When Upper Perk's first batter circled the bases Monday night, manager Rick Rossiter figured his team would light up the scoreboard.  "I was thinking this might be our night," he said. "Phoenixville

looked a little flustered."

            Instead, the Youth Legion Braves struggled to muster much more offense. They managed just three hits and lost 12-1 in five innings to visiting Phoenixville at Bonekemper Field in the Tri-County League.

            Levi Gehman doubled, while Evan States and Donald States singled.

            Upper Perk (3-9 league, 7-12 overall) has absorbed its share of lopsided losses this season, including a 16-2 defeat to the Boyertown Grizzlies on June 24 and an 11-1 loss to NorChester on June 11. 

            At times, the team has been unable to play a complete game, according to Rossiter.  "When we hit well, we have not pitched or played solid defense," he said. "When we pitched and play good defense, we have not been able to hit the ball."

            The Braves' rematch with Phoenixville started well enough, when Gehman led off the bottom of the first inning with a double to right field. Gehman put his team ahead 1-0 on the same play, scoring from second when a throw from the outfield rolled out of play.

            Referencing a 3-2 road win over the Phantoms six days earlier, Rossiter said he thought Upper Perk might complete the series sweep.  "Phoenixville seemed really deflated," the manager said.

            However, the Phantoms responded in the top of the second against Upper Perk starting pitcher Matt Reinhart. They sent 10 hitters to the plate, scoring five runs on two hits, four walks and one hit batsman. Will Trianosky's two-run single capped the rally. 

            Reinhart, who pitched into the fifth inning, issued four walks and permitted eight earned runs, struggled with his footing on the mound, according to Rossiter.  Phoenixville added seven runs on five hits in the fifth inning. Trianosky highlighted the flurry with a two-run double.

            At times, the experienced pitching staff - which includes Reinhart, Bobby Lynch, David Kilroy and Malachi Duka - has struggled to find the strike zone, the manager said.

            Rossiter has juggled the lineup in search of offense. He said playing without a designated hitter has been a challenge.  "We've got to play the guys that are hot," Rossiter said.

            The Braves resumed their league schedule Wednesday against Spring City before returning home against Norchester at 7 p.m. Thursday. On Saturday morning, they will take on Perkiomen Valley on the road.

            Upper Perk will likely have to get its record back to .500 in order to qualify for league playoffs, according to Rossiter.  "This is a very difficult league," he said.