Perkiomen School's most experienced baseball team in recent memory has

Perkiomen School's baseball team takes swings in an indoor batting cage this week. Starting March 10, the Panthers will spend a week practicing and playing games in Puerto Rico.

started practice for the 2019 season.  Though inclement weather has limited the team to inside workouts.

            Next month, the Panthers will spend a week in conditions considered more conducive to the game. Between March 10 and16, they will participate in their bi-annual spring training trip to Puerto Rico. 

            For five consecutive days, the team will practice in the afternoon and play at night against local club teams with players between the ages of 16 to 18, according to coach Ken Baker, whose team is scheduled to open its regular season March 20 at home against Lower Moreland. The coach said he expects to see a more solid defensive effort than the previous trip two years ago.

            "I'd like to think we will do more fine tuning than doing things from scratch," he said.

Perkiomen School looks to build on an appearance in last year's Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association state tournament Final Four with a trio of talented senior starting pitchers.

            Carlos Torres, who has committed to play college baseball at Lehigh University, has attracted interest from Major League teams, according to the coach. He said Torres, a Coamo, Puerto Rico native who throws his fastball in the low 90s, has recently worked out for multiple professional scouts.

            David Smith, a Collegeville native who has committed to continue his career at LaSalle University, threw multiple innings last season.

            However, Jose Aviles has made the biggest strides, according to Baker. He said the Hatillo, Puerto Rico native, who was limited to one inning in the fall due to injuries, looked good during inside bullpen sessions.

            "I'm hoping that he will be a strength," the coach said.

            In terms of position players, the Panthers return all but two starters. Smith and Chris Pow, a pair of four-year starters, will anchor that unit. The remaining returners include Zack Smith, of East Greenville, John Crane, Jayden Kemp and Jeremy Amato.

            The coach mentioned Edrick Padilla - a junior from Solinas, Puerto Rico and Tony Holden, a sophomore from Brooklyn - as contenders for the starting catcher position. 

            According to Baker Owen Taylor - a sophomore from the Bahamas, as well as freshmen T.J. Khela of Orefield, Robert Frankenfield from Gilbertsville, and Macungie resident Logan Simmons, could also compete for playing time.

            He said the Panthers' biggest challenge might be generating enough runs to be successful.

            "The biggest question is how well we hit the ball," Baker said. "If we can hit and score some runs, we will be tough to beat. But if we score like we did last year, there are going to be lots of tough games."