MC 15s get post season off and running
By Kenny Varner
BELLEVILLE – And they’re off.
Thursday evening the Mifflin County 15-year old Babe Ruth all-stars got the post season officially off and running as it went up against Valley from Hazelton.
Well, the locals got the second season started out on the right foot as they wasted little time picking up the victory over Valley, 10-0 in five innings.
Hurler Shane Dippery had a strong outing on the mound, allowing only three hits in the shut out victory. He also finished his dominance on the mound with five strike outs.
Despite getting off to a slow start offensively, Mifflin County started to get to Valley pitcher Seth Derr in the third and worked on him throughout the next few at bats.
In the third inning, “the Blue and White” posted the first runs on the board, posting three.
Lead off hitter Blane Dickson hit a seeing-eye single behind the bag at third.
Noah Wright followed with a second consecutive seeing-eye single but it landed between the first and second baseman.
Evan Smith sent both home quickly as he blasted a triple to the deepest part of the park, making it 2-0.
Levi Wise brought Smith in on a fielders choice, giving the home team the 3-0 advantage.
Dippery and company kept the Valley’s batters off the base paths and put the game back into the hands off its offense.
Things worked well for MC in the fourth inning as the offense exploded for seven runs. Eleven batters went to the plate for Mifflin County in the inning.
Dippery helped his own cause, walking and then stealing second. On the throw to second, the Valley’s catcher over three the ball and Dippery ended up at third.
Jace Shoemaker brought in Dippery as he singled to shallow right.
Hudson first kept the ball rolling as he hustled an infield hit, putting runners on the corners.
Dicksons’ fielders choice took Hudson off the base paths but he remained for Wright.
Wright loaded the bases with a walk.
Shoemaker used a wild pitch to up the score to 5-0 as he scampered home.
Smith reloaded the bases on an innocent walk.
Wise picked up an 2 RBI single to left center.
However, Wise was cut down trying to stretch the hit into a double and was thrown out. But the game got even closer to ending as Mifflin County led 7-0.
Rounding out the Mifflin County players to score in the inning were Cade Crossgrove, Seth Benson and Cam Shawver, setting the stage for the Mifflin County defense to finish it out.
That is just what they did as the locals sent down Valley to end the game at 10-0.
Mifflin County will be back in action Friday to try to take their next step forward.