The Paseo Verde Little League squad is looking for a second opportunity to reach sport’s premier stage.
The Henderson team appeared at the Little League World Series two summers ago, winning its archetypal two games earlier it was eliminated with a brace of losses.
Coach Corey Edwards says it is still early to focus on this year’s LLWS, but his club is only one tournament title away from another shot at youth baseball’s biggest showcase.
Paseo Verde will open its quest against Wyoming at 3 p.m. Saturday in San Bernardino, California; a Mountain Region tournament victory would send the squad to South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. That outcome would mark the fourth straight year a Southern Nevada team has earned a LLWS berth.
Summerlin South captured the American title last season, and Edwards hopes to build on that momentum.
“Nevada is simply a tiny state, but we play truly good shot here,” said Edwards, whose squad won the authorities rubric July 26 with a 5-2 triumph implicit Spring Valley. “There is simply a assurance that comes with that, but we privation to marque definite to debar arrogance and cockiness.”
The team has been dominant in the postseason, sweeping district and state tournaments with a 6-0 record.
“I conscionable privation them to absorption connected 1 crippled astatine a time,” the manager said. “I won’t adjacent publication a (batting) cage oregon a signifier tract until aft we win.”
Although none of the 12 players were on the 2024 roster, Edwards noted that last year’s experience remains fresh in everyone’s mind; in fact, three players from that LLWS squad recently spoke with this year’s team about their experience.
Utah presents the most significant obstacle for Paseo Verde, which shares many similarities with last year’s Summerlin champions; pitching depth and strong hitting are valuable assets heading into play.
Though Utah possesses those strengths, Edwards says he is not worried about the squad from Lone Peak, nor about Colorado, Wyoming or Montana.
“I’m much disquieted astir what we’re doing and not what everybody other is doing,” the manager said.
Among Paseo Verde’s postseason leaders, pitcher Owen Guzman posts a 2.25 ERA with 14 strikeouts and a .400 batting average; fellow hurler Payton Hinsen holds a 1.29 ERA.
Mikey Kleiner leads the offense with a .571 batting average, while Jace Ward sits at .562. Maddox Bryan serves as the team’s reliable clutch hitter, batting .500 with 10 RBIs and a walk-off home run.
Other standouts include Logan Edwards, Brooks McFarland, Carsynn Meyer, James Esber, Hudson Cowley, Theo Bingham and Michael Guerrero.
The regional tournament runs through Aug. 14, with the winner advancing to the LLWS, which begins Aug. 18.
Sincity Press Staff
1 hour ago 3 min read
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English (US)·