For the past couple of years, the Pickerington North baseball team has led a charmed life.

Last year, the Panthers were the Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division champions, then followed that feat with Division I Central District and regional tournament titles.

North, with a 30-4 record, played all the way to the D-I state championship game, where it lost to Cincinnati Moeller 5-2 at Huntington Park.

Now graduated seniors on that 2009 Panthers roster, infielder Eric Brindle and outfielder Alex Bayer, made the D-I All-Ohio first team.

Many would assume that with the loss of nine seniors from that state finalist ballclub, very few returning players and a tough conference, the Panthers' charmed life would be over.

According to North coach Tim Thomas, that assumption is wrong.

"Expectations don't change because we lose people," he said. "The team is a little inexperienced at the varsity level, but we've had a good offseason and we're ready to go."

Among those players ready to go are seniors Xander Uxley, Kyle Jeffries, Chase Myers and Kyle Price. Uxley is in his third year on the varsity team and plays third base and pitches. Jefferies plays outfield and catcher. Myers is a third year pitcher and Price is the Panther's No. 1 hurler.

Several juniors will also be representing North; among them, shortstop-pitcher Drew Williams and pitcher-first baseman Kyle Sorensen will be on the field. Austin Butler, a second-year varsity player, will catch and play first base.

For the Panthers, there are a number of things that can lead to success in the tough OCC league.

"All 17 players on the team need to step up and play," said Thomas.

He is also expecting good things from the pitchers on the team.

"This is the deepest pitching we've had as far as numbers," he commented.

Thomas cites the program expectation as a possible path to success as well. If any convincing was needed, all the Panthers have to do is look back at last year's accomplishments.

"These kids know hard work and dedication pays off," the coach stressed.

That dedication will be tested against a number of good teams this spring. Thomas believes there is not one particular team to worry about; every team in the OCC Ohio is good.

"The entire conference from top to bottom is all good teams." the coach said. "A lot of them have players coming back, really strong players. Four or five of the top-rated pitchers in the state are in this league."

North knows all this, especially from last year. Three OCC Ohio squads made the D-I district finals in North, Pickerington Central and Gahanna. Gahanna beat Central for a district title, before falling to North in the regional semifinals.

The 2010 test will start soon for the Panthers. North will play a couple of scrimmages this week, before officially opening the season at home with DeSales on Tuesday, March 30 (4:30 p.m.).

The team will play five games April 5-8 at The Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

"We're ready to get started," Thomas said. "The kids are excited, the chemistry is outstanding, we have a special group and they do everything they're asked to do.

"Now we're eager to start playing."