Mifflin County tops Nittany Valley in walk off fashion to capture District Crown

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: June 26, 2024

By Kenny Varner

BOALSBURG – Walking it off!

It was a classic championship Wednesday as the undefeated MIfflin County 12U Softball All-Stars looked to take the championship against a highly talented Nittany Valley team.

Trailing by a lone run for four and a half innings, Mifflin County tied it in the fifth.

In their final at bats, with clutch hits by Olivia Bedlyon and Sarah Erb put the game into the hands of Bella Yoder. Yoder was clutch under pressure as she gave her team the win with a 3-run inside-the-park home run, punching their ticket to the next round and giving her team the title as District Champions.

It would be a defensive contest for most of the ball game as both teams kept runners to a minimum with Nittany Valley hurler Nora Brown taking a no-hitter into the fifth.

Mifflin County pitcher Chelsea Anewalt went stride-for-stride with Brown, limiting Nittany Valley to four hits in the complete game victory.

Highlighting the defensive effort for MIfflin County was a three-put out inning by Callie Kuhns. Two of those were diving catches playing second.

With the threat of rain looming overhead for much of the contest, the squad from Nittany Valley scored quickly.

Harper Bair led off the game with a double into left field. She moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt by Saige Moore.

Bair scored thanks to an infield single by Brown, taking the lead 1-0.

Both teams clamped down from there as neither team could break onto the scoreboard as the innings came and went.

Looking at their potential final six outs, Mifflin County made their move.

Anewalt opened the inning with a walk. She moved up to second on a wild pitch.

Grayce Napikoski followed with an infield single, breaking up Brown’s no-hit bid. She stole second, putting both MIfflin County runners in scoring position.

Brown recovered and struck out the next two batters.

But Andwalt tied the game as she gambled on a running home after a wild pitch. She just beat the throw to the plate, taking the game into the sixth tied.

Anewalt proceeded to take care of the line up in the top of the inning, setting the stage for their final at bats.

With one out, Bedelyon blasted a hit into the right centerfield gap, posting a stand up double.

With two out, Erb kept the inning alive, hustling out an infield grounder to first.

Yoder came to bat and posted a shot that sailed into centerfield and over the head of the Nittany Valley outfielder and into open space, allowing the bases to clear and Mifflin County to clinch the walk-off victory 4-1.

Both teams were class acts in both games they played and showed to both the MIfflin County and Bellefonte softball programs that the future will be a bright one for both teams.