Gable-Tripp and Dalton Breyer deliver hits giving team its 8th league win

        Elias Gabel-Tripp wants to force his way into more playing time for Perkiomen's American Legion baseball. On Monday night, he made a significant impression in a 4-1 victory over Plumstead in the Bux-Mont League at Bonekemper Field.

        Gabel-Tripp delivered a two-run double in the first inning. Then, Levi Stoudt made the hit stand up, tossing 3 1/3 shutout inning in relief to earn the mound victory for the Indians (8-2 league, 13-4 overall), who played without six starters.

        After the game, Gabel-Tripp received several congratulatory texts from some teammates at the beach.  "I'm sure they'll be surprised to see we won without them," Gabel-Tripp said. "Maybe this will get them home early."

        According to manager Mike Fitzgerald, Post 184 will attempt to navigate a five-game stretch, including three league games, without the players who left the team for Senior Week. The manager said they will return in time for a league game Sunday night against Nor-Gwyn at home.

        Several of the seniors followed Monday's game on the internet, according to Fitzgerald.  "I'm sure they are happy," said the manager, whose team posted three straight victories over the weekend in the Berks Invitational Tournament.

        Meanwhile, the remaining players will continue to compete against league opponents Quakertown (Saturday) and Souderton (Sunday). Fitzgerald expressed confidence that they could complete the three-game sweep.

        "I wouldn't rule it out," the manager said. "Especially with the pitching and defense we have. Maybe the seniors won't have starting spots when they get back."

        Gabel-Tripp made the most of his opportunity in the first inning. He drove home Stoudt and Brian Pijanowski on the extra-base hit.  

        "Elias really stepped up huge," Fitzgerald said, adding that he envisioned the hit earlier in the day. 

        A left-handed hitter, Gabel-Tripp fought off a pitch on the inside corner and blooped it inside the left field line.  According to Fitzgerald, the hit is evidence of Gabel-Tripp's improving swing.  "Last year, he would have pulled that pitch," the manager said.

        Fitzgerald lifted starting pitcher Devon Crossin with two outs in the fourth inning after he allowed an RBI double that trimmed Perkiomen's lead to 2-1.

        The manager said he planned on going to Stoudt at the first sign of trouble once the team took a lead. The relief pitcher settled the situation, striking out Tanner Boone to end the inning. He recorded four strikeouts and worked around two hits to preserve the victory.

        "Levi has been golden all season," Fitzgerald said.

        Dalton Breyer's two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning, which drove home Nolan Graber and Kacey Myers, capped the scoring.

        With the seniors on the field, Post 184's offense reeled off 28 runs on 27 hits in three tournament victories last weekend.

        On June 19, Nolan Graber drove in two runs and Daron Pijanowski finished with two hits and scored twice to lead the team to a 13-2 win over Southwest York.

        The next day, the Indians defeated Post 10 from Delaware (9-6) and Norchester (6-2).

        Levi Stoudt registered three hits and scored twice, while Tom Aaron Daron Pijanowski each finished with two hits and two RBI in the win over the Generals.

        Josh Fell finished with two hits and drove in two runs in the victory over Norchester. Daron Pijanowski scattered three hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief to earn the victory.