South Williamsport, Pa. – Call him Texas’ two-way threat.
Zane Ancell hit a long home run and struck out 11 to lead undefeated Lubbock, Texas, to a 5-1 win over Chandler, Ariz., at the Little League World Series on Sunday.
The 12-year-old’s blast easily cleared the 225-foot wall in center field, passing a TV tower and falling into a grass field where kids scurried for the souvenir.
But his performance on the mound for Lubbock (2-0) might have been even more impressive. Ancell didn’t know he was going to start until 10 minutes before the game.
His curveballs kept Chandler (1-1) off-balance all game one day after the Arizonans had pounded out 17 hits.
In other games Sunday, Lake Oswego, Ore., defeated Walpole, Mass., 1-0; Taichung, Taiwan, routed Apeldoorn, Netherlands, 11-1; Willemstad, Curacao, beat Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 2-0; and Coon Rapids, Minn., downed Salisbury, Md., 4-3.
“I felt really good today,” Ancell said. “I knew I was probably going to pitch somewhere along the line, but I didn’t know I was going to start today.”
Ancell’s manager, Ed Thorne, made the right call.
“We went with Zane, and I’m sure glad we did,” Thorne said.
Thorne has the luxury of at least two aces on his staff. Garrett Williams pitched a gem Saturday, striking out 17 in a 6-0 win over Coon Rapids.
The scary part for opponents might be that Thorne has more pitching at his disposal. At times over the past three seasons, he has gone through games in which he has inserted a different pitcher each inning.
Thorne said that is his plan for Texas’ next game, Tuesday against Salisbury, Md.
“It’s just that the hitting has to fall into place,” he said.
Ancell’s two-way success overshadowed teammate Bryndan Arredondo’s two home runs to deep center, both of which easily cleared the fence.
Arredondo credits tough batting cage sessions with his father for his sweet swing.
“Hitting practice is a little tougher,” the 12-year-old said. “When I don’t hit it, he’s on my butt 24-7.”
