SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Fight.

That’s what No. 6 seed Panther Valley showed in its District 11 2A quarterfinal matchup with No. 3 seed Schuylkill Haven on the road on Tuesday.

A few times, it looked like the Hurricanes were going to pull away, but the Panthers continued to fight their way back into contention.

Haven, however, was able to hang on because of a big four-run third inning to defeat PV, 7-5.

“Can’t ask for more from our girls today as far as their fight goes,” said Panther Valley head coach Tara Yuricheck. “They kept a positive mentality out there and they never gave up. They really did a good job of battling back. That’s always something you can build off for next season.”

The Hurricanes (14-7) controlled the first few frames, retiring the Panthers’ lineup in order during the first three innings. A two-out solo home run in the first by Kate Donne gave Haven a 1-0 lead. Then in the third, the host team pushed across four more runs.

With two outs, back-to-back singles set up a two-run double by Donne on a liner to left to make it a 3-0 Hurricanes lead. The next hitter, Nikki Domermuth, crushed a fly ball to left center that cleared the fence to make it a 5-0 Haven advantage.

“Yeah, that inning was big for us,” said Schuylkill Haven head coach Garry Adams. “I thought that would be the start of something and it would really get us going, but credit to PV. That team came to play today, and they never gave up.

“That home run couldn’t have come at a better time for Nikki. She was in a little bit of a batting funk, so that was big for her and us.”

PV was able to get its offense going in the fourth to get back within two runs (5-3). A Morgan Orsulak single got it started, followed by a Mikayla Yuricheck single. A two-run rip by Morgan O’Brien to right got the Panthers on the board. A Lucy Greco RBI double tacked on another run.

“Their pitcher did a nice job the first time through our order, but I was hoping that the second time around our girls would find a way to attack the ball and get some hits,” said Yuricheck. “That’s what our girls were then able to do, so again good job just staying focused and putting the ball in play.”

After Haven extended the lead to 7-3 in the fifth, Panther Valley again cut the deficit, scoring two runs in the sixth. A hit by pitch, and an O’Brien double, eventually led to two runs off a throwing error on a hard hit ground ball to second by Myla Krapf.

Trailing 7-5 in the seventh, the Panthers gave it one last shot.

A bunt single by Kyla McQuillen got the rally started and Orsulak followed with a single. However, a liner was then hit right to the short stop, who fielded the ball on a hop and turned it into a double play. That twin killing put a damper on any Panther comeback attempt.

AT THE PLATE … For Panther Valley, O’Brien had two hits and two RBIs. Orsulak finished with a team-high three hits. For the Hurricanes, Donne came through with two hits and four RBIs.

IN THE CIRCLE … Janessa Prudente weathered the storm for PV, going six innings and giving up six hits. Haven’s winning pitcher, Grace Line, did just enough, going seven innings and giving up eight hits, while striking out 10.

Panther Valley 000 302 0 - 5 11 0

Schuylkill Haven 104 020 x - 7 7 1

Prudente and Orsulak; Line and Domermuth. W - Domermuth. L - Prudente. HR: Schuylkill Haven - Donne (first, none), Domermuth (third, two on).