Lubbock pitcher leads way

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., in the Little League World Series on Sunday at South Williamsport, Pa.

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.

“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.”

Manager Ed Thorne made the right call.

“We went with Zane and I’m sure glad we did,” Thorne said.

Lake Oswego, Ore. 1, Walpole, Mass. 0: Reid Penney hit a solo homer, Mitch Lomax struck out eight and Calvin Hermanson worked out of a final-inning jam for Lake Oswego (1-1).

Penney’s shot sailed through light raindrops and landed in the hedges beyond the left-field fence.

Taiwan 11, Netherlands 1, (5): Jen-Chieh Liu drove in two runs during a seven-run fourth inning of a game that finished early because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Chao Min Wang added three RBIs for Taiwan (1-1), which took advantage of four errors by the Netherlands (0-2) in the pivotal fourth. Roy Sterling drove in the Netherlands’ only run on a groundout in the top of the fourth.

Curacao 2, Saudi Arabia 0: Vincent Anthonia struck out 15 and allowed just one hit for Curacao.

Curacao (1-1) took a 1-0 lead in the fourth after Suenley Paulina drew a walk with the bases loaded. Deion Rosalia added a solo homer in the fifth off Andrew Otis, who pitched well in the loss for Saudi Arabia (0-2).

Coon Rapids, Minn. 4, Salisbury, Md. 3: Coon Rapids’ Tanner Lowe sent a 1-0 pitch from Canaan Cropper over the hedges in left field with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth to break a 3-3 tie.

Teammates mobbed Lowe at the plate after the 13-year-old slugger hit his second homer of the game to lead Coon Rapids (1-1) to its first win in South Williamsport.