Beaston honored by teammates with local tribute and exhibition game

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: March 21, 2021

Photos by Kathy Reed
By Josh Yoder

YEAGERTOWN -The Mifflin County Eagles and the McVeytown Junior team came together to celebrate the life of Danon Beaston who tragically passed away one year ago. Sunday would have been his 15th birthday.

The event was led by Josie Souders and there was a turnout of a total of 25 kids who came to play in the game to honor the late Beaston who had played for both teams.

“It is great to see the turnout,” Souders said. “It is great to see the community come out and celebrate his birthday.”

There was a huge crowd as well to help support the special occasion where Beaston’s parents were given a plaque to commemorate his life.

That was not the only touching tribute to Danon as the Eagles had also announced that his number 99 jersey will be officially retired.

Danon’s parents Jason and Lori Bonson feel extremely grateful for all the love and support given to them from the community. Both Jason and Lori then got the game going with both of throwing out the first pitch.

“It’s great to see everybody show up and remember Danon,” Jason Bonson said. “He loved baseball, it feels good that he will be remembered.”

The Mifflin County Eagles started the game off with no one playing the shortstop position as where Beaston would have been playing in. In its place, was his number 99 for all those to see it.

Both teams would play five innings each with both teams playing with six batters per inning.

With the game under way, McVeytown got to go to the plate first. McVeytown started off strong scoring two runs in the frame. The Eagles responded in the bottom half of the first with a run of their own.

The Mifflin County bats went off in the bottom halves of the third and fourth innings. In the third inning where the Eagles scored three runs off a titanic shots by Calin McKnight who cleared the bases with a three RBI double.

Then in the fourth inning the Eagles tacked on four more runs as both Farrell Souders and John Paul Pannizzo each drove in two runs in the frame.

Not to be outdone, McVeytown added on two more run one in the final two innings of the game to close in on the lead but fall just short as Mifflin County came out with a 8-4 victory.

But ultimately, the victory goes to the celebration of life of one Danon Beaston.

For not only myself, but from all of us at Hometown Sports, our thoughts and prayers to both Jason and Lori and to all who had known and loved Danon. God Bless and rest in peace young Danon.