Upper Perkiomen's baseball team celebrates its District One Class 5A title on May 5

            Zane Saeger's triple provided his father with one final shot of confidence. As in many of its one-run victories this season, head coach Bobby Saeger said he believed Upper Perkiomen would complete another comeback during Monday's PIAA Class 5A game.

            However, the following hitter grounded out, ending the team's bid for a state title. Greencastle-Antrim hung on for a 2-1 victory in a first round of the state tournament at Bonekemper Field.

            Bo Brookens' solo home run off Lincoln Fijalkowski in the top of the sixth inning snapped a 1-1 tie. Cam Rakaczewski recorded the final four outs in relief to help the visiting Blue Devils secure a spot in today's quarterfinal round matchup against Pittston Area, the District II champion.

           "Greencastle-Antrim is a very good team," Bobby Saeger said. "But I don't think they were better [than us]. We just couldn't get the big hit."

           The Indians (19-5), who earned their first home state playoff game by capturing the District One Class 5A title game five days earlier, managed six hits and stranded seven baserunners. They squandered a prime scoring opportunity in the first inning and left the bases loaded in the sixth inning.

            Zane Saeger reignited a vocal crowd of approximately 500 parents, students, teachers and alumni with a two-out double in the seventh inning. After emerging from a large cloud of dirt, he implored his teammates to deliver one more hit. However, Rakaczewski retired Ben Godshall on a ground ball to end the team's deepest post-season run in 20 years.

             "We put a new banner in the gym," the head coach said. "With a few different bounces, this team could have won a state title."

            Greencastle-Antrim, the No. 3 seed from District III, scored its other run during the first inning. Nolan Sullivan's triple to right center field scored Rakaczewski, who delivered a one-out single and stole second.

            Brody Weiss drove in the only run in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Indians. His two-out single with the bases loaded plated Godshall, who reached on a fielder's choice, brought them within 2-1. They had a chance to extend the rally, but Fijalkowski's fly ball ended the threat.

            The Tribe squandered a scoring chance in the bottom of the first inning after Zane Saeger led off with a single and Godshall followed by getting hit by a pitch. However, Blue Devils starting pitcher Ryder Linn retired the next three hitters. The left hander induced Weiss to hit into a ground ball, then struck out Fijalkowski and Grayson Sabo.

           "[Linn] is very crafty," Bobby Saeger said. "His changeup was excellent."

            Nate Schramm appeared to provide an offensive spark for the Indians by opening the bottom of the fifth inning with a double to right center field. However, Greencastle-Antrim threw out the junior at third base attempting to stretch it.

            Bobby Saeger waived Schramm to third base when he saw the ball hit the fence. He said the Blue Devils second baseman made a perfect relay throw.

            Bryce Davidson, Greencastle-Antrim's strong-armed catcher, limited the Indians to one stolen base. He threw out Fijalkowski attempting swipe second base after leading off the fourth inning with a hit.

            The Tribe celebrated its first district championship since 2006 on Wednesday, May 27. Sabo dominated West Chester Rustin on the mound for six innings, and its offense made the most of its five hits in a 5-2 victory in the District One Class 5A title game at Villanova Ballpark in Plymouth Township. The junior allowed Rustin just five base runners through six innings.

            On 103 pitches, Sabo permitted just three hits and two walks while striking out three. He permitted only a third-inning run against the Golden Knights, the No. 5 seed. Godshall recorded the final two outs to the game and set off a celebration.

            Upper Perkiomen, which won 13 of its previous 14 games, made the most of five hits and West Chester Rustin's two first-inning defensive miscues in the district title game to take a 3-0 lead. Zane Saeger opened the bottom of the first inning with a walk, stole second and scored on Fijalkowski's single to left field.

            An error with two outs in the first inning on a grounder by Jack Rieg led to two additional runs. The misplay, on the left side of the infield, plated Fijalkowski and Weiss, who was hit by a pitch. Both advanced on a passed ball by Golden Knights catcher Greg Masiko.

            Jackson Roche's sacrifice fly in the third inning pulled Rustin (13-7) within 3-1. It scored Ryan Wood, who worked a one-out walk.

            Upper Perkiomen got its run back in the bottom of the inning on Sabo's single to center field. The hit drove home Weiss, who worked a leadoff walk, took second on a wild pitch and was sacrificed to third base.

            Sabo allowed only two base runners over his final three innings. He stranded a runner at second after issuing a leadoff walk in the fourth inning.

            Jordin Dice's two-out single in the bottom of the sixth extended his team's lead to 5-1. The hit scored Rieg, who worked a leadoff walk and stole second.

            Rustin rallied in the top of the seventh inning against Rieg. The team loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a hit batsman before scoring a run.

            However, Godshall came on to retire the next two hitters. He induced Roche to line out to left field and John Hoffmayer to fly out in the same direction to end the game.