Brrrr. It was a little chilly Friday afternoon.

More like football weather than baseball.

But Panther Valley didn’t seem to mind one bit.

The Panthers rang up an impressive 11-1, five-inning win over Tamaqua in a non-league encounter.

Panther Valley hit the ball hard and hit it often as it produced nine hits - four of them extra-base smashes, including a three-run bomb off the bat of junior Matt Engler.

While the Panther bats were in mid-season form, pitcher Cody Orsulak was just as sharp. The junior was in full command during an 87-pitch outing. Orsulak limited the Blue Raiders to five hits and one-earned run, while striking out eight. It was an impressive performance considering nary a crocus has yet to bud.

“Nah, didn’t mind it one bit,” Orsulak said after the game when asked about the brisk conditions.

Engler was on the same page as his teammate.

“I’m used to it,” he said. Sort of like playing football in the fall, which he does for the Panthers.

Panther Valley manager Rich Evanko was pleased with his team’s early-season performance, but far from satisfied.

“We are making some mistakes, but it’s early. I just feel we need to correct those (little) things before we get into league play,” Evanko said. “But, overall, I think we’re doing just fine.”

Of course, the fine tuning will come as the season moves forward. However, there’s a lot of arms, and a lot of pop in the PV bats.

To be sure, these Panthers can score runs in bunches, and at any given time.

It showed in the opening inning as they scored twice and were on the verge of breaking things open early, but came up one big hit shy of doing that as they left the bases loaded.

Tamaqua freshman pitcher Noah Mateyak issued a pair of walks, the Raiders committed an error, and Brad Hood delivered a base hit to produce Panther Valley’s 2-0 lead.

“We’re young and every time we take the field it will be a learning experience,” said veteran Tamaqua manager Jeff Reading.

The Panthers uncorked a pair of outbursts to break the game open.

The first produced four runs, while the second was the dagger - a five-run fourth - that put the contest into the 10-run rule.

“We’ve got a lot of pop up and down the lineup,” Evanko said.

It showed in the third inning. A single by Mike Pascoe, a fielder’s choice ground out by Stephen Hood, and a double by Orsulak produced the inning’s first run. Brad Hood then singled to set the table for Engler, who laid into the first pitch he saw and delivered a sonic shot to left center that put Panther Valley in front, 6-1.

“It was a fastball up,” Engler said. “I was able to get my hands extended and I just put a good swing on it.”

In the fourth inning, Panther Valley sent 10 batters to the plate, taking advantage of four walks and doubles off the bats of Stephen Hood, Hayden Goida and Tyler Black. Black, who had two hits in the game, knocked in three runs with his shot into the left-center gap.

Orsulak then wiggled free of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fifth when the Raiders produced a pair of singles by Chase Andrews and Lucas Milot and got a walk to Gianni Valentine. But true to form, Orsulak went to his go-to-pitch garnering the final out with a strikeout.

AROUND THE HORN … PV is stacked up and down the lineup. Though it’s early, it has bats that can sting and a full array of pitchers in Orsulak, Brad Hood and Stephen Hood.

FLASHING LEATHER … “He made some really good plays at first,” PV manager Rick Evanko said about Engler.

LEADING THE RAIDERS … Tamaqua freshman Mason Ligenza has promise as he led his team with two hits. Tim Fritzinger singled home a run.

PV LOOKS TO DEFEND … The Panthers play Shenandoah Valley this afternoon at 3:30 in Minersville for the annual Rothermel Tournament championship. PV is the defending champ.

Tamaqua 010 00 - 1 5 1

Panther Valley 204 5x - 11 9 0

Mateyak, Steigerwalt (3), Fritzinger (4) and Valentine; Orsulak and Pascoe. W - Orsulak. L - Mateyak. HR: Panther Valley - Engler (3rd, two on).