CENTER VALLEY - It was by far the most impressive comeback win of the year for Panther Valley on Saturday.

The Panthers overcame a 4-0 deficit against highly-touted Notre Dame of Green Pond and gained an 8-7 upset victory at DeSales University’s Butz Field in a District 11 Class 3A semifinal game.

The fourth-seeded Panthers had a volcanic-type eruption to gain the win.

Like a volcano, the explosion came from the bottom, with the lower lineup of the batting order spewing havoc on the No. 1 seed.

“Six through nine did a hell of a job,” PV head coach Rich Evanko said regarding the batting rotation. “It was awesome. They did their job. They put the ball in play. They made the bunts. They hustled everything out.”

That victory puts the Panthers in today’s district championship game against Palmerton. First pitch is scheduled for 3:35 p.m. at DeSales.

While winning is a team effort, three individuals who had prodigious performances were junior Matt Engler, along with sophomores Hayden Goida and Stephen Hood.

Engler - whose large size makes him a natural power hitter - was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. His first single in the fifth inning scored Goida (who had walked) and gave the Panthers their first run while down 4-0.

In the sixth, after Cody Orsulak was walked, Goida followed with a blast up the middle that sent Orsulak home. Goida then came in on an RBI single deep into left field by Engler.

Hood was the starting pitcher and, although he struggled in the first inning, he held the Crusaders scoreless for the next five frames. In that five-inning span, he struck out eight (he finished with 10 in the game). At one point, between the fourth and sixth innings, he fanned seven of nine batters.

“It’s one of the things we’ve been talking a lot about,” said Evanko about battling back. “You’ve got to play the whole game, because the game isn’t won or lost in an inning.”

Engler was extremely happy with those who had big hits, but he gave credit to the team.

“It was a team effort today, and everybody did their job,” said Engler. “That’s what we need to do.”

Goida, the No 6 batter in the lineup, said, “The bottom of the order came through huge today.”

In the first inning, Notre Dame got four runs on two hits. There were four walks given up by Hood in that inning.

After that, Hood couldn’t be touched.

In the seventh - after a pitch count of 105 - he was relieved by his older brother Brad, a junior, who put down a comeback attempt with a pair of strikeouts.

“We kind of let it slip away from us,” Notre Dame head coach Michael Bedics said. “We knew that Panther Valley was a good team, but it’s hard when we had them on the ropes in the first inning 4-0, and then we did nothing the rest of the game until the last inning. That hurts.”

A RAINY START

... The game was delayed 45 minutes because of rain. Then, during the first three innings, another shower passed. Despite the precipitation, the field - which has a turf covering - remained in great condition with a crew sweeping water from a few low spots in foul territory.

WHAT’S NEXT

... The win boosts Panther Valley’s overall record to 15-5, while Notre Dame ended its season with a 16-4 record. It’s the second straight year PV reached the district semifinals. Last year, they were defeated in the round by Palisades - who then won districts. Panther Valley not only plays for District 11 Class 3A championship today, but also for a chance to compete in the state playoffs.

VETERAN TEAM

... For Notre Dame, the loss was especially hard considering 11 members of its 13-man roster are seniors.

Panther Vy. 000 022 4 - 8 5 0

Notre Dame 400 000 3 - 7 5 2

S. Hood, B. Hood (7) and Orsulak; Moyzan, Quintano (5), Rex (7) and Schollenberger. W - S. Hood. L - Schollenberger.