MC Legion team finishes at Classic

SARATOGA, N.Y. - After Saturday morning's rout, you couldn't blame the Mifflin County American Legion team for wishing it had seen the last of the Mohicans on Friday.

Mohican Post 553 defeated Mifflin County 15-4 with a huge first inning, and ended the local team's trip in a five-inning affair.

"They put up a 10-spot in the first inning. It's not what we were looking for," Mifflin County manager Larry Wolfe said. "They hit the ball hard probably four or five times, and it was never at anyone."

That he said, combined with a flat response by his team all but sealed the outcome. Wolfe said a base running error that cost Mifflin County a run in the first could instead have sparked a rally, which he though might have helped.

"We could have been in a better position to come back," he said.

"It may have hurt to not play the second game the previous day," he added, noting it killed the momentum generated by the win over Mohican Friday morning.

Hunter Thompson and Nick Beamenderfer had the only two hits for Mifflin County in the game, both singles. Nolan Schaaf started on the mound, but was pulled in the first after giving up the runs that accounted for the loss. Ray Klinger pitched most of the game.

The Legion team has two more full games, today at State College and an unscheduled makeup with Pleasant Gap, plus has an unfinished Altoona game on the books. Going into the week, Mifflin County should be up to second in the Central Penn League, with playoffs slated to begin Thursday.

AAABA baseball

KERSEY - The Mifflin County AAABA team finished its season by going 1-1 at the Continental Collegiate League playoffs Saturday.

Mifflin County defeated the Clearfield County Dingers 9-4 in the first game behind a five-run first inning and a pitching win for Jimmy Aumiller. Brian Billett went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run to pace Mifflin County at the plate, and Abner Druckenmiller went 2-for-3 with two runs and a double.

In the second game, Mifflin County fell to the Kersey Diamonds 5-0. Billett had two of Mifflin County's four hits, a pair of singles.

Despite the fact that Mifflin County's season is over, several members of the team will join other AAABA teams as their seasons continue. Billett, David Bender, Travis McConnell and possibly Adam Barger will join State College, which is primarily made up of Mifflin County kids to begin with. Josh McKay, meanwhile, will join Kersey.