The East defeated the West, 5-2, in the annual Panther Valley Little League Tournament 12-year-old All-Star game played on Wednesday night in Tamaqua.

The East — comprised of players from Towamensing and Jim Thorpe — pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth inning when Luke Machalik doubled home Zachary Zelinsky to snap a 2-2 tie. It then added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh when Nicholas Zulu and Jionni Puddu both raced home on an error.

Machalik finished with a double, a triple, and two RBIs to lead the East offensively. Brady Ivancich, Parker Grant, Landon Schantz, Brody Mertz and Puddu all had a hit for the winners. Grant, Machalik, Puddu, Zulu and Zelinsky all scored a run.

Grant was the winning pitcher. He tossed one inning and struck out two. Machalik worked the final two innings and struck out three to earn the save.

For the West — comprised of players from Tamaqua and Anthracite — Chayse Smith led the way with two hits, while Mike Shook added a single and a run scored. Joey Vidzicki and Porter Wilson both had a hit; Kale Koerbler and Cain Conner each knocked in a run; and Adi O’Gurek scored a run.

Cooper Lynn had the most imprressive pitching outing for the West. He worked two perfect innings and struck out four.

East 200 001 2 - 5 7 1

West 002 000 0 - 2 5 5

W-Grant. L-Connor. S-Machalik.