DALLAS TOWNSHIP - Panther Valley was treading water all day long.

But there was no lifeboat, no rope to latch on to and no vest to keep the Panthers afloat.

It was that type of afternoon for the District 11 champions on Monday against a Lake-Lehman team that found a way to keep its head above water – and prevent itself from going under.

Using timely hitting and speedy runners, the Black Knights rallied around their Virginia Tech pitching prospect Nick Finarelli, as he kept the Panthers’ Lumber Company off the board, while going the distance for a 5-0 win in a PIAA Class 3A first-round contest.

Monday’s loss on the campus of Misericordia University brought down the 2022 curtain for these Panthers, who have a lot to look forward to with nary a senior in the starting lineup.

As for the Knights (19-5), they take their act to the state quarterfinals Thursday to face an always tough Neumann-Goretti squad, which also won its first-round game Monday, 5-2, over Trinity.

There were opportunities for the Panthers (18-6) to score against the superb right-handed throwing Finarelli, who checked the Panthers attack with a three-hitter, with two of those coming from PV’s hot-hitting Hayden Goida. Fanarelli was a tough hurler, who found the corners to his liking en route to a seven-strikeout afternoon.

“Their pitcher was phenomenal; that slider he throws was practically almost unhittable,” said PV head coach Rich Evanko. “We were wailing at it, wailing at it; that being said, we did have opportunities.”

Indeed, the Panthers did have chances.

Bradley Hood reached base in the first inning after catcher Graedon Finarelli, a cousin to Nick, dropped the third strike. Hood reached first with one out and advanced to second, before being stranded, as Nick Finarelli reared back and struck out the next two batters.

Goida managed to advance to second base in the second inning after hustling to first on an infield single. He moved to second when Drew Kokinda bunted him over for the second out.

Again, Nick Finarelli used that clever slider to strike out the next batter, killing off another threat.

Meanwhile, the Black Knights were off and running with a 1-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to two straight singles from Cole Keiser and Graedon Finarelli’s perfectly executed hit-and-run, putting runners at the corners. Nick Fanarelli aided his pitching effort with an RBI single.

PV’s Stephen Hood rose to the challenge to work out of trouble when Corey Bean hit into an inning-ending double play.

“It worked good in the first inning,” said Lake Lehman mentor Mike Sholtis. “We got runners moving around, unfortunately we only got (that) one run. We made some base running mistakes. But our defense was solid.”

The Black Knights were aggressive on the bases, mainly because they keyed on Stephen Hood’s penchant for throwing the curve to set up his fastball.

“We were guessing (that) he would throw that curve and it worked for us at times, fortunately,” Sholtis said.

The Panthers did get a runner to third in the top half of the third when Trey McAndrew singled to open the frame and was bunted over to second by Chase Waver for the first out. Bradley Hood drew a walk, but was forced out at second on a Mike Pascoe grounder. However, McAndrew advanced to third on the play.

Stephen Hood hit a hard grounder to short, where Mike Sholtis came up with a standout play warding off the would-be threat.

“We had our chances to score, but we just couldn’t get that one timely hit,” Evanko said. “We had opportunities; again, we left potential runners on base.

“It was a great year, but now we have to take something from this. We need to figure out a way to get better; to build on this and hopefully when we come back to start next season, we are ready to move forward. We will be the hunted for sure.”

DEEFENSE … Both sides had some great plays in the field. Lehman’s shortstop Mike Sholtis took away several potential hits off the PV batters, in addition to coming up with a pair of double plays. The Panthers’ Cody Orsulak was superb behind the plate, throwing out a pair of runners.

SERVING IT UP … Finarelli threw a total of 90 pitches - 58 for strikes - while going the distance. Stephen Hood worked five full innings, gave up six hits, three runs (two earned), struck out four and walked five. He tossed a total of 101 pitches, 52 for strikes.

CAN YOU IMAGINE … Lake-Lehman has three Division I players signed. Besides Nick Finarelli, catcher Graedon Finarelli - a junior - is headed to Monmouth College. Left-hander Ty Federici plays first, but is said to be the team’s best pitcher. The junior is headed to LSU. Federici had a shoulder injury last summer, and has not pitched this season.

Panther Valley 000 000 0 - 0 3 1

Lake-Lehman 100 121 x - 5 7 1

S. Hood, B. Hood (6) and Orsulak; N. Finarelli and G. Finarelli. W - N. Finarelli. L - S. Hood.