Mifflin County 15s remain undefeated; tops Centre County in prime time showdown

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: July 22, 2023

By Kenny Varner

MILROY – It was the battle of the unbeaten.

Saturday night, the MIfflin County 15-year old Babe Ruth and Centre County teams met up in the third day of pool play with the intent of staying undefeated after pool play in the Babe Ruth Mid-Atlantic Regional play.

Centre County came in with wins against Millville (10-0) and a Northern Delaware (16-1) while MIfflin County rallied a 25-12 win over Millville and a 12-2 over Northern Delaware.

Playing In the prime time spot, the local rivaly wrote another chapter when MIfflin County brought home the victory.

Mifflin County started Chase Hartung while Centre County retaliated with hurler Parker VonGunden.

Hartung quietly tossed a no hitter in the process of picking up the win. The only base runners his opponents would get on was by eight Mifflin County error and Walks.

In the first, Centre County threatened early.

With one out, Brad Mishock walked. He advanced two bases on a wild pitch setting him at third.

He scored on an RBI fielders choice by Teagun Runkle, making it a 1-0 contest.

Isaac Gull reached on a MIfflin County miscue, putting him at second.

But MIfflin County held Centre to a lone run.

Mifflin County got its first runner on in the bottom of the inning as Madden Weaver reached on a one-out walk.

Teammate Reese Christine followed with a walk of his own. Logan Ruth loaded the bases with a walk as well setting the stage for Jayden Smith. Smith took on for the team as he was hit by a pitch, tying the game and notching an RBI.

Both teams played a run, heading into the second.

Mifflin County sent Centre County down in order in the second.

Braxton Smith started the Blue and White offense roping a double into right field. Smith moved up on a slow dribbling grounder that was scooped by VonGunden .

Strohecker posted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Smith, giving MIfflin County a 2-1 advantage.

With two outs, Weaver tried to catch some momentum with a second walk of the contest.

Conner Perry started the Centre offense in the third, taking the walk.

Perry moved up to second on a wild pitch.

With two gone in the inning, Perry reached third on another wild pitch.

But Hartung shut things down as he struck out 2-of-3 to end the inning.

Jayden Smith took another one for the team as he was hit by a pitch. But he would be be forced out on a fielders choice by Haigh.

Haigh moved up to second as teammate Elliot Yetter walked.

Braxton Smith ripped an RBI single at second, scoring Haigh and moving Yetter to second.

Centre County’s catcher Brad Mishock gunned down Yetter at third to keep the MIfflin County lead to two going into the fourth.

Like his opposing catcher, MIfflin County Catcher Elliot Yetter gunned down Daxton Kreiger to end the fourth, keeping it a 3-1 contest.

Pinch hitter Michael McNitt got the home fans going in the bottom as he pushed a bunt that was misplayed, reaching first. Strohecker followed with a bunt of his own that was also misplayed, putting runners on first and second and no out.

Weaver continued the rally, walking for the third time, loading the bases.

Christine picked up an RBI walk, upping the MIfflin County lead to 4-1.

Mishock came in in relief in the inning.

Ruth singled in Strohecker to keep the MC rally going.

Jayden King smashed an RBI sacrifice fly to right, making it a 6-1 contest.

Haigh grounded a shot back to middle, scoring Christine.

Yetter walked, loading the bases for the second time in the inning.

Braxton Smith roped one back the middle, scoring two.

McNitt, who was batting for the second time in the inning, put down. Sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third. Yetter added another MIfflin County run as he reached home on a wild pitch.

Strohecker singled in Braxton Smith.

When the dust settled MIfflin County held a 12-1 lead going into the fifth.

Centre County refused to go down without a fight as they battled to load the bases in the fifth, led by Todd Kowalcyk. Runkle picked up an RBI walk, putting the contest at 12-2. He scored Kowalcyk on the walk. A

With the win, MIfflin County will be back in action at one Sunday while Centre will play the early game at 10. Winner of each will advance to the championship game and a chance to go to Jamestown, New York and a National Championship appearance.