A nine-game winning streak has propelled Upper Perkiomen's baseball team to the Pioneer Athletic Conference playoffs for the first time in program history. On Monday, the team clinched its first Frontier Division title with a 3-1 victory over Pope John Paul II. 

            The following day, it clinched the No. 1 seed in next week's playoffs with a 22-0

Lincoln Fijalkowski, right, catches a pick-off throw at first base against Upper Merion last week.

win over Pottstown. Benjamin Sands and Stephen Mumford led the team in its final conference game.

            Sands drove in five runs on three hits during the three-inning road victory. Mumford contributed two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs off the bench for the Indians, who scored 13 runs in the first inning and finished with 15 hits.

            "The team's progress has been fulfilling," head coach Bobby Saeger said.

            The Indians have displayed an ability to rally down the stretch. They overcame an early deficit against Pope John Paul II on Senior Night, scoring twice in the bottom of the fourth inning to overcome a 1-0 deficit at Bonekemper Field.

            Three days earlier, the Tribe posted a 3-2 walk-off victory over Upper Merion. Lincoln Fijalkowski scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning.  The team, which holds the No. 3 spot in the District One Class 5A power rankings, will compete in the first round of the conference playoffs on Monday at Spring-Ford.

            Last Monday, Fijalkowski worked into the sixth inning to earn the mound win in the division clincher. The junior allowed just an unearned run in the first inning despite allowing the Panthers four hits and six walks. He struck out six.

            Jack Rieg recorded a save on Senior Night. The junior struck out all four hitters he faced.

            Rieg drove in the tying run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly to right field. It scored Brody Weiss, who started the rally with a single, moved to second in a hit by Grayson Sabo and advanced on Fijalkowski's sacrifice. Nate Schramm's two-out hit to right field put the Tribe ahead for good, plating Sabo.

            Weiss' one-out double in the fifth provided an insurance run. It scored Zane Saeger, who led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch.

            On Youth Night, Fijalkowski scored the decisive run on a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning on Friday, May 1. A drawn-in infield allowed him to extend his secondary lead, according to Bobby Saeger.
            "Lincoln didn't react," the coach said. "He anticipated that the ball was going to hit the ground and immediately broke for the plate."
            The Indians (16-3 overall, 12-3 PAC) rallied in the bottom of the eighth to snap a 2-2 tie against Upper Merion reliever Rudy Wilhelm to extend their winning streak to eight games on Friday, May 1. Fijalkowski and Sabo worked walks to open the inning. Jack Rieg's perfectly placed bunt loaded the bases.

            Rieg retired the final seven hitters he faced to earn the mound victory in relief. He finished with five strikeouts, including the side in the top of the eighth inning.
            According to Bobby Saeger, Rieg has emerged as the team's top high-leverage relief pitcher after dealing with shoulder issues the previous two seasons. The junior, who relieved Sabo in the top of the sixth inning with the go-ahead runner on second, walked the first hitter he faced before retiring Justin Martein to end the inning and preserve a 2-2 tie.

            Two walks in the first inning led to one run. An around-the-horn double play turned by Upper Perkiomen's defense minimized the damage.
            Two Vikings singles leading off the second inning led to another run. Then Sabo settled into a groove, retiring 13 of the final 15 hitters he faced, including striking out the side in the fifth inning.

            "By the fourth inning, Garyson was unhittable," the coach said. "Everything came together for him. It took him a little while to get there."

             The Tribe scored a pair of unearned runs during the bottom of the fourth inning to force a 2-2 tie against Vikings starting pitcher Tristan Fanning. Both scored on infield errors.
            Weiss led off the inning with a single to center. He moved to second on a ground ball, then took third on an errant throw by the catcher on a dropped third strike against Sabo. After reaching on the play, Sabo eventually scored on an Upper Merion error off the bat of Schramm.

            Upper Perkiomen threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases on two walks and a hit batsman. However, Wilhelm worked out of trouble, retiring Weiss to end the inning.

            Two days earlier, the visiting Tribe utilized a seventh-inning rally to post its sixth straight conference win. A six-run outburst carried it to an 8-2 victory over Pottsgrove.

            Brody Weiss' three-run double off Shane Barrow highlighted the flurry on Wednesday, April 29. A hit-by-pitch of Fijalkowski with the bases loaded snapped a 2-2 tie.

            Sabo and Rieg launched consecutive home runs during the fourth inning to put the team ahead 2-1. Rieg and Weiss each finished with three hits, while Rieg also drove in three runs. Sabo scored twice.

            Ben Godshall recorded four outs in relief to earn the mound victory against a Frontier Division opponent. He allowed one hit while striking out two.

           Ben Sands pitched the seventh inning to secure the win. He permitted one hit and struck out one.

             Starting pitcher Andrew Nagata permitted a run in the bottom of the first inning. Zach Heffernan's two-out single in the fifth tied the game. The pitcher retired Dominic Pennisi on a ground ball with the bases loaded to end the threat.

             Upper Perkiomen's offense broke through in the seventh, sending 10 hitters to the plate. It loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batsman.

            Sabo followed Weiss with a run-scoring triple. Rieg's single to center capped the scoring.