Last week during spring training in Puerto Rico, The Perkiomen School's baseball team lost four of its five games. The team struggled offensively and lacked poise on defense.

                The performance confirmed head coach Ken Baker's suspicion that the Panthers will have to overcome significant youth and inexperience this year.

                "These guys will have to grow up as the season goes on," Baker said. "I expect them to be way further ahead in May than they are now."

                Though their current team features just three returning starters, the coach said his expectations for the 2017 season haven't changed.  "We are a young team," junior Nick Guadarrama said. "But I think that if we play hard and practice hard, we can do some good things. We're ready to live up to those expectations."

                According to Baker, Perkiomen School practiced in the morning and played five night games at Las Lomas Park in San Juan against club teams of high-school aged players.

                "We mixed up the lineup quite a bit," he said. "We had all different kids some at different positions, played with free substitutions."

                According to Baker, the Panthers struggled at the plate against competition in mid-season form. He said the hitters' timing is a little off.  "It was good to see some live pitching in a competitive situation," the coach said.

                On defense, they allowed at least three runs in at least one inning in each game. Still, Baker said he was pleased with his team's overall defensive performance.  "For the first time seeing a live baseball, they handled it well," Baker said. "It got better as the week went on."

                The team makes the trip to the Caribbean island every other year, according to the coach. He said the players stayed with local residents. Guadarrama and two of his teammates stayed with his grandparents.

                The Perkiomen School, which is scheduled to open its season at Abington Friends on Thursday,  features just three returning starters. Baker called it the youngest team he has coached in several years. 

                "We saw this coming," said the coach, who lost 13 seniors to graduation over the last two seasons. 

                David Smith, sophomore, is expected to play shortstop and pitch. Josh Cruz will patrol center field. Naty Urbina, a catcher, showed significant improvement behind the plate in Puerto Rico, according to Baker. 

                "Naty has worked hard over the last year," the coach said. "He had a very good week."

                Guadarrama is expected to play shortstop and third base, while Chris Pow is penciled in at second base, according to Baker.

                "Everything else is in flux," he said.