
Post 184 third baseman Tom Aaron makes a dive to stop a hard-hit grounder down the third base line in Monday night's home game against Lansdale.
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Watching Perkiomen's American Legion baseball team play its initial four games from the dugout, Tom Aaron says he learned the importance of being supportive.
"You can't just sit and wait for your name to be called," he said. "You need to encourage your teammates."
Aaron played his second game for Post 184 on Monday night, helping the team to a 3-0 victory over Lansdale in the Bux-Mont League at Bonekemper Field.
The third baseman, one of three members of the Perkiomen School team that reached Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association state tournament championship game Saturday, delivered two hits and scored a run for the Indians (2-0 league 4-1 overall), who have reeled off four straight victories and started their league season with consecutive victories for the first time under Manager Mike Fitzgerald.
Zach Miller finished with two hits and one run scored for Post 184.
"You're seeing what the coaching staff and I envisioned in terms of the team starting to come together," said the manager, referring to relying on pitching depth and solid defense.
According to Aaron, the Indians should compete for the league title. "We've got a pretty good team," he said.
Against the Cannoneers, Erik Stalford and Chris Kachmar combined to scatter five hits and record 13 strikeouts for Perkiomen.
Stalford, the starter, worked into the sixth inning, striking out eight hitters. Kachmar recorded the final six outs. He escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the sixth inning before striking out the side in the seventh.
"Chris certainly was dominant," Fitzgerald said. "I asked him if he wouldn't mind starting one game a week, and closing two others. He told me that could work."
Post 184 took advantage of two Lansdale errors to score two unearned runs.
Levi Stoudt led off the game with a single, took second on a sacrifice, third on single and scored on an errant throw home by centerfielder Matt Peralta on Aaron's fly ball.
Miller led off the third inning with a hit, stole second, took third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Josh Fell's sacrifice fly.
In the fourth, Aaron delivered a leadoff double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an errant throw by Lansdale catcher Jason Peralta.
The Indians opened their league schedule on May 20 by rallying for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Warrington, 5-4.
Pinch hitter Dalton Breyer reached on an infield error leading off the inning and stole second. After that his team loaded the bases on a walk and bunt hit.
Kachmar worked a walk to drive in a run. Daron Pijanowski's walk forced in the winning run. Glenn Boyer pitched the final two innings to earn the victory.
On Thursday, May 21, the Indians and Muhlenberg played to a 3-3 tie in a non-league game at home.
Ben Tryon delivered an RBI double and Miller drove in a run with a hit in the fourth inning to overcome a 3-1 deficit.
On Saturday, May 23, Post 184 defeated West Lawn, 3-1, in the Muhlenberg Invitational, outside Reading. Pijanowski's RBI triple in the fifth inning snapped a 1-1 tie. Stalford drove in two runs.
On Sunday, May 24, Glenn Boyer pitched the Indians to a 7-5 non-league victory over Southern Lehigh. He tossed five innings, permitting two runs on four hits.
Stoudt, Kachmar, Tom Aaron and Pijanowski all finished with two hits. Aaron and Pijanowski each drove in two runs.