Ross Is Boss – Pine Hill graduate wins Lynn Little League Home Run Derby

The home run king of Pine Hill is now the home run king of Lynn.

Pine Hill Little League’s Anthony Ross, who hit 10 home runs during the regular season, emerged from a dozen of the city’s elite power hitters to win the 2010 Lynn Little League Home Run Derby Friday at Reinfuss Field.

The Pickering Middle School seventh grader hit 13 home runs in the final round to edge his Pine Hill Red Sox teammate, Andre Gaudet, who hit 12 home runs. Brett Molea, who hit some of the longest home runs in derby history, took third place, while Mike Melanson was fourth.

“It was cool to win it, but I was nervous in the beginning,” Ross said in an interview after his triumph. “The trophy is awesome.”

Ross, whose favorite player is Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies, competed in Pine Hill Little League for seven years. He said he learned how to hit baseballs from his father, Tony, who played football and baseball at Lynn English High School, and from other coaches in the league.

“My father taught me to keep my eye on the ball, keep my head down, don’t take my shoulders away, and my coaches taught me the rest,” said Ross, who stands 5 feet, 4 inches and weighs 125 pounds.

“It’s amazing – I couldn’t be more proud of him,” said his dad, Tony Ross. “I was never much the hitter, so it’s nice to see that he’s better than his father. I think his swing definitely got better this season. He also begged me for this C-4 bat and it might have paid off.”

Anthony Ross didn’t hit his first Little League career home run until the opening day of the 2010 season when he launched two out of Flynn Field in an inter-league game against West Lynn American. He added another two-home run game and had a sizzling .700 batting average for manager Ron Gaudet’s city champion Red Sox.

Ross is concluding his Little League career in the Gallant Tournament and the South Medford Baseball Invitational Tournament. He will be playing in the Lynn Babe Ruth program next year and hopes to play high school baseball.

Ross thanked the home run derby staff for coordinating such a fine competition.

“I would like to thank the home run derby staff including Bob Keaney and everyone,” said Ross.