After just nine wins in the last two Lehigh Valley Legion seasons, Emmaus' first-year head coach Mike Anderson is looking to rebuild the program's once-proud tradition.

After struggling in the season's first two games, Emmaus has played five competitive games through Monday night's 4-2 loss to Northern Valley, but is still just 2-4 heading into Tuesday's doubleheader against Salisbury.

"It's a work in progress," said Anderson. "I've got some guys playing positions that don't play there. I have position guys pitching and they're doing a heck of a job of it. We're not getting that timely hit when we need it. We're getting guys on and we're trying to move them around, but we're just not getting them in."

On Monday, Emmaus had lead-off base runners in four if the first five innings, but didn't push in a run agianst Chargers starter Ryan Trexler until the fourth inning.

Cody Eastland reached base on an error to start the fourth. Hunter Russiano blasted a home run over the left field fence to give Emmaus a 2-1 lead.

Russiano also threw a solid game for Emmaus, scattering 10 hits and getting out of several jams.

Northern Valley loaded the bases with no outs in the first. An infield fly, a failed squeeze bunt and a strike out ended the threat.

The Chargers loaded the bases with one out in the third and took a 1-0 lead on a Trexler single. Left fielder Charlie Barebo collected the ball and made a perfect throw to the plate to get Josh Williamson out trying to score from second base.

Barebo made another big throw in the next inning, catching a fly ball in left and gunning home to convert a double play as Thomas Quigley tried to tag up from third.

The Chargers tied the game with one run in the fifth. They added two more in the sixth as pitcher Collin Breidinger came on in the fifth to earn the win.

After dropping its first two games of the season (14-2 to Lower Mac and 17-1 to Southern Lehigh), Emmaus has played in five close games. The Hornets beat Coplay 3-0 and West End 6-5, but lost to league-leading North Parkland 2-0.

This week affords them several opportunities to avenge losses. They face Southern Lehigh Thursday and North Parkland on Friday. They also get another shot at Lower Macungie next Wednesday, June 26, 7 p.m. at Community Park.

With more than half the season remaining, Emmaus could still acheive its goal of playing its first winning season since going 9-7 in 2009.

"My goal for this year is to get respect back to Emmaus baseball," said Anderson "The second thing was for us to go over .500. Past years here it's been ugly. [This year] we've been pretty competitive. We've been in every game expect the first two.

"We don't have a lot of time to practice. Pitchers don't have a lot of time to throw. I can't be disappointed with them. They're trying. They're fighting. They're doing what they need to do."