Paseo Verde Little League erased a three-run deficit Friday and walked off West Side Little League of Hamilton, Ohio, 6-5 in its Little League World Series opener in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The Henderson team trailed 5-2 in the fourth inning before scoring twice in the fourth, once in the fifth and once in the sixth. Hudson Cowley finished the comeback with a two-out single to center that scored Owen Guzman.
Paseo Verde answers early
West Side struck first against Guzman, scoring once in the opening inning before adding another run in the second for a 2-0 lead.
Paseo Verde responded in the bottom of the second. Jace Ward walked and advanced to third on two passed balls before Michael Kleiner doubled him home.
Maddox Bryan followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Kleiner and tying the game 2-2.
West Side regained control with three runs in the fourth. Leo Feltner delivered a sacrifice fly, Jack McAdams added an RBI single and another run scored on a fielder’s choice to make it 5-2.
Henderson fights back
Paseo Verde immediately began cutting into the deficit.
James Esber singled and Cowley walked in the bottom of the fourth. After a wild pitch moved both runners and Ward drew another walk, Esber scored on a passed ball.
Logan Edwards then grounded into a fielder’s choice that brought Cowley home, trimming the deficit to 5-4.
Henderson tied it an inning later after Kleiner reached on a dropped third strike. Bryan followed with a double to center, scoring Kleiner and making it 5-5.
Bryan finished 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Kleiner went 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and two runs.
Pitching keeps Henderson alive
Paseo Verde used four pitchers to work through West Side’s seven-hit attack.
Guzman allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits across 1 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out two.
Payton Hinsen followed with 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out three. Brooks McFarland then recorded two outs before Edwards took over.
Edwards delivered 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. He allowed one hit and one walk.
His biggest escape came in the sixth. West Side put two runners aboard, but Edwards got Jack McAdams to ground into an inning-ending double play to keep the game tied.
Cowley walks it off
Guzman opened the bottom of the sixth with a single to center.
He advanced to second on a passed ball, then moved to third on a wild pitch. Esber grounded out with Guzman holding at third, leaving the winning run 60 feet away with two outs.
Cowley ended it on the next at-bat, sending a fly-ball single into center field. Guzman scored to give Paseo Verde the 6-5 walk-off victory.
Cowley went 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and a run.
Paseo Verde finished with six hits and scored four unanswered runs after falling behind 5-2.
Up next
Paseo Verde advances in the United States bracket and will face Soundview Little League of Tacoma, Washington, at 6 a.m. PDT Sunday at Lamade Stadium.
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