Isaac Bugman delivered the game-winning hit during Upper Perkiomen's Pioneer Athletic Conference baseball season opener last week. Head coach Bobby Saeger hopes it will launch Bugman and the team to new heights.
"I saw a lot of things emerge from these players that I already knew," he said.
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Owen Williams dives into second base during Upper Perk-
iomen's walk-off win over Phoenixville.
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"They really fed off each other. This is the type of game that can propel a team to a great season."
Bugman's three-run hit capped a 9-8 walk-off victory over Phoenixville on Friday, April 5. The Indians rallied for six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning off Christian Cervino at Bonekemper Field in their Pioneer Athletic Conference opener. "Isaac has the potential to become an offensive force," Saeger said.
On Tuesday, Upper Perk lost 2-1 to Perkiomen Valley despite a strong pitching performance by Braden Rieg. He went the distance, permitting just one earned run and four hits while striking out four.
Cole Pierce drove in the only run in the sixth inning for the Tribe (6-2 overall, 2-1 PAC), who managed only three hits and fell behind 2-0.
Four days earlier, Upper Perkiomen maximized four hits, two hit batsmen and a walk in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat the defending PAC champion Phantoms despite allowing six unearned runs. Prior to the decisive rally, the new head coach reminded his players they were not playing with a clock.
"Don't let the game finish until you are done with it," Saeger told the team.
Down 8-3, the team loaded the bases with no outs. Owen Williams and pinch hitter Jackson Long delivered hits, and Pierce was hit by a pitch.
With one out, Brody Weiss drove in the first run with a single. Despite falling behind 1-2 early in the count, he ended a nine-pitch at-bat with a line single to left field.
"We had Phoenixville on the ropes before the hit," Saeger said. "After that, I thought it folded."
Evan Sands followed with a ground ball to Phoenixville third baseman Ryan Jacobsen. He fielded it cleanly but didn't record an out. Rather than throwing the ball to first, Jacobsen attempted to tag courtesy runner Jordin Dice running to third.
Drew Graf forced home another run when he was hit by a pitch before Bugman ended the game with a line drive past the Phantoms' left fielder.
Williams finished with two hits and scored three runs for the Tribe. Sands added a two-run single in the first inning. Weiss contributed two hits.
Jack Schramm earned the mound victory after working a scoreless seventh inning. Upper Perkiomen's third pitcher worked around a leadoff walk.
The Indians defense let down starting pitcher Pierce, who worked into the fourth inning, and reliever Aidan Keyser. A routine infield error in the fourth led to a four-run rally by Phoenixville to go ahead 5-2.
The Phantoms added two additional runs, one unearned, in the fifth inning to extend its edge to 7-2. An infield throwing error allowed in the sixth inning allowed them to score another run to go ahead 6-3.
"I'm confident that we can correct those defensive issues," Saeger said.
On Saturday, April 6, Kyle Mazzie and Sands combined to pitch the Indians to a 4-3 victory over Upper Merion. They permitted just five hits while issuing four walks, while the defense committed just one error.
Mazzie, the starter, permitted one earned run on four hits in four innings. Sands worked the final three frames.
Williams finished with two hits and one RBI. Weiss registered two hits. Pierce and Jack Schramm each added a sacrifice fly for the Tribe, which scored twice in the first inning and once in the second and sixth innings, respectively.