This year's Northampton legion team is full of youth, which means the few elder statesmen on the club will need to carry more of the load this summer.

Northampton was 1-3 through Monday's action and head coach Mike Bodnar understands the dynamics he's facing with this year's team.

"Only having three seniors means I have a very young team and will need some other guys to step up," Bodnar said.

Northampton's Evan Grube and Joe Wittreich (SS/P), along with Catasauqua's Randall Pacchiolli (C) are the three seniors that Bodnar will rely heavily on. A group of undercassmen featuring sophomores Shane Aster (CF, Northampton) and Will Stackhouse (IF/P, Northampton), as well as fellow K-Kids Noah Durnin (junior, OF/P) and Colin Shambo (junior,OF) are part of Bodnar's trusted core that he hopes can turn things around for the team this summer.

"Those seven guys I have a pretty good idea of what to expect because they all played significant parts on their high school teams this year," Bodnar said. "The other 10 guys, while I believe they can all play at this level, will have some catching up to do."

Wittreich will be the ace of the staff and Bodnar has plenty of confidence in him, but players like Noah Durnin, Nick Demieri and Will Stackhouse will have to give Bodnar quality innings in order for a shot at the playoffs.

Northampton will also have to get their bats more involved if they want a chance to compete.

"We've struggled, already this year hitting the ball hard," he said. "I think the transition to wood bats early on has really bothered most of the guys, but a nonleague game against Quakertown Friday showed a lot of improvement. Hopefully some of the balls we hit hard down there will find a hole and start falling, but I know the guys gained a lot confidence in that game."

After exiting from the postseason last year with a loss to Easton in the first round of the playoffs, Bodnar won't change the expectations he has for the team, despite their lack of experience.

"Just like any other season, our main goal is to reach the playoffs," said Bodnar. "To do that our minor goals are to continue playing great defense, improve our pitching to finish games, and greatly improve our hitting.

"Our biggest obstacle is ourselves. I think our guys are good enough to get to the playoffs if they can just relax and play the game like they know how. I try real hard to be laid back as a coach and let the guys play as if they were kids because they are. This game is supposed to be fun and sometimes they forget that."