Excitement aplenty during Cal Ripken District All-Star Saturday

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: June 16, 2024

Photos by Bob Hockenbrock

By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN- Entering the second stretch of the Cal Ripken season, the local All-Stars took enter stage Saturday at Lewistown’s Rec Park.

It was a day long tournament that brought out the best-of-best of local talents from Juniata County, MIfflin County and Flood City.

In the 11U division, the group from Juniata County battled back from an 0-1 game deficit to finish with a District 13 championship title over MIfflin County.

In the opener, Mifflin County took the first game in nail biting fashion with a home run by slugger Brennyn Rhodes in extra innings.

The game started out as a defensive battle with both teams limiting runners on base.

Throughout the first six innings, the MIfflin County squad tallied four hits while Juniata had two.

The action heated up in the seventh.

Juniata led off the inning on a Maddox Leister single. Leister moved up to second on a wild pitch.

Isaac Geibel moved Leister to third on a fielders choice. Tanner Jones was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Jackson Dowling who blasted a shot down third base and collected an RBI.

Juniata County still threatened with the bases loaded, but Mifflin County’s defense was able to get out of the inning, trailing just 1-0.

Down to its possible last three outs, MIfflin County dug deep down and got the runs they needed.

Peyton Willow made a strong statement as he roped a shot down 3rd with a double. He later scored on a wild pitch tying the game.

Cooper Rankin kept the momentum going hitting grounder to third With one out Brennyn Rhodes stepped up to the plate and hit a HR over the centerfield fence, ending the game as a 3-1 victor.

But the Juniata team bounced back in the second contest holding onto another close contest with MIfflin County 10-7.

In the third and final game, the crew from Juniata had its offense sizzling as they finished and clinched the championship with a 15-0 victory.

In the 12U Division, the group from Flood City defeated MIfflin County for the championship in two contests. Here are some highlights from Saturday….