Perkiomen School's unbeaten winning streak to start the season ended last weekend at 14. Head coach Ken Baker described the first loss as inevitable.

            "It's no big deal," he said. "It's not easy to continue winning games. I'm not

Perkiomen School's Ryan Stubblefield sides safely into third base.

concerned in the least. I'm more concerned with how we are playing and if we are making progress."

            According to Baker, the Panthers have shown signs of improvement. On Sunday, they showed that progress during a non-league doubleheader split with Citius Academy at Baker Field.  "We are moving in the right direction," the coach said.

            In the first game, Perkiomen rallied from an early three-run deficit to post a 6-3 victory. They lost the second game 3-1. The coach described the opponent – from Mt. Vernon, N.Y. – as their most physically talented adversary of the season.

            The Panthers' 14-game winning streak ended during the second game of Sunday's non-league doubleheader. They stranded 10 runners in a 3-1 loss.

            Juan Sanchez absorbed the loss despite tossing six solid innings. The left hander allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks. He struck out five.

            Henry Clausell accounted for the team's only run with a solo home run in the second inning. Perkiomen School managed just five additional hits off Joylem Sepulneda and Christian Toledo. Sepulneda went six innings to record the victory. Toledo worked around a one-out walk in the seventh inning to save the win.

            Clausell's solo shot in the second inning to dead center field opened the scoring. However, the Panthers (8-0 Penn Jersey Athletic Association, 15-1 overall) lost their lead in the top of the third inning, when Citius Academy rallied for two runs (one earned) on just one hit.

            Nick Vega, who walked, eventually scored on a wild pitch. Sean Gallager, who singled to left, came home on a sacrifice fly.

            The team added an insurance run in the seventh inning without a hit. Vega crossed the plate on a wild pitch by Calvin Dymond.

            Perkiomen School squandered several scoring opportunities against Sepulneda. It left the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings, and stranded two runners in scoring position in the sixth inning.

            In the early game, the Panthers overcame an early 3-0 deficit to win 6-3. In the fifth inning, Erick Diaz delivered a two-run single following a double steal. Clausell's two-run homer capped a four-run outburst.

            "The guys feel pretty comfortable playing from behind," said Baker, whose team was awarded a 7-0 forfeit victory over 7-0 over Cristo Rey on Monday. "We've been able to do it a few times. It's a mindset they have developed."

            Shane Baird went the distance on the mound despite allowing two home runs in each of the first two innings. He scattered seven hits and registered 10 strikeouts.  "Shane was really effective," the coach said.

            Diaz led the Panthers to their 13th consecutive victory on Saturday, April 30. He homered twice, drove in three runs and scored four in a 7-3 win over Shipley School. Diaz finished with three hits.

            Chris Catania and Cesar Lopez each finished with two hits for the team in the Penn-Jersey League victory. Clausell tossed five innings to earn the mound win. Toren Choudri worked the final two innings.

            On Thursday, April 28, Perkiomen rolled to a 17-2, three-inning league victory over Mastery High School of Camden. Dymond earned the mound victory with two shutout innings.

            Clausell and Tommy Saeger each drove in two runs for Perkiomen, which scored four runs in the first inning and 12 in the bottom of the second.

            Catania, Gavin Fuelner, Diaz and T.J. Khela each scored twice for the Panthers, who finished with six hits. Diaz and Khela each stole two bases.