Reedsville tops Strodes Mills for Minor League softball title

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: June 3, 2023

By Kenny Varner

GRANVILLE – It all came down to one game!

Reedsville and Strodes Mills met up for the MIfflin County Little League softball championship game Saturday at Strodes Field.

In semi final action, Reedsville 2 beat Decatur 1 to advance to the minors finals.

Strodes Mills 1 took the afternoon semi final against Reedsville.

The future of MIfflin County softball took center stage in this contest. In the end it would be Reedsville that would come out victorious 19-8.

Both teams left everything they had on the field.

The runs came fast and furious in the first inning as the two teams combined for nine runs.

Strodes Mills came out ready to play as they posted four to get the game started.

Zaley Zong led off with a walk. Milani Selfridge was hit by a pitch.

Annika Hunter also walked, loading the bases.

Evelyn Renninger picked up an RBI as she bounced into an RBI fielders choice.

Josie Sunderland posted the first hit of the day, scoring two on the play.

Kealey Powell brought two teammates in as well, upping the lead to 4-0.

Reedsville quickly recovered posting six hits and five runs to take back the momentum.

Going into the second, Reedsville led Strodes 1 by the slimiest of margins, 5-4.

Both teams’ defenses would take control of the second, Royals pitcher Hannah Mannino struck out three of the five batters she faced, keeping Strodes scoreless.

Strodes Mills was just as successful despite Reedsville getting bases loaded with two out.

But the Maroon and Grey held strong, keeping the Royals off the board as well.

Strodes took back the lead in the top of the third. The team picked up hits by Josie Sunderland and Evelyn Renninger to bring home teammates Kenna Sunderland and Zaley Zong, making it a 6-5 contest.

Sophie Herto got the Royals back on the scoreboard as she led off the inning with a double to centerfield. She moved up on a stolen base and scored on a fielders choice by Evalyn Parkes, tying it at six.

A little two out lightning in the third had Reedsville take back the lead.

Addison Espigh kept the rally going with a walk. She moved to second on a single by Lakelyn Shank.

Espigh scored when teammate Gracen Heckendorn blasted an RBI double, giving the Royals the 7-6 advantage.

But Reedsville was not quite down yet.

With Heckendorn on second and Shank on third, Lucy Breon loaded the bases for Ellie Parks. Parks did not disappoint as she roped a 2RBI single to centerfield.

Coming into the game in the top of the fourth, Reedsville hurler Herto made her presence known immediately, striking out three of four, sending the contest into the bottom of the inning.

In Reedsville’s part of the fourth, Alicia Rhoades and Mannino both walked.

Lefty Herto came to the plate and blasted another double, plating Rhoades.

Prima Zook’s fielders choice allowed Mannino to score.

Evalyn Parkes hustled out an infield hit, allowing Herto to score the third run of the inning.

When the dust settled in the bottom, the Royals held a 14-6 advantage.

Herto continued to deliver in the fifth, again striking out three, giving her six in just two innings.

Offensively, Reedsville added five more insurance runs, leading 19-6.

Strodes Mills refused to down without a fight as they had the bases loaded, scoring one when Kenna Sunderland and teammate Milani Selfridge both scored making it a 19-8 contest and giving the Royals the championship.