri-Valley of Northern California, Mifflin County was beaten by a better team. But, that was no disgrace as Tri-Valley went undefeated (6-0). Tri-Valley is located in the suburbs of San Francisco, which is the 17th largest metro area in the United States. The coaching staff of Bill Corbin, Kalen Gearhart, Jeff Kanagy and Jake Sheaffer, did an outstanding job keeping things together. Especially after the last pool game when one of its top pitchers, Garrett Leitzel was injured and they had to piece together games on the mound. Don’t forget what the parents did for this team. Talk about doing the impossible. The parents had to fly to San Antonio and then rent cars to get to Eagle Pass. But, once there, they made it feel like we were back home in Mifflin County. One of the days, they planned a picnic for the team complete with cheese-
Sentinel photo by LILY SHUTT
Mifflin County’s Tucker Gill goes to make a tag on a Florida’s Aiden Gonzalez in Mifflin County’s 10-6 loss, in Eagles Pass, Texas.
burgers, hot dogs and fruit. And in the evening, the boys were entertained by playing games. These parents had planned ahead and when the equipment was driven down, they made sure they had a grill and games along with all the bats, balls and gloves. I said this before, when a Babe Ruth team makes a big run in any of the state, regional and especially a World Series, the parents play a huge part in making it happen. For the 15 players, their Babe Ruth careers are now over. Hunter Bailey, Trace Brought, Landen Eichhorn, Tucker Gill, Ryan Hine, Ryan Kanagy, Parker Kearns, Garrett Leitzel, Chris Moon, JohnPaul Pannizzo, Aidan Reed, Deakon Schaeffer, Trevor Sheaffer, Xavier Smith and Doug Weaver. Their Babe Ruth playSentinel photo by LILY SHUTT ing days may be done, Mifflin County’s JohnPaul Pannizzo winds up to deliver a pitch during the 2021 but their legacy is just 15-year-old Babe Ruth World Series in Eagle Pass, Texas. beginning.
Woodlawn, Lewistown | 717.248.6727 Geoffrey A. Burke, Supervisor
Burnham | 717.248.7853 Michael Shoop, Supervisor
Logan Street, Lewistown | 717.248.7823 Dan Kochenderfer, Supervisor