For Mifflin County Babe Ruth fans it's the time of year for road maps, hotel reservations, tie breakers and teams on the bubble. Yes, it's the Babe Ruth state playoffs.

The Mifflin County 13-year-olds are headed to Phoenixville for the state playoffs. Once a upon a time Phoenixville was the mecca of Junior Babe Ruth baseball in Pennsylvania. Phoenixville at one time not only had the most state championships, but everything that was right with Babe Ruth baseball was in Phoenixville. The president of the state Babe Ruth association lived in Phoenixville. The town won district and state titles on a regular basis, and produced Major League players like Andre Thorton and Mike Piazza in one of the beautiful stadiums in the state for Babe Ruth baseball.

Mifflin County has had some historic events at the Phoenixville complex.

1968 - This is the year in which the two Babe Ruth eras start and end. From 1955-1967, the Mifflin County All-Stars had a record of 9-13 with one state title and one district title. In 1968, Babe Ruth went to a double elimination format, District 7 as we know it became what it is today and the late Bob Reigle was in his first year as manager at Reedsville, which started the current success.

And also that year, the Mifflin County 14-15-year-old all stars finished third in Phoenixville and Dave Wolfkill tossed the first two shutouts in league history in district and state competition.

1973 - It was on the Phoenixville field that the Mifflin County 13-year-olds won their first state title. Randy Corbin and Doug Wyland did the pitching in a 9-1 win over Levittown. Brent Hartman had two hits and Dale Reynolds had a two-run double.

1992 - It is called the "Gooch Game."

Middletown Township (Bucks County) was playing the Mifflin County 14-15-year-old team in the opening round of the state tournament. Middletown had its ace pitcher on the mound, Arnie Gooch. He was later drafted by the major leagues and got as far as AAA. Gooch had the Mifflin County batters baffled for 6 2/3 innings and his team led 2-0. The first 22 batters he faced, 17 struck out, there were no hits and he walked two.

Then with two outs, he walked Ryan Wolfkiel, who stole second. Josh Garver followed with a double, scoring Wolfkiel. Both were pinch hitters. Jason Hassinger then ripped a double and when he tried to stretch it into a triple, the ball hit off his helmet and bounced into the stands for a 3-2 Mifflin County win.

2003 - At 6:53 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, Mifflin County's Kyle Heane struck out State College's Shane Gray in the 14-year-old state championship (7-5) game, giving Mifflin County its third state title for 2003 in 13, 14 and 15. It is the only time in Pennsylvania Babe Ruth history that a league has won all three state titles in one year since the 14-year-old program came in 1998.

Not to be overlooked is the game before that one, when Mifflin County knocked off Levittown 8-3 when Levittown was the defending national champion. Chris Tressler was the winning pitcher and Matt Mazzoni and Kevin Ryan each had two hits for Mifflin County.

Now it's 2009 and the Mifflin County 13-year-olds are hopeing to make some history of their own.

The Mifflin County 14-year-olds will travel to Lehighton for their state tournament. Nothing ever comes easy for this group of players and coaches.

Last summer in district play, Mifflin County had to battle Upper Adams to secure a spot in the state playoffs. Once there, the Mifflin County boys beat Gettysburg, Ridley and State College before falling to Middletown Township in the last game of pool play.

Then in the final four, Mifflin County beat Blue Valley and lost to State College in the final game in extra innings, 5-4.

This summer, Mifflin County has already had to play five games in the district tournament before it heads to Lehighton to battle Ridley, Blue Valley North and Springford on its side of the pool.

And guess who is on the other side of the pool? You guessed it - State College, Middletown Township, Franklin Township (Carbon County) and Aston Valley.

But this team thrives on challenges. When its back is to the wall, this team respondes to the game and its coaching staff.

For the past three years, the 15-year-olds have been battling West End of Williamsport and Broomall-Newtown for the top spot in its age group in the Babe Ruth world.

It was like that from 2001-2003. In 2001, Mifflin County finished third as 13-year-olds, while State College and Drexel Hill battled for the title with Drexel Hill winning. Then in 2002, State College beat Mifflin County in the state finals. The next year Mifflin County finally won, beating Drexel Hill in the finals, while State College finished third.

Now, six years later, Mifflin County is again in a three-way battle for the top spot. As 13-year-olds, Mifflin County won the state title beating Broomall-Newtown in a rally in the seventh inning that will go down in local Babe Ruth lore. Mifflin County trailed 2-0 with two outs and two strikes on Jeremy Koller got on an error. Alex Hughes as a pinch hitter drew a walk and Josh Rosefski entered as a pinch runner. Tyson Searer followed with a singled and knocked in a run and that put runners on the corners. Searer got to second on a steal and then Zane McNitt unloaded a triple for two runs and Mitch Welham followed with a walk, then Cole Welham singled for the 4-2 lead.

Last year, West End won the state title, beating Broomall-Newtown in the state finals, while Mifflin County was third.

Neither West End, Broomall-Newtown nor Mifflin County meet in pool play. So, it could be a wild final four. Or there could be a suprise team from Springford, Pennsbury, Pottsville, Wayne County, Aston Valley or Perry County.

It's now time to play ball.