Southwest’s Texas East from Lufkin Little League rallies from five runs down Saturday

They stun the Southeast’s North Carolina team, 6-5, and gain Sunday’s championship against Toyko, Japan. In the opener of the doubleheader at J. Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pa., Japan shut down Mexico, 5-0 for the International championship and the Southwest followed by winning the United States title

By ARNIE LESHIN, Santa Fe Today

Never give up, never give up, and the Southwest Texas East Lufkin Little League did just that after trailing 5-0 after three innings in the United States LL championship Saturday afternoon in South Williamsport, Pa.

The youngsters from the Lone Star State were going against the chili-hot Southeast team from Greenville, North Carolina, that had pitched three-straight no-hitters before edging these SW youngsters, 2-1, Wednesday.

Then after Texas East turned back the New England champion from Connecticut on Thursday, it again met up with the undefeated North Carolina that had allowed but one hit in four wins, that against Texas.

But it didn’t look good for the Southwest representative after it was reached for four first-inning runs and one in the third.

But this is where the boys don’t quit, as Texas bounced back with two runs in the top of the fourth, two more in the fifth, and two more in the sixth for a 6-5 lead, leaving North Carolina now three outs away from losing and having to settle for Sunday’s third place game against Mexico, which lost 5-0 to Japan in Saturday’s International championship that began the doubleheader before an announced crowd 26,593 that packed the hills beyond the field.

But for the Texas youngsters, they wanted Japan in the Sunday International championship game, and right-hander Chip Buchanan set down the side in order to bring on his team’s celebration. It never quit. And it was a big blow to North Carolina’s Big State Little League team as its faithful fans couldn’t believe how their team was being challenged like never before in this unbeaten season. Meanwhile, the Lufkin little leaguers were bringing their fans out of their seats after they sat stunned heading into the fourth frame.

In the fourth with two out, Mark Requena singled to left, and Clayton Wigley followed with a home run over the centerfield fence to trim the gap to 5-2 and bring some hope.

In the fifth, when Southwest’s three outs came on strikeouts, Charlie Deaton singled to left, went to second and third on wild pitches, Christian Mumphrey walked and stole second, and up came fancy-fielding second baseball Malcom Deason with a single to left-center that scored both.

Now down 5-4 as it batted in the sixth, and with two out, Billy Ross was hit-by-a-pitch on a 3-2 count, and Requena, on an 0-2 pitch, clouted the ball into the left field seats, and just like that, the Texans had a 6-5 lead as its dugout and fans went wild to see this contest swing around by never giving up.

Buchanan was the winning pitcher. He went 1 1/3, did not allow a run or hit, struck out two and walked none. Chase Anderson took the loss as he came on for starter Carson Hardee in the fifth and finished up.

For SE, Bryce Jackson batted in two runs in the first, Joe Joe Bryne and Anderson knocked in one each, and in the third, Byrne picked up another RBI.

Texas had won its regional in Waco, Tex., twice defeating the Texas West team from McAlister Park Little League and also eliminating the New Mexico champions from Albuquerque Eastdale Little League. North Carolina had two tough tests in its Regional in Greenville, but did not lose until now.

Southwest came up with six hits and committed two errors. Southeast had eight hits and made one error.

Japan, from Toyko, which as won 10 Little League WS championships, also scored quickly, but unlike the Southeast, had no problem maintaining it. It pushed across four runs than and one more in the bottom of the sixth.

Mexico has held to five hits and committed one error. Japan had six hits and played errorless ball. The Pacific Regional champions got behind pitchers Kiku Golo, the starter, and Seiyi Arai, who finished up. Golo yielded four hits, struck out 13 and walked one.

Japan is 5-0 in the World Series and has displayed quality pitching, a balanced lineup, excellent fielding, and hasn’t been shy about taking the extra base.

It will be a tough task for the boys from Lufkin, but after the wild win over North Carolina, they at least get a chance to win it all after becoming the top LL team in America.