What a way for two little league teams to end a season!

Tuesday night, in the final game of the Panther Valley Little League 9-10 year old tournament, two undefeated teams - Jim Thorpe Blue and Anthracite White - faced each other.Jim Thorpe Blue capitalized on long hits, key bunts and great defense to pull out a 5-3 win in a game played at McGarvey's Field in JT. Bill Angst, president of the Panther Valley Little League Tournament, presented Jim Thorpe Blue coach Mike Snisky with the First Mike Turrano Memorial Trophy.This was the second meeting of the two all-star teams. The first was in District 18 South competition when the Anthracite White squad won 8-0.Snisky complimented the Anthracites, saying, "They're a good team; a class act."He said, "It was nice to come back and beat them. It was a great game between two good communities."While the Anthracites drew first blood in the top of the third, the Blue team scored three runs in the bottom of the inning and never trailed. In that explosive third for Jim Thorpe, pitcher Ryan Behler started things rolling with a single, and then a steal of second base. A bunt single by Chad Baldassario moved Behler to third. Rich Strack hit a sacrifice fly deep to center to score Behler and move Baldassario to second, who then got to third on a passed ball, and scored on another passed ball. Later, a wild pitch allowed Garrett Lienhard to reach home.The following inning, the bottom of the fourth, two more runs were added by JT thanks to a two-run double by Lienhard, making the score 5-1.Coach Snisky said. "Our team defense and our small ball" were key factors to the win. Twice batters reached base for his team via successful bunts.The coach also praised Behler, his starting pitcher, who threw for 5 innings.Anthracite scored a run in the top of the fifth.Then, In the top of the sixth, it appeared that Anthracite might make a comeback. Drew Kokinda hit a blazing double and reached third on a stolen base. Cody Orsulak walked on balls and Eddie Evans was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kokinda walked home when Chase Weaver was tossed four balls. But a strikeout ended the comeback attempt."We were nervous when the tying run was at the plate," Snisky said, adding that he also had confidence in Lienhard, the relief pitcher who has a good fast ball.For Jim Thorpe Blue, Behler was two for two at the plate, Adam Romanchick was two for three, Leah Snisky was two for three with a single and a double, Baldassario was two for three, and Lienhard was one for two with two RBIs. Strack was one for two with one RBI.Michael Pascoe was two for two, including a double, with one RBI for Anthracite. Drew Kokinda was two for three with a double and an RBI. Matt Machalik was one for four with a triple.Anthracite 001 011 - 3 6 2Jim Thorpe 003 20x - 5 10 1Machalik, B. Hood (4) and Pascoe. Behler, Lienhard (6) and McHugh. WP - Behler. LP - Machalik.