2009 was full of surprises
By RAY WILDE, Sentinel correspondentIt doesn't happen often that a league plays every game that it schedules - especially one that has 135 games. And then throw in seven games in a postseason tournament and that comes to a total of 142 games. Not bad considering June was one of the most rain-filled months in recent history.
Here is a run down of how the 10 teams in the Mifflin County Babe Ruth League fared in 2009.
Beaver Springs (15-12, regular season; 16-13 overall): Manager Dan Heeter saw his team win 11 out of its last 15 games. In the regular season it had a fifth place finish and the 16 wins tied a league record for most wins for a first-year team. The Springs lost a tough 7-2 score to the champion Lewistown in its final tournament game, but got outstanding defensive play from Justin Mattern and Shane Connahan. Those two players return with eight others which should make its second year in the league just exciting as the first.
Belltown (8-19, 8-20): After losing most of its pitching staff in 2008, Belltown won eight games and finished eighth. One of the highlights of the season came on June 21 when it upset second place Burnham, 12-10. Manager Butch Bender did a good job of starting to rebuild his program. Bender has 10 players returning and a promising group of 13-year-olds.
Belleville (16-11): What a difference a year makes. Last summer, long-time manager Bill Corbin suffered through what may have been his longest year as he saw his team go 4-19. This summer Belleville rebounded for a fourth-place finish. The difference in this year's team was easy to see - defense. Plays that were mishandled and thrown away last year were turned into double plays this year. One week in late May, Belleville played four games and only gave up four runs. Unfortunately for Belleville, two of those losses were to Reedsville and Burnham by 2-1 scores. Belleville loses five 15-year-olds, including two pitchers. But Corbin has a very talented group of 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old All-Star returning next season.
Burnham (20-7, 21-8): In Burnham there is a saying, "Zero equals One." What does that mean? Since 1980, Burnham has won or been tied for the league championship in years that end in zero. In 1980 Burnham lost to Yeagertown in a playoff. The team won outright league titles in 1990 and 2000. First-year manager Eric Weaver not only brought Burnham back into contention, but created new interest on "The Hill." Burnham only loses three players and its entire pitching staff is back for 2010. And it was Burnham, who gave undefeated Lewistown three tough games, 4-3 in eight innings, 9-6 and 4-1.
Lewistown (27-0, 30-0): Don't count Bernie Howard and his crew out in 2010. The West has a saying of its own too, "Three-Peat" and it very well could. Gone are the "Five W's," Hunter Walker, Cole Welham, Mitch Welham, Chris Wilson and Ted Wilson. That quintet has accounted for a lot of W's over the last three years - to be exact, 72 in the span of 81 games. But, don't feel bad for the West, back are a solid group of seven 14-year-olds, who have been two-time All-Stars. Howard noted as his team walked off the field for the final time last Sunday, "The unsung heroes here are my assistant coaches, Chuck Curry and Rick Treaster. They never quit working." And neither does the West.
McVeytown (2-25, 2-26): Finally, the long losing streak came to and end for manager Matt Furgison in 2009. McVeytown defeated Burnham on April 30 to stop its 52-game skid. McVeytown won another game late in the year beating Milroy, 6-5, on June 12. McVeytown only loses two players so there should be more wins coming for Furgison and his team. How close was McVeytown this summer to having a much better year? Five of those 26 losses came by just one run.
Milroy (4-23): It was no secret that 2009 was going to be a rebuilding year for Milroy and manager Ted Rhoades. Gone from the 2008 squad were four players from the 15-year-old Mifflin County team that won the state championship and finished in the final four of the Mid-Atlantic Regional. The highlight of the season came on May 15 when Tanner Kibe pitched a gem against rival Reedsville winning 6-1. Milroy has 10 players returning for the 2010 season.
Reedsville (19-8, 21-9): One manager in the league made this comment about Reedsville, "It doesn't matter how many players they lose, they come out the next spring in those red uniforms and just keep on winning." Good observation. Maybe that is why Reedsville has won 10 or more games for 33 straight years. Manager Scott Reigle loses eight 15-year-olds, four of which are All-Stars. But as it has already been pointed out, look for Reedsville to back in the upper echelon again.
Strodes Mills (13-14, 13-15): Strodes Mills didn't have the best of luck coming down the strech in 2009. The "Mills Boys" loss four one-run games from June 13 to end of the season on June 27. Strodes Mills lost to Beaver Springs twice, Belleville and Burnham by a run. Manager Chris Flanagan did see his star hurler Tyson Searer get the Outstanding Pitching Award for this year. It was the first major award for Strodes Mills under Flanagan and the first time a pitcher from Strodes Mills won in 20 years. Next year could be a rebuilding year for Strodes Mills as it loses seven 15-year-olds. This year marked the most wins for a Strodes Mills team since 2001.
Yeagertown (11-16, 11-17): These last two years have not been the most exciting for long-time manager, Fred Zook. After experincing two second-place finishes in a row in 2006 and 2007, Yeagertown has had a 21-31 record over the last two campaigns. But Zook only loses three 15-year-olds this summer and returns lots of players including four 13-year-old All-Stars. Late in the season, Zook, who has the nickname of 'Wizard' for pulling off big wins, came up with an upset on June 15 beating Belleville, 13-3. In two other games against second-place Burnham, Yeagertown fell by just a single run twice.
