Perkiomen's American Legion baseball team kicked off a compressed Bux-Mont League schedule last weekend with a late-inning defeat. A defensive breakdown

Second baseman #6 Jake Creneti, for Legion Post  184, makes the out Sunday evening during the  game agains Chai-Brit.

in the sixth inning helped cost the team a 6-5 loss to Chal-Brit on Sunday, June 11.

            Three errors by the Indians in the top of the sixth inning allowed the first-year team to overcome a 4-1 deficit and post its first ever league win at Bonekemper Field. Manager Mike Fitzgerald identified an infield miscue on a ground ball that led directly to two runs as the key play.

            "That's one you've got to be able to body up," Fitzgerald said.

            Ryan Ferdock finished with two hits and drove in two runs for Post 184 (0-2 overall, 0-1 league). Sammy Zematis delivered two hits.

            Brayden Adam scored twice for Perkiomen, which led 4-1 after Ferdock delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning. Perkiomen loaded the based with two outs, but Chal-Brit pitcher Joseph Ruggiero induced a fly ball to end the rally.

            According to Fitzgerald, pitching depth could become an issue for the Indians, who are scheduled to play 14 league games in just over three weeks. Their Bux-Mont schedule is slated to end July 5 at home against Nor-Gwyn.

            All eight teams will qualify for the league playoffs. Boyertown will host the Region Two Tournament, scheduled to commence Saturday, July 15.

            The 15-man roster features only three returning regulars: Blake Gehman, Gavin Weiss and Ferdock. The team opened league play with only 11 players in uniform and two starters short. 

            According to the manager, Post 184 will need to use the entire season – which includes two non-league games against the Bears – to improve. Fitzgerald said this team's pitchers will need to throw strikes to have any success.

            Against Chal-Brit, starting pitcher Jack Schramm and Zematis combined to issue eight walks. Four of them scored.

            Schramm left the game after four innings with a 2-1 lead. Perkiomen extended it in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ferdock's one-out hit to left field plated Brandon Godshall and Adam.

            Chal-Brit rallied in the ensuing half-inning. Blake Amero's one-out single drove home Logan Freeman, who worked a leadoff walk. Two more runs scored on the decisive infield error with bases loaded. Noah Sampson's RBI two-out hit capped the outburst.

            Chal-Brit extended its lead to 6-4 in the top of the seventh. Logan Freeman, who worked a leadoff walk, eventually scored on a wild pitch. Adam, the Indians catcher, combined with Zematis to nab another runner at the plate attempting to score on a wild pitch to end the frame.

            Post 184 rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning. Adam worked a leadoff walk, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Zematis' two-out single to left.

            The Indians were scheduled to take on Boyertown on the road Wednesday.  Over the following five days, they are slated to play four league games.

            They will hit the road to take on Nor-Gwyn and Pennridge at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.  Home games against Doylestown and Plumstead are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.