Bellefonte outlasts Mifflin County to take D5 title

By rscaife
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Updated: July 4, 2014

BELLEFONTE – When the Mifflin County 11-12 year old all-stars look back on their 2014 season, they can say they finished as District 5 runner ups.

Despite losing to Bellefonte Thursday night 10-5, the locals can look back at the trail they blazed offensively in their trek for the title.

Unofficially, Mifflin County finished with 19 home runs in the short tournament play.

They also blasted three round trippers in the game against Bellefonte when the team battled throughout the night to the undefeated champs.

“I am really proud of them. They never layed down. They fought to the end,” Mifflin County coach Rod Henry said. “We just didn’t have a lot of hits tonight but they possessed a never say die attitude throughout. I thought they exceeded our expectations. They are a great group of kids.”

Bellefonte got on the board first. With one out in the bottom of the first Colton Burd roped a double that shot through the outfield.

Teammate and starting pitcher Ben McCartney singled in Burd for the first run of the game.

After stealing second McCartney scored on a Ben Macafee double. Macafee was replaced on the base paths by pinch runner Zane Thornburg.

Thornburg scored the last run of the inning for Bellefonte when Nick Catalano singled him in.

However, the early Bellefonte lead did not stay for long because with one swing of the bat, MC would tie the game going into the bottom of the second.

Cam Shawver led the inning off with a walk. After stealing second and third, he was accompanied on base by Rod Henry.

With two on and two out, Jackson Pupo took a McCartney offering deep over the fence in center, tying the game at three.

But Bellefonte had an answer to the scoring run by Mifflin County. Not to be outdone, the home team tallied three more runs to take back its 3-run lead as the game went into the third.

Scoring in the inning were Nick Fisher, T.J. Funk and Cam Burris.

In the top of the fourth Mifflin County got back on the board when Henry blasted a solo homerun deep, cutting it to 6-4.

Bellefonte continue to pull away from Mifflin County, adding two runs in the bottom of the inning, taking an 8-4 advantage.

Catalano got the inning going when he doubled to right centerfield. He scored on a Mason Grey RBI double. Dennis Fravel brought in Grey before getting caught trying extend a single into a double.

Mifflin County made one last attempt in the sixth starting with a towering homerun by Evan Smith.

However, it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback as they fell, 10-5.

Notes: In Mifflin County 10-11 action, Mifflin County won 9-1 over Four Leaf. They will be back in action Monday.