In a rare nine-inning scheduled game Sunday, the reserves on the Upper Perkiomen Jr. Legion team received significant playing time.

        Though the Braves lost, 2-1, to Berwick at Bonekemper Field, manager Perry Breyer said he liked his team's performance.

        Despite scratching out just three hits, they turned a triple play in the eighth inning.

        "I'm happy," Breyer said. "Some of our non-starters got some quality playing time against a very good opponent."

        According to Breyer, officials from Berwick contacted Upper Perk about playing a doubleheader.

        The manager said that wasn't possible since the Braves are in the midst of their Twin County League schedule, but suggested playing nine innings - instead of the traditional seven frames - as a compromise.

        "Berwick called us and said they were looking for high quality opponents," Breyer said.

        The manager said the Braves would likely consider the non-league series next season, by traveling to Berwick to play the team on a turf field.

        On Sunday, catcher Eric Schneider - one of three Upper Perk regulars who started - drove in the team's only run with a single to right in the bottom of the fifth inning. The hit scored Logan Curley, who reached on a single, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.

        Trevor Stephen, who started on the mound, tossed five shutout innings. He scattered three hits and registered five strikeouts.

        "Trevor pitched very well," Breyer said. "We're building up (his arm strength) for the second half of our league season."

        The Bulldogs utilized a two-out rally to force a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning off Upper Perk reliever Garrett Perlstein.  After they loaded the based on two walks and a hit, Caleb Gehringer drove in a run with a single to left.

        The rally ended on the play due an overaggressive turn around third base by a Berwick base runner.

        The Bulldogs scored the game-winning run in the eighth on a bases loaded walk of Denver Knorr by Upper Perk reliever McCauley Swenk. They could have had more, but a rare triple play off the bat of the next hitter ended the inning.

        Shortstop Charlie Haag caught a pop up in shallow left field for the first out and threw to second for a another out. Curley, the Braves second baseman, tossed the ball  to third for final out on another runner who was caught off the bag.                                  Consistency has been an issue for the Braves (1-4 league, 4-9 overall), who return seven starters from last year's team, according to Breyer.

        "We have not been able play our game," he said. "On the days we hit, our defense commits too many errors. When we don't hit, our pitchers issue too many walks. When we put it all together, we beat Boyertown."

        On June 4, the Braves played their best game to date in a 3-2 victory over the Boyertown Grizzlies, according to the manager.

        Robert Guzman pitched Upper Perkiomen to victory in the league game.

        On Tuesday, the team began a challenging stretch of three league games in three days against Pottstown, NorChester and Glenmoore.

        Upper Perk blanked Pottstown,  9-0, in the first contest.