Schuylkill League Division 3 rivals Marian and Panther Valley both showed the ability to battle adversity on Monday.

When faced with deficits on the day, the Colts and Panthers battled back and made big plays.It was Marian however, that was able to come through with the winning effort by scoring two runs in the top of the eighth inning to come away with a 4-2 extra inning victory.In the eighth, it was second baseman Mason Evitts, ,of Marian (9-2, 4-2 SL), who played the role of the hammer as he drove the final nail in the Panthers' coffin.With two outs and a man on base, Evitts got a fastball right where he wanted it. The senior took advantage, taking the pitch out of the ballpark. Evitts' swing put the Colts up two and ended up being the game-winning homer."I went up to the plate in that last at bat just thinking patience. I knew I needed to wait for my pitch and fortunately I got it," Evitts said. "I got a fastball up in the zone a little bit and I was able to drive it over the centerfield fence."Evitts' boom created much of the offense on a day that was dominated by the starting pitchers from both teams.The Panthers' Anthony Micholik and Colts' Teague Schmidt did a good job of keeping batters off balance throughout the day. Both pitchers earned a no decision on the afternoon with Micholik going seven, while giving up two unearned runs on just two hits. Schmidt was just as good, giving up two runs and striking out five Panthers.The first three innings of the game went scoreless and had the atmosphere of an old school Panther Valley and Marian match-up."This game always meant a lot as far as the rivalry goes and when both teams are having a good season it gets really exciting," said Marian head coach Tony Radocha. "That's a really well coached team and hard fighting and scrappy team. We just didn't give up today and fought through some of our mistakes."Mason (Evitts) came up with a big hit and we put ourselves back in position now in the division race."The Panthers (6-6, 5-1 SL) showed plenty of fight as well answering the bell until the fatal eighth.Trailing 1-0 in the fourth, back-to-back doubles by Darren Goida and Matt Hudicka tied the contest.The real drama for PV came in the bottom of the seventh. After the Colts took a 2-1 lead in the sixth, Micholik came through with a huge triple to lead off the bottom of the seventh. An RBI tap to shortstop by Michael Hutt scored Micholik to once again tie the game.The Panthers were a team a season ago that didn't respond well to adversity, but so far this season that looks to be an attribute of the past."I'm proud of the way our kids played and I told them that. You have to tip your hat to Evitts, he saw his pitch and he didn't miss it and that happens," said Panther Valley head coach Rich Evanko."We just have to continue to get better at the little things. We need to clean some things up with our baserunning and bunting, but overall we played a pretty clean game."RUNNER BEWARE ... Marian Catcher K.J. Snerr made the Panthers pay on the basepaths during the day almost every time they tried to steal. Snerr threw out three Panthers, including one terrific throw from his knees in the fourth inning where he snapped a throw down the third baseline perfectly to catch a PV runner.DIVISION RIVALRY RACE ... Both the Panthers and Colts are alive for the Schuylkill League Division 3 championship. Panther Valley remains atop the standings with a 5-1 record, while the Colts are in second place, one game back, at 4-2.Marian 000 101 02 - 4 4 3Panther Vy. 000 100 10 - 2 6 3Schmidt, Salerno (7), and Snerr; Micholik, D. Goida (8), and M.Goida. W-Salerno L-D.Goida; HR: Marian - Evitts (8th, one on).