There was nothing fun or challenging for Arcadia in its 31-1 victory over Hoover last week that pushed the Apaches to 13-0 overall and 6-0 in the Pacific League.

Coach Nick Lemas knows the Pacific League is top-heavy with Arcadia, Crescenta Valley (11-2, 6-0) and Burroughs (12-2, 5-0). But the bottom half of the league is less of a challenge, so he looks for ways to keep his team sharp.

The Apaches advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinals last year and have been in Division 1 for the playoffs in previous seasons. So it made sense that they used their spring break to schedule a two-game series with Trinity League power Orange Lutheran, one of the top teams in the state.

The Apaches got their first crack at Orange Lutheran on Tuesday night and lost 4-1, suffering their first setback of the season. But there was plenty to be happy about.

Junior Damian Cantano pitched a complete game, allowed just four hits and none of the runs were earned. Arcadia errors led to Orange Lutheran scoring all four of its runs in the first inning. Cantano was nearly perfect the rest of the way, allowing just one walk with two strikeouts.

Arcadia (13-1) will visit Orange Lutheran (9-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.

“I feel like we beat them if we get rid of that first inning, but that’s not the way it works,” Lemas said. “We had a ground ball that should have been an inning-ending double play and an outfielder that misplayed a ball. But that’s baseball and it costs us some runs.”

Arcadia managed only four hits off Orange Lutheran senior pitcher Colt Peterson, a Stanford commit, but managed to push a run across in the sixth inning.

“We’re facing a guy throwing 93 (mph) and I thought we battled him well and had a lot of solid at-bats,” Lemas said. “But it’s good for us. I think it should tell us that we can play with anybody. On Friday we’ll get another shot at them and hopefully come away with a win.”

The CIF-SS will place teams in playoff divisions at the end of the regular season based on a computer ranking. Lemas said the team’s goal is to be in a division with the top teams, which is why their nonleague schedule is so difficult.

Arcadia started the season by winning the San Gabriel Valley Pizza Chalet tournament, which featured many of the SGV’s top programs. It also beat Damien, 6-4, recently at Angel Stadium.

The Apaches will play La Mirada and Bonita just before the playoffs begin.

“I want to be with the best and our kids want to play the best, that’s why we schedule like this,” Lemas said. “I have no idea what the schedule will do to us or where it will place us. But our players want to take on the top teams, top commits and have scouts at their game. That’s what we have been used to so I would be surprised if we weren’t in anything but Division 1 or 2 at the end of the season.”

Arcadia was hoping to have senior Gus Cooper (2-0, 0.44 ERA) pitch in Friday’s game against Orange Lutheran, but Cooper recently hurt his foot.

With Cantano (5-1, 0.93) and Cooper, the Apaches have quite a one-two punch at the top of their rotation.

“We have other guys who can throw, but I guess I’m a little nervous not having him (Cooper) go Friday,” Lemas said. “He thinks he can go, but we have to get the clearance. But it also is the first day that we get players eligible after the sit-out period, so that’s exciting for our team.”

Three key transfers will join the team Friday after going through the sit-out period.

Senior Keyonn Chatman played with the Apaches last year, but transferred to Rancho Cucamonga to play football in the fall and now is back at Arcadia. Junior Julian Salmon, a transfer from Charter Oak, and junior Aiden Soto, from South Hills, are expected to provide big contributions.