Petaluma Little League makes U.S. final LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES Petaluma 11, San Antonio 1

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South Williamsport, Pa. --

In its biggest game of the season, Petaluma made it look easy.

Hance Smith, who has been the best shortstop in the Little League World Series, answered the call again, this time with a first-inning grand slam that started Petaluma on its way to an 11-1 victory over San Antonio on Thursday and a berth in the U.S. championship game.

The boys from Sonoma County will play Goodlettsville, Tenn., at 12:30 p.m. PDT Saturday, on ABC.

Smith added a solo homer in the third inning of a game that was called because of the mercy rule after five innings. He was 3-for-3 with five RBIs.

Known as a streak hitter, Smith explained his surge: "I've made an adjustment at the plate by getting my hands out away from my body a bit."

Danny Marzo, after struggling on the mound in his first World Series appearance, was brilliant, dominating a loaded Texas lineup. Marzo allowed two hits and one walk and struck out 11 in pitching a complete game. He struck out the final seven batters he faced.

He showed he's a good sport, too, high-fiving Texas' Jordan Cardenas as Cardenas headed home on his third-inning homer - the only run Marzo allowed.

Marzo, usually pumped up on adrenaline, said he was aided Thursday by a bit of psychological advice from coach Mike Slate, who told him to open the game as if "it's the second inning already."

SOUTH WILLAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 23: Hance Smith #10 of the West team from Petaluma, California celebrates his solo home run against the Southwest team from San Antonio, Texas during the first inning of their Little League World Series game on August 23, 2012 in South Willamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) less SOUTH WILLAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 23: Hance Smith #10 of the West team from Petaluma, California celebrates his solo home run against the Southwest team from San Antonio, Texas during the first inning of their ... more Photo: Rob Carr, Getty Images Photo: Rob Carr, Getty Images Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Petaluma Little League makes U.S. final 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

By the second, San Antonio was already in a huge hole. Porter Slate, Logan Douglas and Bradley Smith started the first with long-count walks, Slate scored from third on a wild pitch, then Austin Paretti reached base on a strike three wild pitch. Hance Smith drilled a 2-2 fastball over the left-centerfield fence, 225 feet away, and two pitches later, Quinton Gago hit his second home run of the series for a 6-0 lead after one.

Gago's homer landed among fans on a hill well beyond the left-field wall.

"Runs early help," California manager Eric Smith, Hance's father, told the Associated Press. "It gives confidence to our pitcher and just makes everything a little easier."

Petaluma tacked on four runs in the fifth, ending the game on RBI singles by Gago, James O'Hanlon and Douglas. Hance Smith also scored on a passed ball.

"We ran up against a great team. ... One through 12, every one of them can put the ball in play," San Antonio coach Jack Wideman Jr. told AP. "They were just smashing the ball."

Petaluma has 10 home runs in the tournament, and its lefty-dominated pitching staff has 47 strikeouts in 31 innings.

The Saturday matchup is expected to pit 6-foot-3 Petaluma ace Bradley Smith against Tennessee's Brock Myers. Tennessee sent Petaluma to the losers bracket earlier in the week. The winner will play for the world title against either Tokyo or Aguadulce, Panama, which edged Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, 2-1 on Thursday.