The ending of Perkiomen School's second game against visiting Penn Charter School on Saturday took a small amount of luster off its overall performance, according to head coach Ken Baker.

        He called it a lesson learned for the Panthers, who came within one hit of sweeping their non-league doubleheader.

        Despite the split, Baker expressed pleasure with his team's performance and progress.

        "I'm not at all disappointed," the coach said. "I was impressed with how the players handled the pressure. The front end of our pitching staff is definitely a strength."

        In the first game, Levi Stoudt went the distance on the mound to lead Perkiomen School to a 5-0 victory. The senior scattered three hits and registered nine strikeouts.  "Levi was sharp," the coach said.

        Marlon Lindsey's two-run triple in the fifth inning capped a four-run rally.

        In the second game, Christian DelToro worked around four walks to toss six scoreless innings with five strikeouts. He pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth inning to maintain a scoreless tie.

        In the top of the seventh, Kenny Bergmann's sacrifice fly off Devon Crossin drove in the game's only run.  The Panthers loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with one out, but could not avoid a 1-0 loss.

        Though they had two baserunners picked off in the first inning, Baker said he liked how his team continued to apply offensive pressure.  "My expectation is for us to continue to compete with good teams as we get better," the coach said.

        Baker viewed the doubleheader against Penn Charter, from the Inter-Ac League, as an early measuring stick for Perkiomen School. The team will play non-league doubleheaders against other Inter-Ac opponents Episcopal (Saturday), Springside Chestnut Hill (at home on May 7) and Malvern Prep (May 14) over the next three weekends.

        Perkiomen School defeated Penn Charter in the quarterfinal round of the Pennsylvania Independent School state tournament last season. The team defeated Haverford School, also from the Inter-Ac, in the semifinal round.

        "During this time find we're going to find out how this team stacks up against the best competition around," the coach said. "We need to get more confidence at the plate. I believe we're going to be able to compete with them."

        The Panthers were looking forward to Saturday's doubleheader since they've faced little resistance in the Tri-County Independent School League recently. According to Baker, none of their last five league victories lasted beyond five innings.

        In one of those lopsided victories on Thursday, April 21, Perkiomen School needed only five innings to notch a 12-0 victory over host West-Mont Christian.

        Lindsey, the team's No. 4 hitter  who missed most of last season with a patella tendon injury – finished with three hits, three RBI and scored three runs for the Panthers, who took control with an eight-run rally in the second inning.

        "I like where my swing is," said Lindsey, a junior from Cheltenham after the league victory. "I had been pulling off the ball. But I am focused on keeping my front shoulder closed."