As it has all season, Upper Perkiomen's offense struggled in its season-ending loss Tuesday. The team managed just two hits in a 4-0 loss to Bishop Shanahan in the opening round of the District One Class AAA playoffs.

                "It was the same old story," head coach Frank Mercon said. "We had a few baserunners, but we could not come up with the key hit. We played hard, and we played tough."

                Elias Gabel-Tripp and Trey Livingstone managed the only two hits for the Indians (8-13) off winning pitcher Riley O'Day.  Shanahan's starter went the distance, registering five strikeouts and working around four walks.

                "We made a lot of hard contact," Gabel-Tripp said. "We did a good job putting the ball in play. But we couldn't deliver the key hit."

                Upper Perkiomen's offense has struggled all season. Gabel-Tripp, who singled leading off the top of the second inning, could not provide a reason for its difficulties at the plate.  "I really haven't been able to figure it out," he said. "None of us have an answer."

                Too many of the Indians hitters pressed at the plate during the season, according to Mercon. He said getting them to the district playoffs was a goal, but that we would have preferred to win a few games in the post-season.  "If we could have got our hitting going, this team could have been very dangerous," the coach said.

                Bishop Shanahan rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth, against Matt Schneider. A single by T.J. Booth, the team's No. 9 hitter, with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning snapped a scoreless tie.

                "That was the game," Mercon said. "It was deflating when they scored the run."

                Schneider, the Indians starting pitcher, allowed three runs on four hits and four walks on 5-1/3 innings. Gabel-Tripp recorded the final two outs.

                "Matt pitched very well," Mercon said. "It's tough to pitch when you don't have any run support. We have not scored many runs for him all season."

                Following some early-season struggles, Upper Perkiomen's defense performed very well, according to the coach. He called it one of the team's main strengths.

                "Coach Mercon called it the best defense he's ever seen in 19 years of coaching," Gabel-Tripp said.