A baserunning mistake ended the Upper Perk Kiwanis Youth Legion team's 5-4 loss to the Boyertown Bear Cubs on Monday night. Manager Rick Rossiter described it as the most frustrating defeat of the season.

Benjamin Sands tags out a Boyertown base runner diving back to first base durin Upper Perk's loss on Monday, July 3.

            Brody Weiss appeared to drive in the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a fly ball with the bases loaded at Bonekemper Field. However, the umpires ruled that Zane Saeger tug up prematurely from second base.

            With the Braves defensive players headed onto the field with the intent of starting the eighth inning, the umpires ruled that the seventh-inning double play ended the Berks County Youth Legion League game.

            Rossiter described it as one of the worst games his team has played all year. Upper Perk scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, then was shut out until the bottom of the seventh.  "This is a game we should have won," the manager said. "Our offense came out on fire in the first inning. Then we took our foot off the gas."

            The Braves (16-4 league, 20-5 overall) made four offensive outs on the bases, including twice in the first inning. Their defense made three errors that led directly to two unearned runs for the Bear Cubs.

           Rossiter expressed confidence that his team would regroup for the league playoffs, which begins Saturday. A win over the Boyertown Grizzlies on Wednesday would clinch the East Division title.

            Ryan Sink absorbed the mound loss despite allowing just three earned runs and five hits for the Braves, who had won three straight games. The left-hander struck out six in seven innings.

            Down 5-3 after allowing an unearned run in the top of the seventh, Upper Perk rallied when Topher Burns led off the inning with a hit and Zachary Adam worked a walk.

            After both moved up a base on a sacrifice by Benjamin Sands, Saeger and Jordin Dice worked consecutive walks off Boyertown ace Joe Schreiner to get their team within 5-4.

            Weiss followed with his fly ball to center that appeared to drive home pinch runner Grayson Sabo with the tying run. However, the umpires subsequently made their game-ending decision.

            Rossiter said he did not watch the runner on second base. He surmised that the call would not have been made unless the violation was relatively obvious.

            The Braves' initial five base runners reached base in the bottom of the first inning. Weiss delivered a two-run double to left. He scored on a bunt single by Cole Pierce.

            However, Jackson Long -- who delivered a single -- was thrown out at third trying to take an extra base on the bunt. Boyertown pitcher Samuel Letter picked off Nate Schramm at first base to end the inning.

            The Bear Cubs responded with three runs in the top of the second inning on four consecutive hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly off Sink. The pitcher worked around a leadoff double in the third inning.

            Boyertown went ahead 4-3 on an unearned run in the fourth inning. The team took advantage of two Braves errors in the top of the seventh to go ahead 5-3.

            In the bottom of the sixth, Upper Perk had a chance to force a tie. Weiss led off the inning with his second double. He took third on a wild pitch and attempted to score on an errant throw by Bear Cubs catcher Mason Reinert but was thrown out at the plate.

            The Braves played errorless defense during their three previous victories. They defeated Muhlenberg 11-4 on Friday, June 30.

            Upper Perk made the most of seven hits, four stolen bases and four errors by the host A's. Sink drove in three runs and scored twice without a hit.

            Jordin Long delivered two hits, scored a run and drove in another. Weiss reached base in all four plate appearances. He had two hits and worked two walks for the Braves, who scored five runs in the third inning, four in the fourth–to extend a 5-3 advantage–and two in the fifth.

            Jonathan Lewis tossed five innings to post the mound victory. He allowed three runs on four hits and five walks. Long worked the final two innings.

            One day earlier, Burns pitched Upper Perk to an 11-0 win over visiting Wyomissing. He permitted just two hits while striking out four.

            Saeger delivered two hits, scored two runs, drove in two and stole two bases for Upper Perk, which scored five runs in the first inning. Weiss contributed two hits and two RBIs.

            Last week, the Braves responded from a loss with a dominant victory over Spring City. Sink tossed five shutout innings in a 10-0 victory on Wednesday, June 28.

            He allowed just two hits, struck out three and did not issue a walk at Bonekemper Field.

            Pierce finished with a team-high three hits, including a triple for the Braves, who scored seven runs in the third inning after tallying three in the first inning. He also scored twice and drove in two runs.

            Long had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs for Upper Perk, which finished with 12 hits. Sands had two hits and two RBIs. Weiss and Sink each recorded two hits and drove in a run.