Upper Perkiomen benefitted partially from the wide-open nature of last week's Pioneer Athletic Conference Tournament. However, the team missed its chance to capture a league championship. Boyertown lefthander Ella Hurter made sure of that.

            Hurter, a sophomore, dominated the Indians in the conference title game on

Ashley Forrest reaches first base safely during the third inning agains Boyertown in the Pioneer Athletic Conf- erence Tournament Championship game.

Wednesday, May 18. She allowed just one hit and struck out 10 in a 2-0 victory at Bear Park.  "We were not able to put anything together offensively," Tribe center fielder Lynnsi Joyce said.

            The host Bears (15-4) scored single runs in the first and third innings off Madalyn Dyer. Upper Perkiomen (13-7) managed just two base runners in its first appearance in the conference title game since 2017. Ashley Forrest reached on an infield error with one out in the third inning. Makenzie Schaffer broke up a no-hitter two innings later.

            "Hats off to (Boyertown)," Indians head coach Dean Sullivan said. "Tonight was not our night."

            A pair of upsets in Tuesday's semifinal round – including the Tribe's 1-0 win over Owen J. Roberts – created an atmosphere that either team had a good chance to win the title. One month earlier, on the same field, Sullivan's team rolled to a 7-2 victory. On April 19, the Indians built a 6-0 lead through three innings off Bears starting pitcher Avery Frey.  "I thought this was going to be our year," Joyce said.

            Hurter, who allowed just one run in 4 2/3 innings in relief during the initial meeting, was nearly untouchable in the rematch to help Boyertown secure its first conference title since 2011. She faced only one hitter over the minimum through four innings.

            Forrest got to first with one out in the fourth inning on a misplayed ground ball for the Indians. Schaffer ended Hurter's no-hit bid with a sharp single to left field.

            Sullivan said the opposing pitcher dominated the outside corner of the plate against the Tribe's right-handed hitters. The batters didn't make the necessary adjustments quickly enough, according to Joyce.

            In the first and third innings, the Bears managed to score single runs off losing pitcher Madalyn Dyer. Alyx Morgan's hit, leading off the game, led to the decisive run. Morgan advanced on a ground ball to the left side of the infield and scored on a two-out hit by Nicole Kratz.

            A two-out walk issued by Dyer in the third inning helped lead to an insurance run. Kyra Neiswender followed a free pass to Kratz by delivering an RBI hit to left center.  "Madalyn pitched well," Sullivan said of Dyer, who registered four strikeouts, issued one walk and stranded six runners. "But (Hurter) was a little better."

            The Indians ended the regular season with an 11-1 loss to Quakertown. They were scheduled to open play in the District One Class 5A playoffs on Wednesday, May 25.

            As the No. 3 seed they were scheduled to host Interboro or Upper Merion in a second-round game. The Tribe can earn a berth in the state tournament with consecutive wins in the 12-team tournament.