SHENANDOAH – The chase is over - for now!

Panther Valley has been the hunter, while Shenandoah Valley has been the hunted since Day One of the Schuylkill League Division 3 baseball chase.

Thursday afternoon at Marty Deluca Baseball Field, the Panthers finally caught their nemesis. Riding the hot hitting of Cody Orsulak and Drew Kokinda, PV defeated the Blue Devils, 9-5.

The win puts Panther Valley (8-3, 13-4) all alone at the top of Division 3 standings. Now in the driver’s seat, the Panthers can clinch their second straight division title with victories in their final two regular season games.

Now, the Panthers become the hunted as Shenandoah Valley (7-4, 11-6) looks for help after holding onto first place for much of the season.

“We knew coming in that this was going to be the biggest game of the season,” Orsulak said. “They’re such a tough team; they played us tough all season.”

It was tight-fisted throughout the early portions.

Orsulak and Kokinda were at the head of the class fueling the PV offense, each collecting three hits, with the former driving in three runs behind a double and two singles.

Panther Valley tagged ace Shenandoah Valley southpaw Kaleb Maksimik for a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first. Chase Weaver reached on an error, before Maksimik reared back for a pair of strikeouts. However, Stephen Hood, the winning pitcher, drew a bases on balls, which brought Orsulak to the plate, and he promptly delivered a double for the early 2-0 lead.

“I’m really seeing the ball better now than any time this (season)” said Orsulak, who just may be the best catcher in the league.

The Blue Devils fired right back to cut the lead in half. Super athlete Owen Kosar lit the fire with a single, the first of his two hits. After Kaleb Maksimik bunted Kosar over and Nick Mikita singled, Jake Matta deliver for the Devils as the sophomore drilled a first-pitch single to center to drive in the first of his four runs on the day. Matta would also go downtown, blasting a two-run homer to right in SV’s final at bat.

Shenandoah tied the game in the home third as back-to-back walks to Mikita and Matta ignited the tying rally. Brady Najda bunted the runners over a base. With two outs, Nick Ryan lashed a single allowing Mikita to score.

“I’ve been saying this from Day One, Shenandoah is a quality baseball team,” said Panther Valley manager Rich Evanko. “I know they’ve got some guys banged up. But you know what they’re going to give you. They’re going to put the ball in play.”

So did the Panthers, especially in the fifth-inning when they erupted for seven runs on five hits.

PV sent 12 batters to the plate in this monster rally that sealed the victory. Brad Hood got the stove cooking with a single, before Mike Pascoe and Stephen Hood both drew walks to jam the bases. Orsulak was Johnny-on-the-spot with a run- scoring single. Hayden Goida was not letting up, and slammed a clutch two-run single as his team started to mount momentum, and in the process chase Maksimik.

By the time Kokinda came to the plate, he was feeling confident and singled home another run.

“I just felt good at the plate all day,” Kokinda said about his three-hit performance.

Pascoe eventually capped the big inning with an RBI single.

“We did our job today, passing the bat to the next guy,” Evanko said about the Panthers’ big fifth inning.

“Kaleb is not 100%. He’s a little banged up,” said Shenandoah skipper Jeff Maksimik, who is also the uncle of his star pitcher. “He did what he had to do, but we just couldn’t minimize the damages. “They put the ball in play; we could not make some of the plays. They capitalized on it.”

NOW IN ITS HANDS … Panther Valley plays Minersville Monday, and wraps up its regular season with Mahanoy Area on Wednesday. Those two games are not gimmies. Shenandoah Valley plays Weatherly Monday, and at home against Schuylkill Haven Wednesday.

LUMBER COMPANY … The Panthers had nine hits - with Orsulak and Kokinda contributing three apiece. Pascoe, Brad Hood, and Goida each added one hit. On the other side, Matta, Kosar and Mikita all had two hits for Shenandoah.

LIGHTNING … The Panthers’ Chase Weaver can lift those puppies and fly. He had four stolen bases.

Panther Valley 200 070 0 - 9 9 1

Shenandoah Vy. 101 010 2 - 5 6 4

S. Hood, Pascoe (7) and Orsulak; K. Maksimik, B. Maksimik (5), Cuff (6) and Vivasis. W - S. Hood. L - K. Maksimik.