Consecutive losses cost the Upper Perk Kiwanis Youth Legion team a Berks County League playoff title last week. The team had breezed through the regular season and the initial four games of the postseason tournament.

Corbin Engle is tagged out attempting to take third base  against the Boyertown Bear Cubs on Thursday, July 11  during the Berks County Youth Legion championships.

            However, Boyertown handed the Braves a pair of 10-run defeats at Bonekemper Field. The Bear Cubs won 15-4 in five innings on Thursday, July 11 and 13-2 the following day to secure the title.

            "We didn't hit the ball well, and we didn't execute on defense," Upper Perk manager Pete Schramm said.

            Despite playing its worst two games of the season, the defending state champion Braves (25-6) will continue their season this weekend when they host an Eastern Regional Tournament. Schramm expressed confidence that they will return to the form that led to an 18-game winning streak.

            The top two finishers advance to the state tournament in Homer City. Upper Perk can qualify for the fourth straight year by winning its initial three games.

            The Braves are scheduled to open the eight-team double-elimination tournament at 7 p.m. Friday against the No. 2 seed from the Wyoming Valley League. They will be without starting pitcher Aiden Zuelch, who suffered a season-ending injury during the championship round.

            In its bid for a second league title in three seasons, Upper Perk entered the championship round as the lone undefeated team after notching its 18th consecutive win in the throwaway game of the league playoff tournament.

            Adam Gavinski tossed six shutout innings to secure a 9-0 mound win over Hamburg on July 10. He worked around five hits and three walks while striking out four.

            Nathan Schramm paced a potent offense with two hits and two RBI to help eliminate the Reds. Benjamin Godshall and Benjamin Sands each scored two runs and drove in two for the team that led 6-0 after two innings.

            Ryan Cairns notched two of the Braves' 10 hits and scored a run. Zachary Adam swiped three of their 11 stolen bases. Cairns, Zuelch and Godshall each stole two bases.

            However, the Bear-Cubs – who are also hosting a regional tournament – avenged an earlier tournament loss with consecutive victories. They controlled Upper Perk's potent running game during both championship games. The team stole just seven bases after swiping 40 in its four previous playoff games.

            The Braves managed just four hits in both games. Their pitchers allowed 29 hits.

            On Thursday, July 11, the Bear Cubs snapped Upper Perk's winning streak to force a second championship round game. A third-inning offensive outburst lifted them to a five-inning victory.

            Boyertown scored 11 runs on 10 hits off two Braves (25-5) relief pitchers to build a commanding 13-3 lead. The team sent 15 hitters to the plate against Nathan Schramm and Schantz.

            Conner Houck, C.J. Cressman and Mason Reinert each delivered a two-run hits during the inning. Brennan Pioli and Gianni Costello each scored two runs.

            When starting pitcher Zuelch left the game after being hit by a pitch at the plate in the bottom of the second inning, Upper Perk squandered a 3-2 lead. Its relievers couldn't contain Boyertown's offense.

            Boyertown pounded Nate Schramm and Schantz for 11 runs on 10 hits, sending 15 hitters to the plate in the third inning. Reinert drove in three runs during the frame, including a two-run single to cap the outburst.

            Houck delivered a two-run double early in the third. Cressman contributed a two-run hit.

The Bear-Cubs added two unearned runs in the fifth inning. Joey Goddard's RBI single capped the rally.           

            The Braves scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning on just one hit. Consecutive sacrifice bunts by Grayson Sabo, Weiss and Cairns put them ahead 3-0.

Sands drove in the Braves' final run on a ground ball in the fifth inning. It scored Adam, who worked a leadoff walk.

            The Bear-Cubs scored twice in the second inning. Sam Letter delivered a sacrifice fly and Jake Musselman added an RBI ground ball.

            The following night, on Friday, the Braves missed out on their second league playoff title in three seasons. They managed just two hits and committed five errors in a 13-2 loss to Boyertown at Bonekemper Field.

            Houck finished with two hits, two RBIs and scored twice for the Bear-Cubs (22-6). Kaden Gabel drove in two and scored three runs.

            Letter finished with a team-high three RBIs for Boyertown, who took the lead for good with three unearned runs in the fourth inning before adding three runs two innings later.

Gianni Costello dominated on the mound for the Bear-Cubs. He went the distance while striking out three and permitting just five base runners.

            Two infield errors in the top of the fourth inning permitted Boyertown to overcome a 1-0 deficit against Sabo, the Braves starting pitcher. Chase Artim reached on a fielding miscue to open the inning. Two runs scored on a similar misplay three hitters later. Letter's sacrifice fly capped the rally.

            The Braves opened the scoring in the second inning. Liam Wells led off with a hit, moved to third on a sacrifice and a wild pitch and scored on Adam Gavinski's ground ball.

They scored in the fifth inning without a hit. Cairns worked a leadoff walk, stole second and eventually came home on Schantz's RBI grounder.