Marian head coach Tony Radocha knows he doesn't have the same players he did a year ago.

Those Colts capped a remarkable 2016 season with Schuylkill League and District 11 championships.While the 2017 edition of the Marian baseball team might have a different look, the Colts certainly haven't forgotten how to win.Marian showed its mettle Monday, erasing an early deficit to top Panther Valley 5-3 in the teams' Schuylkill League Division III opener."We lost nine out of 10 starters from a year ago - and that was a great team - but now it's a lot of new faces," said Radocha. "There are seven innings to a game. What happens in the first or second inning, we can't let linger and affect how we go about our business in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning."Marian did exactly what Radocha was preaching.Trailing 3-0 entering the bottom of the fourth inning, the Colts (1-1) didn't blink.After a one-out single by starting pitcher Daniel Keer, cleanup hitter Max Nolter scorched a line drive to left field that scored courtesy runner Quest Wilson to cut the deficit to 3-1.Nolter cashed in again in the bottom of the fifth inning, driving in three runs with a bases-clearing double to put Marian up 4-3."When they intentionally walked Daniel (Keer) and the bases were loaded, I knew I had to get a hit and make something happen, put the ball in play and score some runs," said Nolter.Alex Kubishin followed and added an insurance run with an RBI single to make it 5-3."We have a lot of confidence in Max," said Radocha. "He got a lot of valuable experience last year. We brought him up to varsity and he was with us throughout our run."So getting to be in that moment and in those situations, the game can come easy to him sometimes. He's got that sweet swing. And he's a strong kid. When he puts the bat on the ball, he makes things happen. That's why he's anchored there in that No. 4 hole."Ryan Cappel came on in relief of Keer for the Colts and pitched three dominant innings. The junior allowed one hit and one walk while recording four strikeouts."You just gotta have that mentality that I'm the best pitcher there, the best player on the field and I've got to shut it down like I did," said Cappel.The Panthers (0-1) struck early for two runs in the top of the first. After Mason Goida and Aaron Miller drew back-to-back walks, Tristan Blasko connected for a two-run single.Panther Valley took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning when Jon Hafer scored from third on a passed ball. Hafer reached on an error, stole second and moved to third on Zachary Kindt's groundout."Our approach early was good," said Panthers' head coach Rich Evanko. "And then we started to let some first pitch strikes go. But we did manufacture some runs. We hit the ball well. It just didn't fall our way."NEW SURROUNDINGS… Monday marked Marian's first game on school grounds in several years. The Colts had been playing their home games in Middleport due to poor field conditions at Marian.GRINDER... Panther Valley starting pitcher Anthony Micholik went 5 2/3 innings, striking out three. "We are a young team with Micholik being the only senior," said Evanko. "It was his first time on the mound, too. I think he had 84 pitches. Overall, I thought he pitched a good game."MULTI-HIT COLTS ... In addition to Nolter, Jarod Paisley finished 2-for-3 with one run scored for Marian.Panther Valley 200 100 0 - 3 3 1Marian 000 140 x - 5 7 2Micholik, Hafer (6) and Goida; Keer, Cappel (5) and Nolter. W - Cappel. L - Micholik.