Paseo Verde Little League has spent its time in Williamsport giving Henderson reason to believe.
On Sunday, the unbeaten Mountain Region champion will face Curaçao at Howard J. Lamade Stadium with the Little League Baseball World Series championship on the line.
Paseo Verde reached the final by overwhelming Hamilton West Side Little League of Ohio 12-2 in five innings Saturday to win the United States championship. The victory also gave Nevada consecutive U.S. titles after Summerlin South won the American bracket in 2025.
For Paseo Verde, one game remains in a run built on pitching, defense, aggressive baserunning and contributions throughout the roster.
From Henderson to the world championship
Paseo Verde opened its World Series with perhaps its most dramatic victory.
Hamilton led Henderson 5-2 before Paseo Verde scored twice in the fourth inning, once in the fifth and again in the sixth. Hudson Cowley delivered the winner with a two-out single that scored Owen Guzman for a 6-5 walk-off victory.
Two days later, Brooks McFarland gave Henderson a completely different kind of win.
Paseo Verde Little League pitcher Brooks McFarland throws during the first inning against the Northwest Region at Howard J. Lamade Stadium. McFarland helped Henderson beat Soundview Little League of Tacoma 5-0 on its way to the U.S. title game. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
McFarland worked five scoreless innings against Soundview Little League of Washington, allowing two hits and striking out five. Logan Edwards followed with a perfect sixth to finish a 5-0 combined shutout.
It became an early example of what has defined Paseo Verde in Williamsport. The player driving the story has changed from game to game.
Defense has traveled with them
Paseo Verde has scored plenty of runs, but its defense has repeatedly changed innings.
Edwards has been a steady presence at shortstop, while Adrian Cruz, Michael Kleiner and Cowley have made important plays around the diamond.
Paseo Verde Little League shortstop Logan Edwards fields a ground ball for the third out during the fourth inning against the Northwest Region at Howard J. Lamade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
That defense was at its best in Saturday’s U.S. Championship Game. Paseo Verde turned three double plays as Hamilton tried to generate traffic against Guzman and Payton Hinsen.
Paseo Verde Little League player Adrian Cruz turns a double play during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
One of those double plays ended the third inning. Cowley started it at third, Kleiner made the turn at second and James Esber finished it at first.
Guzman charged off the mound pumping his right fist, visibly fired up by the defense behind him.
Paseo Verde Little League’s Adrian Cruz (#2) during the third inning against the Northwest Region on Aug. 23 at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Cruz and Henderson returned to Lamade on Saturday to face Hamilton, Ohio, in the United States Championship Game. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Paseo Verde Little League player Adrian Cruz makes a diving catch during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Guzman brings energy everywhere
Guzman has made an impact in nearly every phase of Paseo Verde’s run.
He has pitched, moved around the field and consistently produced at the plate. Against Hamilton on Saturday, Guzman led off the bottom of the first with a triple to right.
Paseo Verde Little League player Owen Guzman hits during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
He later scored on a heads-up baserunning play after a pitch got away and Hamilton lost track of him as the ball returned toward the mound.
Guzman also started on the mound and worked 3 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts before reaching the Little League pitch limit at 88 pitches.
When his outing ended, Guzman simply moved to second base and stayed in the game.
Paseo Verde Little League second baseman Owen Guzman swings at a pitch during the third inning against the Northwest Region at Howard J. Lamade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Contributions throughout the lineup
Paseo Verde has rarely needed one player to carry the offense.
Maddox Bryan drove in three runs from the No. 8 spot in the U.S. title game. His two-run single helped fuel a five-run second inning before his fifth-inning RBI single ended the game under the 10-run rule.
Michael Kleiner went 2-for-2 Saturday after contributing throughout the tournament at the plate and in the field.
Paseo Verde Little League player Michael Kleiner fields during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Henderson has also made opposing pitchers work. Its hitters have extended at-bats, taken close pitches and forced opponents to throw strikes.
Paseo Verde Little League player Michael Kleiner avoids a pitch during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
That approach helped Paseo Verde chase Hamilton starter Josiah Infante during the second inning Saturday. Henderson turned a 1-1 game into a 6-1 advantage before the inning ended.
Meyer makes history in Williamsport
Carsynn Meyer has added her name to Little League World Series history along the way.
Meyer drove an RBI single up the middle during Saturday’s five-run second inning. The hit made her the sixth girl in Little League Baseball World Series history to record multiple hits in the tournament.
Paseo Verde Little League player Carsynn Meyer hits during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Her contribution was part of another balanced offensive performance. Paseo Verde collected 13 hits against Hamilton after nine different Henderson players recorded hits in a 14-6 win over Davenport earlier in the tournament.
Hinsen answers when needed
Payton Hinsen’s tournament has included contributions on the bases, at the plate and on the mound.
Paseo Verde Little League player Payton Hinsen bunts during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
His biggest moment Saturday came in relief of Guzman.
Hamilton had cut the lead to 6-2 and loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth when Hinsen entered. He got Walker Osborne to fly out to center to end the threat, then completed 1 1/3 hitless, scoreless innings.
Paseo Verde never let Hamilton back into the game.
Cowley, Ward and the moments that built the run
Cowley produced one of the defining hits of the entire tournament before Henderson ever reached the U.S. title game.
His two-out walk-off single against Hamilton in the opener completed Paseo Verde’s comeback from three runs down.
Paseo Verde Little League player Hudson Cowley hits during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Eight days later, Henderson beat the same Hamilton team by 10 runs.
Jace Ward has also contributed during the run, including a hit and run scored during Saturday’s championship victory.
Paseo Verde Little League player Jace Ward hits during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
The difference between those two Hamilton games showed how many ways Paseo Verde has learned to win in Williamsport.
McFarland helps finish the U.S. title
Saturday’s game ended with another surge from the bottom half of the Henderson lineup.
Guzman singled and Cowley was hit by a pitch before McFarland doubled both runners home, pushing the lead to 10-2.
Paseo Verde Little League player Brooks McFarland pitches during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Edwards brought home another run before Bryan delivered the single that made it 12-2 and ended the game.
For a team that has received contributions from nearly everywhere, it was a fitting way to secure the U.S. championship.
One game left
Paseo Verde now gets the biggest game of its season against Curaçao.
Curaçao reached Sunday’s championship with a 4-0 victory over Japan in the international final. Jaymiëll Martina struck out 12 over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the win.
Henderson enters the matchup unbeaten in Williamsport. Its path has included a walk-off comeback, a shutout, a 14-run performance and a 10-run-rule victory for the United States championship.
Paseo Verde Little League players celebrate during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
The next celebration would make Paseo Verde world champions.
Paseo Verde Little League players celebrate at the bracket during the team’s Little League World Series run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
For the entire Paseo Verde team
Dice City Sports does not yet have individual photos of Theo Bingham, James Esber, Michael Guerrero and Maddox Bryan from this World Series run. We hope to find images of each as more become available.
Their absence from this photo essay does not diminish their place in this remarkable season. Dice City Sports thanks all four for a great run and wishes the entire Paseo Verde team good luck Sunday as Henderson plays for a Little League World Series championship.
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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.
