Paseo Verde Little League is headed back to Williamsport.
The Henderson team captured the Mountain Region championship Friday with a 9-2 win over Billings Big Sky Little League in San Bernardino, California. Nevada built a nine-run lead before Montana broke through in the sixth inning.
The victory sends Paseo Verde to the Little League World Series for the second time in three years.
Nevada takes control early
Owen Guzman and Logan Edwards opened the bottom of the first with back-to-back walks. Hudson Cowley moved both runners before Guzman scored on a wild pitch.
Brooks McFarland followed with a sacrifice fly to center that brought Edwards home for a 2-0 lead.
Nevada added four more runs in the third. McFarland drew a bases-loaded walk before Jace Ward delivered a two-run single to left.
Mikey Kleiner then singled home Ward, pushing the lead to 6-0.
Guzman keeps Montana quiet
Guzman controlled the game from the mound while Nevada continued building its advantage.
He threw five scoreless innings and struck out 10. Montana managed two hits against him while drawing four walks.
His biggest escape came in the fifth. Montana loaded the bases with two outs, but Guzman struck out Ricky Hopkins looking to preserve the shutout.
Nevada stretches the lead
Nevada added two runs in the fourth after Michael Guerrero singled and Carsynn Meyer doubled. Guerrero scored on an error before Cowley’s sacrifice fly brought Meyer home for an 8-0 advantage.
James Esber helped produce another run in the fifth. He singled, advanced on a passed ball and eventually scored on an error during a stolen-base attempt to make it 9-0.
Nevada finished with nine hits. Ward and Esber had two apiece, while Meyer, Guerrero, Cowley, Kleiner and Maddox Bryan each added one.
Montana breaks through late
Montana avoided the shutout in the sixth after Payton Hinsen entered.
Ty Barnes walked before Jaxson Podoll singled. Finn Faaborg then drove in Barnes with a single before Braezyn Erekson brought home Podoll for the second run.
Hinsen finished the game by getting McClain Braun out at first on a dropped third strike.
Headed back to Williamsport
Paseo Verde earned the Mountain Region title after also defeating Laramie Little League and Lone Peak Little League during the regional tournament.
The Henderson program will now make its second Little League World Series appearance in three years. Paseo Verde also represented Nevada in Williamsport in 2024.
Up next
Paseo Verde will face West Side Little League of Ohio, the Great Lakes Region champion, Thursday at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
