Sports

Perkiomen's Dylan Umstead escapes a tag attempt by the Pennridge catcher as he races for the plate in the fourth inning of play in last Thursday's American Legion Bux-Mont League championship game played in Quakertown.

                Perkiomen Post 184 was playing about as well as a team could possibly play.  The pitching had been outstanding and their bats were hot.  Momentum was clearly on their side.

                Pennridge had just played nine innings and though victorious, had to be a bit tired heading into game two of what was to be a doubleheader day for them.  It appeared that Perkiomen held the edge for the Bux-Mont tournament title, but then it rained.

                For three days the two teams waited eagerly to do battle.  On Thursday, they finally took to the ball field. 

                Pennridge had given up first inning runs to their opponent in each of the first five games they had played, but this time it would be the boys in green who would take the early lead when Dylan Tice doubled home Tim Eversole in the home first to take a 1-0 lead.  They would add two more in the second to go ahead 3-0.

                Perkiomen, though, would make it interesting in the top of the fourth as a two-out, bases-loaded single off the bat of Jarrett Tornetta plated Andrew Farris and Colin Weiss to make it a 3-2 game.

                Perkiomen took the lead in the fifth as Dylan Umstead and Tim Mayza opened the inning with back-to-back singles.  Umstead scored on a sacrifice fly by Farris and, for the second straight inning, Perkiomen got a big two-out base hit when Weiss singled in Mayza for the lead.

                The home half of the fifth, though, would spell trouble for Post 184.  With one out and a man on third, Pennridge leadoff batter Steve Swainteck smoked a ground ball that was speared by the Perkiomen defense.  The split-second decision to try and gun down the tying run at home plate failed and Pennridge took advantage of the extra out to put together a four-run inning and take a 7-4 lead.

                Perkiomen scored the game’s final run in the sixth when Steve Grover lead off with a single and, one out later, raced to third on a hit by Devon Kerr.  Grover scored on a sacrifice fly by Umstead.

                When the game ended, Perkiomen had fallen to the tournament’s number two seed by a score of 7-5.

                “Back when we were 2-7 it seemed a little hopeless,” said Perkiomen head coach Ernie Quatrani.  “But we were able to turn things around and it ended up being one of our best seasons ever.  It’s a credit to the hard work of our coaching staff and a tribute to the players’ willingness not to give up.  In the end I have no complaints.”

                Perkiomen’s Mike Paul was selected first team, all league at first base, while Tim Mayza was voted second team all league as an outfielder and also received honorable mention as a pitcher.  Steven Grover received the Mel Wright award which is presented to one player from each team.

                Perkiomen ended the season with a record of 14-13.

The Upper Perk Otters swim team held their last regular season meet at home last Thursday night against the Laurelwood Swim Club. John Miller swim the backstroke in the boys' 9-10, 100-meter medley relay.

The Upper Perk Otters brought their regular season to a close last Thursday with a home meet against Laurelwood Swim Club. Although the Otters suffered a disappointing 320-213 loss, the team celebrated several more swimmers’ qualifying for A Championships.

For the 8-and-under teams, there were a handful of first-place finishers. The boys’ 100-meter medley and 100-meter freestyle relays, both consisting of David Kilroy, Joseph McGillan, Trevor Cairns, and Justin Heimes, took the win.

Individually, Cairns earned first in the 25-meter backstroke (22.57) and breaststroke (26.41). 8-and-under girls' winners included Breanna O’Conner in the 26-meter freestyle (22.37) and Michaela Freczek in the 25-meter breaststroke (22.97).

Kaylee Heimes took first for Upper Perk’s 9-10 age group, finishing the 25-meter butterfly event in 17.63.

For the 11-12 age group, winners on the boys’ side included Marcus Sobetsky and Mitch Cairns in the 50-meter backstroke (39.91) and 100-meter IM (1:39.51), respectively. Kirsten Siwy and Jackie Hammill finished first in the 50-meter free (33.85) and 100-meter IM (1:28.11).

A handful of older swimmers also came out victorious against Laurelwood. Winners consisted of Krysta Rehrig, Becky Strawbridge and Ryan Himmelwright in the 100-meter IM (1:24.43, 1:26.61, 1:10.68) and Zak Kibler in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:20.81). Almost all of Upper Perk’s relay teams earned first in the freestyle relay.

The Otters honored two graduating seniors at this meet. Himmelwright and Strawbridge, who have been with the team for 11 and seven years, respectively, have put a commendable amount of time and effort into the program, instructors said.

“They do a tremendous job uniting the team and teaching the younger swimmers all these little tricks to better their stroke techniques,” said proud head coach Corrine Guntz. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to be their coach, and I know they will do great things and truly make a difference.”

Swimmers who qualified during this meet for Monday’s A Championships at Hillside included Michaela Greczek (25-meter freestyle), Brooke Stempel and Emily Badman (50-meter freestyle), Clara Guntz and Bailey McCausland (25-meter breaststroke), Shayla Good (50-meter breaststroke).

This week, A Championships were held at Hillside on Monday, SR Championships at Laurelwood on Tuesday, and Upper Perk hosted B championships on Wednesday.