After winning their final home game, Upper Perkiomen's three seniors took one more trip around the bases at Bonekemper Field. Maneuvering around a crowd of eager nine-year-olds, the longer strides of Brayden Adam, Jackson Long and Cole Pierce quickly carried them to the front of the pack.

Upper Perkiomen catcher Ryan Cairns, left, attempts to tag a Pottstown runner without the ball during the final home game of the season on May 7.

            Bobby Saeger embraced each of them as they crossed home plate following a victory over Pottstown last week. The trio has meant so much to the program's development, according to the head coach.

            The Indians head into the District One Class 5A playoffs with confidence after consecutive Pioneer Athletic Conference victories, including over their main division rival, to end their regular season. After rolling to a 9-1 victory over the visiting Trojans on Wednesday, May 7, they rallied late the following day to defeat Pope John Paul II. 

            Benjamin Godshall's single in the top of the seventh lifted them to a 3-2 victory over the three-time defending Frontier Division champions.

            By winning four of their last five games, the Tribe will likely be the No. 10 seed in the district tournament that begins Monday. A third meeting with Upper Merion, the No. 7 seed, is probable.

            The May 7 final home game against the Trojans drew a large crowd. Saeger described it as a sign that the program is returning to relevance in the community.

            Saeger said he encouraged the seniors to circle the bases with several members of a travel team coached by high school assistant Evan Wickard as a way to help grow the program. According to the head coach, the goal is to get the younger kids to develop a respect for the current players.

            "If you can get the little kids to look up to the big kids, it can build a program," Saeger said. "It has happened in other communities."

            Saeger described the moment as emotional. He has worked with Long for eight years and coached Pierce and Adam on the Upper Perk Braves Youth Legion team.
            "I told each of their parents they raised great kids," Saeger said. "They have all grown up very well."

            Topher Burns pitched the Indians to victory on Wednesday, May 7. He allowed just one run over 4 2/3 innings while scattering five hits. The junior did not issue a walk.
Burns came on in the third inning for Pierce, who Saeger removed from the game after just 19 pitches to work the following day against the Panthers.

"Topher was on cruise control," Saeger said.

            According to Saeger, Burns made himself relevant moving forward following an impressive relief performance last month against Phoenixville. He tossed 5 1/3 innings to earn the mound win in a 6-3 road victory on April 16.

            Pierce and Jack Rieg each paced the Tribe offense with three RBIs. Pierce delivered a team-high three hits. Jordin Dice and Saeger each added two hits. Dice scored three runs and Saeger crossed the plate twice.

            Rieg's single drove home two runs in the bottom of the first inning to open the scoring. In the second inning, Pierce delivered a two-run triple to highlight a four-run rally. An infield error on the relay throw allowed him to score on the play.

            The Indians capped the scoring with a three-run rally in the sixth inning. Pierce delivered an RBI hit. Adam drove in a run on a hit by pitch before Rieg delivered a sacrifice fly.

            The following day, Upper Perkiomen snapped a 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning of a suspended game.  Nathan Schramm, who led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second base, scored the winning run on a hit by Benjamin Godshall with two outs.

            Pierce tossed the final three innings. He scattered four hits and worked around a leadoff walk.

            The host Panthers threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning. Pierce allowed a single to lead off the inning. However, he retired Blaiser DeSanto with the potential tying run on third to end the game.

            Two days earlier, Adam's two-run single staked the Indians to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The two-out hit plated Zane Saeger and Jordin Dice.

            Schramm contributed two of his team's five hits. Starting pitcher Jackson Long allowed single runs in the third and fourth innings.