PINE GROVE – The big stage arrived for a group of upstart newcomers.

Panther Valley dipped its toes in the water to find out how close it is to the upper echelon clubs.

Tuesday night at Stump Stadium, the Panthers were tasked with facing a powerful Blue Mountain program in the Schuylkill League semifinals.

The Eagles have been part of postseason play in the league for what seems like forever. The program’s vault of baseball success goes back to the 1960s.

Panther Valley held its own early, but the baseball gods can turn things around on a dime - and that’s exactly what happened to the Panthers.

Seemingly in the thick of the battle with the Eagles early, Panther Valley just couldn’t answer the bell fast enough or often enough and watched its upset hopes fade.

Blue Mountain took the lead in the third inning, and then and sealed the deal with an eight-run fifth inning that resulted in a 12-1 mercy rule victory.

The win sends Blue Mountain (15-4) back here this evening to meet Division II champs Schuylkill Haven for the league championship, which ousted North Schuylkill 11-2 in the opener.

This evening’s game is set for 6 p.m.

“We’re going to learn from this and move on,” Panther Valley coach Richie Evanko said.

Panther Valley (16-5) jumped in front with a run in the home second, using a Blue Mountain error, a Brad Hood sacrifice bunt, and Derek Pavlik’s run-scoring double.

But it proved to be the only time the Panthers would really threaten. They had a tough time at the plate figuring out the pitches the Eagles’ Keenan Cryts was tossing. Cryts allowed just one hit in four innings on the hill.

“Keenan didn’t have his best stuff, but he grinded it,” Blue Mountain coach Bill Dobrolsky said.

The difference in the game came when the Eagles were starting to get better at bats against Panther Valley starter Pavlik.

The Division I champs slid in front with the bottom of the order fueling a two-run rally in the third inning. No. 8 hitter Ryan Grace singled to open the inning, and scored on a two-out Cryts triple that was lost in the lights in right field. Cryts came around to score on the first of four PV errors, which put Blue Mountain ahead, 2-1.

“Pavlik had a good fastball, and he was keeping them in it,” Dobrolsky said. “The curve ball was getting there, and he kept us off balance the first few innings.”

The Eagles began to open some breathing room in the fourth. The two-run inning was capped off by a booming home run from Grace to dead center field over the 350-foot sign.

Blue Mountain sent 11 batters to the plate and blew the game open in the fifth. Connor Meisner, Bad Bedway, Derek Yuengling and Andrew Rautzhan all had hits in the uprising that produced eight runs.

“They hit it hard, and they were starting to sit on the fastball,” Evanko said. “They’re a good team.”

BIG BATS ... Rautzhan had two hits, including a double, and drove in four runners for the Eagles. Meisner had a pair of hits and drove in two runs.

HITS TOUGH TO COME BY

… Panther Valley managed just three hits - a Pavlik double and singles by Stephen Hood and Mike Pascoe.

BY THE NUMBERS

… Pavlik worked four innings, giving up six hits and striking out five. Cryts, his counterpart for Blue Mountain, worked four innings, allowed two hits and struck out three.

FLASHING LEATHER

… PV had some superb plays made by Pascoe at the hot corner. He pegged out hitters in the first inning, and robbed Cryts of a base hit in that inning as well. In the home third, Rautzhan took away a sure base hit from Stephen Hood with a great play.

ON DECK

… Panther Valley will play in the District 11 Class 2A tournament, which gets underway next week.

Blue Mountain 002 28 - 12 10 3

Panther Valley 010 00 - 1 3 4

Cryts, Faust (5) and Tidmore; Pavlik, B. Hood (5) and Orsulak. W - Cryts. L - Pavlik.