The Coplay Legion team took another step toward the top of the standings with a win over the Carbon Monarchs on Tuesday night, taking aim at consecutive regular season championships.

The win should put them in second place, leapfrogging Northern Valley who was idle Tuesday night. The 2-1 win lifts their record to 10-2, and they’ll look to continue their ascent with games against Emmaus on Wednesday evening, followed by Southern Lehigh on Friday.

Manager Jim Murphy said that their schedule has been basically nonstop since their opener on June 16. They’ve played three doubleheaders in the last week, cramming in 13 games since that opening tilt against Lower Macungie.

“It’s just been constant,” said Murphy, noting that Thursday will be their first day off, provided it doesn’t rain.

With such a compressed schedule, he’s reluctant to use pitcher Alex Bruneio as much as he would have liked since the senior threw a lot of innings during Whitehall’s postseason run. Murphy said he’s been handing the ball to some players who’ve never pitched before, but the kids have come through.

“I think I’ve used nine kids so far,” he said.

Bruneio has made three appearances on the mound this season for Coplay. He earned a no-decision in his first start, and then got the save in a wild 10-9 win over West Allentown.

His second start was Tuesday against the Carbon Monarchs. On a near-perfect night for baseball, the Monarchs visited Sammy Ballet Stadium. It turned out to be a pitcher’s duel as Alex Bruneio and Collin Haupt got the starts.

The Monarchs, who currently sit in eighth place, got a triple from their leadoff hitter to start the game. The runner scored on a fielder’s choice, giving the Monarchs a 1-0 lead, but that was all the damage the Monarchs could muster against Bruneio.

The southpaw shut them down the rest of the way, striking out eight en route to his first win of his Legion campaign.

Bruneio had command of the outer half of the plate against the Monarchs, whose right-handed lineup had difficulty getting around on the ball. They weren’t able to pull many balls the whole game as Monarch hitters kept the right side of the diamond busy for the Coplay fielders.

“My fastball just normally tails, so anything I throw inside just cuts over the plate, so I throw middle out and it just tails,” said Bruneio.

Bruneio made a living on the outer edge the whole night, staying consistent and earning him a number of called strikes the whole game.

“Alex is one of those premier pitchers,” said Murphy. “He comes and he pitches and he stays focused.”

Coplay got a run in the first to tie the game at 1-1, and then took the lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI single off the bat of Ben Antonchak.

That proved to be the game-winning hit as Bruneio really only had to work out of one threat the rest of the way. In the top of the third, the Monarchs got a single and a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. A passed ball moved the runners up a base, but Bruneio got the final out on a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

He allowed just one more hit the rest of the way, a double to deep right in the sixth, but retired the next three batters in order.

Murphy also said that they’re ability to play error-free ball has been keeping them in games this season. They play sound defense and that’s one big reason why they’re contending for another regular season championship.

“These kids aren’t making many errors,” said Murphy. “Errors kill you, they make your pitcher work harder, but these guys are doing a real good job.”

Murphy enjoys being around the team and watching them play the game.

“I’m proud of them,” said Murphy. “No matter what we do, they’re really good boys.”