Hricenak Walk-Off Lifts Mid Valley Juniors in Wild 9-8 Victory Over Indiana at State Tournament
By: Justin Bradley | Sportzwire | July 11, 2025 | Photo courtesy Melissa Latniak
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Down 5-0 in the third. Tied in the seventh. And in the eighth — Nick Hricenak delivered the moment Mid Valley was waiting for.
The Mid Valley Junior Teeners walked it off in thrilling fashion Friday night at Brandon Park Field, edging Indiana Junior Little League, 9-8, in an extra-inning battle that kept their state tournament hopes alive.
With the game tied 8-8 in the bottom of the eighth, Hricenak came to the plate with a runner in scoring position and delivered a clutch RBI single to seal the win — capping off a rollercoaster game that had everything from big comebacks to extra-inning dramatics.
The win comes one day after Mid Valley dropped a tough contest to Loyalsock in the winner’s bracket, setting up Friday’s elimination showdown under the lights.
Indiana came out hot, scoring three runs in the first, including a two-run triple by Ben Cowburn and an RBI single from Cruiz Force. Cowburn struck again in the third, tacking on another RBI hit to stretch the lead to 5-0.
But Mid Valley answered in a big way in the bottom of the third — erupting for seven runs on just two hits. Dom DelRosso sparked the rally with a two-run double, and Eric Melesky followed with a two-RBI single. A costly error and wild pitching by Indiana helped Mid Valley swing the momentum.
Indiana clawed back to tie the game in the fifth, 7-7, but Colin Thatcher came through with an RBI double in the sixth to put Mid Valley back in front. Still, Cowburn — who went a ridiculous 4-for-4 with 4 RBIs — came through again in the top of the seventh to tie it up once more.
But the eighth inning belonged to Hricenak.
Nicholas Kovaleski started the game on the mound for Mid Valley, throwing four innings and striking out three. Thatcher and Jackson Zuraski pitched in relief and held strong down the stretch. Mid Valley stayed error-free in the field, while Melesky led the defense with six total plays.
At the plate, Thatcher and DelRosso each recorded two hits, while Melesky and DelRosso drove in two runs apiece. Bradley Siegfried added two steals as part of six total swipes for Mid Valley.
Despite the loss, Indiana brought the pressure offensively, racking up 11 hits and drawing eight walks. Cowburn was the engine, and Bowen Blystone chipped in three walks in a patient team-wide approach.
With the win, Mid Valley advances to face Upper Moreland on Saturday at 2 p.m., as they continue their pursuit of a state title.
