BEAVER SPRINGS - The numbers keep getting better and better for Lewistown.
On Saturday, the West traveled to Beaver Springs and put up the only number that mattered for the 2012 Mifflin County Babe Ruth regular season.
One.
Lewistown defeated second place Beaver Springs, 11-5, to clinch the championship.
But in the process they put some more impressive numbers in the record book.
It marked the fifth straight championship for the West and seventh overall. Lewistown now has won titles in 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The seven titles are now the third most in league history behind Belleville at 14.5 and Burnham, 11. The five straight are also a league record.
The win was the West's 45th in a row breaking the second longest winning streak in league history which was held by Burnham Green from 1963-1965. Lewistown already holds the longest winning streak in the 58-year history of the league at 73 games from 2008-2010.
For Lewistown manager Bernie Howard, it marked his seventh title breaking a tie with Burnham's Dave Wolfkill, who won six league titles from 1990-2000.
"I believe that this game is the emphasis of what total team play is all about," Howard said, "We pitched by committee, had timely hitting and our defense committed just one error.
"Beaver Springs always plays us very tough," Howard said. "The score tonight was a lot closer than it indicates."
The first two innings saw the scoreboard light up like a Christmas tree. At the end of the second Lewistown held a 6-4 lead.
Aaron Sharp started for Beaver Springs and the first three hitters greeted him like it was Christmas morning and all the gifts needed unwrapped.
Max Remy led off with a single and Isaiah Kearns lashed a run scoring triple. Lucas McKay singled Kearns home and McKay later scored on a Springs throwing error.
Beaver Springs loaded the bases against Kearns, the Lewistown starter. Ty Ross singled, stole second and went to third on a passed ball. Aaron Sharp walked as did Alex Hackenberg. With one out, Adrian Martin lofted a ball just past the infield and when the Lewistown second baseman made the catch, Ross raced home.
In the second it was more of the same for the West. Remy reached on a fielder's choice, Kearns smashed a single and McKay unloaded a triple knocking in two runs. He later scored on a Beaver Springs error.
But, the Springs fought right back. Josh Zimmerman walked to start the inning. After two outs, Ross drew a walk and both batters advanced on a balk. Aaron Sharp then lined a single and two runs scored. Tyson Troutman singled home Sharp.
The game then settled down. Hackenberg came into pitch the next four innings for Beaver Springs and he only allowed one run on four hits. With two outs in the third inning, he walked four men in a row as McKay picked up the RBI.
Kearns exited after two innings and Peyton Reesman went the next two. He held the Springs scoreless in his two innings of work.
Reigle made an outstanding catch in left to end the fourth inning and the West turned a double play in the third inning. Beaver Springs committed five errors, while the West only had one. Beaver Springs also had an outstanding catch in the outfield as Zimmerman saved a run to end the second inning as the Springs centerfielder made a diving catch on a ball hit by Roush.
Howard had these thoughts on this year's Lewistown team that won its fifth straight title.
"At the start of every season my staff and I talk about winning the title," Howard said, "This is a hard working team."
Sunday's games
Strodes Mills 15, Beaver Springs 8
LEWISTOWN - Beaver Springs has had to make two road trips this week into Rec Park and both times Strodes Mills hasn't played the part of a very good host.
Beaver Springs, which was eliminated by Lewistown West on Saturday night, fell again to Strodes Mills, 15-8.
It marked the first time since 2009 that Strodes Mills has won 10 games and the Mills also became the seventh team this year to win at least 10 games.
In the fifth, Kevin Cahill and Matt Hass led off with singles. Beaver Springs went to its second pitcher of the day, Travis Zechman. Austin Haubrick walked and then Dylan Pandel got a bad hop single that drove in two runs.
Luke Amspacker reached on an error and then Andrew Larson had a two-run single. The other two runs scored on Beaver Springs errors.
In the sixth, Strodes Mills scored four more times thanks to a two-run single from Amspacker and a wild pitch that scored two runs.
Ty Ross opened the game with a single. He stole second and went to third on an over throw and scored on a ground ball from Aaron Sharp. In the second, the Springs scored two runs on an error and in the third two runs came in on singles by Alex Hackenberg and Tyson Troutman.
Beaver Springs scored its last three runs on errors, a single run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth.
Larson picked up the win for Strodes Mills with five innings of work. He only allowed five hits, struck out two and walked four.
McVeytown also picked up a win over the weekend as Burnham couldn't field enough players.
Centre County League
Mifflin County 6, Clarence 5
LEWISTOWN - Kalen Gearhart picked up the win and drove in four runs for Mifflin County as it upended Clarence, 6-5, Sunday in Centre County League baseball action.
Gearhart drilled a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to propel the locals to the lead. Heading into its half of the sixth, Mifflin County was trailing 5-2.
Evan Pupo and Travis McConnell each belted a pair of hits. Cameron Rhoades and McConnell drove in the other two runs for Mifflin County.
Mifflin County (3-7) travels to Unionville Wednesday.
American Legion
Mifflin County 3, Philipsburg 2
LEWISTOWN - Mifflin County's Heath Hidlay scored from second on an error in the fourth inning in what proved to be the winning run in Mifflin County's 3-2 win over Philipsburg Saturday.
Zach Yetter picked up the win for Mifflin County by going seven innings and striking out 10 Philipsburg batters.
"He has been on and he's getting the ball down," Mifflin County coach Larry Wolfe said. "He's been tough to score many runs off. When he's on we're not looking to give up a whole lot of runs."
The game saw a total of only eight hits.
Mifflin County (3-4) hosts West Snyder Tuesday.
