A loss Monday night to the best team in the Pioneer Athletic Conference left Upper Perkiomen's postseason hopes hanging by a thread. With two games remaining before Thursday's seeding meeting, the team needs to win its next two games and get

Brandon Mazzie watches Nathan Reinharg reach for a  pop-up during the first inning of Upper Perkiomen's 6-0 loss to Owen J. Roberts on Monday.

some help, according to head coach Frank Mercon.

            On Senior Recognition Night, the Owen J. Roberts rolled to a 6-0 victory at Bonekemper Field. The Indians managed just five base runners and committed four errors.

            Brandon Mazzie delivered the only two hits for the Tribe, who have lost three straight and four of their last five games. The team struck out 16 times against Wildcat pitchers Tristan Dietrich and Shay Geib.  "The baseball gods don't like us right now," Mercon said.

            To have a chance at qualifying for the District One Class 5A playoffs, the Indians need to at least defeat Upper Merion on the road Wednesday and Phoenixville at home the following day, according to the coach. The top 12 teams qualify for the tournament.

            The Tribe began play Wednesday as the No. 16 team in the power rankings. It hopes to jump over Sun Valley Pottsgrove, Radnor and Upper Moreland.

            Owen J. Roberts (14-1 PAC, 18-1 overall), currently No. 3 in the District One Class 6A power rankings, took advantage of an infield error on the game's first play to score two first-inning runs off Indians starting pitcher Evan Wittig. The team added an unearned run in the third inning, and three more on the sixth in four consecutive doubles, to post their 15th consecutive victory.

            "Mistakes have been our Achilles' Heel all season," Mercon said. "We've made too many at critical times. Against a team like this, that's not going to be easy to overcome."

            Dietrich, a junior, permitted just two hits over five innings while striking out 11.

            Mercon described Dietrich, who has already committed to continue his baseball career at Florida International, as one of the best pitchers in the conference. The left hander dominated with a live fastball and sharp curve.

            The Indians also managed just two hits in a 5-1 loss to Methacton on Thursday, May 5. Brandon Mazzie drove in their only run in the fourth inning. Peyton Borchelt and Kyle Mazzie registered the two hits for the Tribe. Aidan Keyser absorbed the loss despite allowing just two earned runs over 4 1/3 innings.

            The host Warriors scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend a 2-1 advantage. Dan Brandi earned the mound win after six innings of work.

            One day earlier, Ryan Van Bramer pitched the Pottsgrove Falcons to a victory. The Tribe managed just five hits in a 4-1 home loss.

            Borchelt scored his team's only run in the bottom of the sixth. Borchelt, Andrew Graf, Nate Reinhart, Brandon Mazzie and Braden Rieg each posted a hit.

            Reinhart absorbed the mound loss. He surrendered two earned runs on seven hits through 5 1/3 innings. Pottsgrove scored once in the first inning before adding three more in the top of the sixth inning.