Reed: MIfflin County tops State College in Lions vs. Dawg showdown

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: May 23, 2024

By Dom Reed
CRESSON – The Mifflin County Huskies faced off against the State College Little Lions in a Dog’s versus Lions battle for the district title. The Huskies topped the Lions 10-5 Thursday in Mt.Aloysius.

“We had some struggles defensively with the sun in the early innings,” said Coach Ray Hoppel. “To me the turning point in the game was getting out of the bases loaded jam in the fifth and Xavier Smith’s homerun. When we got out of that jam I felt pretty confident then.

Obviously the homer really finished it off. I’m so proud of these kids. They have really worked hard they bought into what we’ve been doing for the last six to seven months. I couldn’t be happier with them.”

The Huskies star Aidan Attivo gave his team a few quality innings to go along with a outstanding play on the mound in the bottom of the first inning with the barehanded grab to get the runner out that would lead to Mifflin County getting out of the inning stranding a runner on base for State College.

The Little Lions gave the ball to Sam Janik in a win or go home game. Janik struggled early it was a night to forget as Janik would get the hook early. Gino Pighetti would give his team a lengthy outing in relief teammates Shannon and Landon Beitz would pitch out of the bullpen.

State College could only get five hits from their squad in the losing effort. Sabastian Rhoades accounted for two of the five hits in the game for the Little Lions. Shannon had a 2-4 night The third baseman also drove in a run during his second at bat. Austin Harter drove in a run having just one hit in the game.

The Huskies totaled four runs in the second and fifth innings to get the job done in the fifth inning.

Smith would get a pitch that he would like and smashed a homer driving in a pair of runs. Smith also had a diving stop, taking a hit away from State College to avoid more runs to come across when the Little Lions only trailed by two in a 6-4 ball game in the fifth inning.

This feels great! Us seniors we wanted this for the past three years. We came up short the past three years so this definitely feels great.”

Madden Weaver,Landon Eichhorn,Tye Plank,Ryan Kanagy all got hits in the game.

Huskies come out on top over State College 10-5 taking home the D6 Class 6A championship.