Lakeland High School’s baseball team is looking to grow from the challenges of the present so it will be battle-tested and strong when it tackles its conference schedule in the future.

The Cavaliers have opened the season, like always, with the difficult schedule of opponents in the Southeastern District. It includes teams from higher classifications, like Group 4A, 5A and 6A, in addition to Lakeland, which is in 3A.

“Even though the score hasn’t been indicative of it, we’ve played pretty good against some of the better Southeastern District teams,” Lakeland coach David Devers said. “We just played Grassfield (High School) on Monday, and we led in that game until the bottom of the fourth.”

Lakeland was up 2-0 before the Grizzlies were able to start piling up runs and win 10-2.

Grassfield is a 6A school, meaning it is part of the group of schools that have the highest enrollment numbers in the state.

Devers noted the district schedule is a good opportunity to play elite teams from big schools, helping to prepare Lakeland for facing teams that come from schools its own size.

“The biggest thing is just making sure through these first eight games that we’ve kept the energy level high, we’ve kept the spirits high, even though we have played some tougher teams,” Devers said.

The Cavaliers went 4-17 last year, their season coming to a close when they fell narrowly to Phoebus High School in the Ironclad Conference tournament quarterfinals.

Despite Lakeland’s 0-8 start this season, Devers expects his team, now a part of Conference 27, to build on its 2015 performance.

“I think we’re going to end up better than where we were at last year,” Devers said. “The kids are really starting to come along as far as hitting and their approach to the game.”

Every coach would like his or her team to be competing for the conference championship, and Devers said, “If we play to our ability level, we very well could be.”

The Cavaliers had to say goodbye to some key talent from last year due to graduation, including pitcher/third baseman Blake Harris, outfielder/pitcher Joey Bradshaw and outfielder/infielder Blake Bullock.

The 2016 roster for Lakeland is promising, though, and still features a lot of youth. Four sophomores, three seniors, three juniors and one freshman make up the team this year.

Senior first baseman Brevin Parrish is in his third year playing varsity baseball and is expected to be a leader for the Cavs.

“He’s going to do a good job for us,” Devers said, next highlighting sophomore outfielder/pitcher Dixon Mills. “He’s a pretty talented kid. I think he’s going to be all right.”

Devers has been pleased with senior T.J. Edwards’ performance on the mound so far this season.

“As long as he continues to pitch like he has, he’s going to be good,” Devers said.

The coach noted that junior Chase Lewis, a third-year varsity player, does a great job at second base and is coming around on offense at the plate.

Sophomore third baseman Andrew Kelley is doing a good job offensively and is starting to put together a good defensive performance, Devers said.

The coach also highlighted freshman shortstop Demonta Hawkins as “a game-changer, defensively. He’s quick.”

“As long as we continue to make steps like we’re doing, we’re going to be a pretty good team,” Devers said.

Lakeland hosts Indian River High School on Friday.