MC’s “Cardiac Kids” are heading to the Babe Ruth Championship game

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: August 18, 2021

EAGLE PASS, TX – Call them the “Cardiac Kids”!!!

Finding themselves down by one run in their last at bats, Mifflin County got a clutch 2-run single by Ryan Kanagy to bring his team back from the brink of elimination to the lead going into the bottom of the seventh, leading 6-4.

Aiden Reed shut down New England to secure the victory and a trip to the Babe Ruth World Series Championship game

The two teams were very familiar with its each other as they went head-to-head against each other Tuesday. It would be the Mid-Atlantic champion, Mifflin County against New England in the Semi-finals of the Babe Ruth World Series championship held at Eagle Pass, Texas.

The two teams met up in the first game of the Word Series Pool play where the New England team, Trumbull, Connecticut, won 4-0.

Tuesday was the rematch in a win or go home scenario and a World Series Championship berth on the line.

The game which was scheduled for a 9pm Eastern start was delayed by Mother Nature and started at 11:35 pm Pennsylvania time.

Mifflin County pitcher Ryan Hine went up against hurler Sean Francoeur.

Being the lower seed in the contest, Mifflin County was again the away team when the contest got underway.

With two out in the first, Xavier Smith reached on an error.

Ryan Kanagy tripled in Smith, giving Mifflin County a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Jack Durland led off with a walk.

Jake Hall singled into left, putting runners on first and second.

Ryan Warner struck out for the first

Put ring up the lefty Nick Lombuono.

Lombuono bounced to Gill for the fielder’s choice while advancing both runners into scoring position with two out.

Jeff Kraus was struck out by Hine to end the first inning.

Landen Eichhorn opened the second inning with a one-out triple.

Aiden Reed hit a small blooper over the pitcher’s head resulting in an RBI fielder’s choice.

Deakon Schaeffer followed with a single of his own. He stole second and went to third on a high throw by the catcher.

Trevor Sheaffer followed with a walk, putting runners on the corners.

Tucker Gill hit a seeing eye single into shallow left field, ending the scoring at 3-0.

Leading off in the second for New England was Matt Wood. Wood grounded out to Gill for the first out.

With one out, Francoeur walked.

Jackson Depino followed with a walk of his own, putting runners on first and second.

Aj Albaladejo loaded the bases as he was hit by a pitch.

Jackson Depino tried a sac Bunt but it was forced out at home.

Mifflin County stayed tough, refusing to allow a run in the inning.

Smith opened up the top of the third with a walk. Smith stole second, putting him in scoring position.

Kanagy moved Smith to third on a bouncer to third.

But Smith would be stranded, going into the bottom of the third.

Ryan Warner followed with a one-out walk.

Lombuono bounced into a double play to end the inning.

Through three innings, Hine allowed just one hit.

Eichhorn smack a shot back the middle for a single to start off the fourth. He then stole second.

But the New England defense held, keeping it at 3-0.

Kraus led off the fourth for New England with a walk.

Matt Wood followed with a fly to centerfield.

Francoeur tried to help his own cause and walked, putting runners again on first and second.

Dj Amaral roped an RBI single to right, plating Kraus, closing it 3-1.

Albaladejo took one for the team and was hit by a pitch loading the bases.

Mifflin County went to the bullpen and gave the ball over to Trace Brought.

Jackson Depino pulled the game closer on an RBI walk.

Durland picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly, knotting things are three.

No more damage was done as Smith took a grounder and touched third to end the inning.

Mifflin County went down in order in the fifth.

Warner walked to start the bottom of the inning.

Mifflin County went back to the bullpen quickly going to Chris Moon.

With Lobuono at the plate and walked, making it first and second for Kraus.

Moon struck out Kraus for the first out.

With Wood up to bat Moon challenged him and singled into center to load the bases once again.

Francoeur blasted a sacrifice fly to take the lead for the first time, 4-3.

With two out, Amaral ended the inning with a bouncer to Gill.

Going into the sixth, Mifflin County needed to chip away at the lead and take back the momentum they started with earlier in the game.

Mifflin County came up empty in the sixth.

Down to their last at bats, Mifflin County was looking for lightning to strike twice as they trailed yesterday before coming back and taking the 2-1 victory against North Dakota.

Moon led off with a single to right.

The hit would force New England to head to their bullpen to try to end the game.

Dylan Lamy came into put out the fire.

Parker Kearns came into pinch run for Moon.

Schaeffer walked up to the plate and flew out.

With two out, Gill looked to keep the inning going. He did just that by hitter one back the middle, putting runners on first and second.

Last night’s hero Smith looked to try to duplicate his fete from last night. An error on a pop up kept the game alive and putting runners on the bases for Kanagy. Kearns would score on the error, tying things at four.

Kanagy brought in two with a single back into right field , giving them back the lead at 6-4.

Aiden Reed came in in the seventh to protect the two run lead.

With a runner on first, Amaral came to the plate. He flew out for out number two.

Albaladejo tried to extend the game but Reed struck him out to win the game and send his team to the World Series Championship.