Henderson's Paseo Verde Competes for Little League World Series Title
Paseo Verde Little League of Henderson, Nevada, entered Sunday's Little League Baseball World Series championship game against Curaçao after completing an unbeaten run through the tournament and winning the U.S. championship.
The Henderson team earned its place in the final by defeating West Side Little League of Hamilton, Ohio, 12-2 on Saturday. The victory secured the Mountain Region's U.S. championship and sent Paseo Verde into the world title game.
The championship appearance represented a major achievement for the players, coaches and Henderson community.
Paseo Verde had already progressed through state and regional competition before reaching Williamsport, where the team continued to win against some of the strongest youth baseball programs in the country.
The U.S. championship victory was especially convincing.
Paseo Verde established a large lead over Hamilton before the game ended under the tournament's mercy rule. The Henderson team also turned three double plays, tying a Little League World Series record.
The result created an international championship matchup with Curaçao.
Curaçao reached the final after defeating Japan 4-0 in the international championship. Pitcher Jaymiëll Martina recorded 12 strikeouts and helped his team secure a shutout victory.
The matchup brought together two unbeaten teams from very different baseball environments.
Curaçao has a long history of Little League success, while Nevada was attempting to win the state's first Little League World Series championship.
Paseo Verde's appearance was also significant because it continued a recent run of success for Nevada.
A Southern Nevada team reached the final the previous year, and Henderson now had another opportunity to compete for the championship.
The team's progress generated widespread support in Southern Nevada.
Henderson residents gathered at a local theater to watch the U.S. championship, while families and league officials celebrated the team's advancement.
Community involvement is one of the defining characteristics of Little League baseball.
Players typically progress through local leagues before competing in district, state and regional tournaments. Reaching Williamsport therefore represents the culmination of a long competitive process involving players, coaches, families and volunteers.
The 2026 World Series included 20 teams, divided evenly between U.S. and international regions. Games were held at the Little League International Complex in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The tournament also produced a notable moment involving Paseo Verde players Carsynn Meyer and Kinley Rasmus.
Little League International recognized them as the 25th and 26th Girls with Game players to compete in the event.
Their participation added another dimension to a tournament already attracting national attention because of Henderson's success.
For the players, however, the central focus remained baseball.
The championship game represented the final opportunity to complete an unbeaten tournament and bring a world championship back to Nevada.
For the community, the appearance itself was already a significant achievement.
Paseo Verde's success has put Henderson on a national youth-sports stage and given local families a shared event around which to gather.
The team's coaching staff also faced a notable transition.
Coach Bill Senne was preparing to conclude a 25-season coaching career with the organization after the championship game, adding a personal milestone to the team's final appearance.
The championship therefore carried significance on several levels.
It was a contest between two unbeaten teams, a national showcase for youth baseball and a major moment for a Nevada community that had followed the team from local competition to Williamsport.
Paseo Verde entered the game with the opportunity to become Nevada's first Little League World Series champion.
Whatever the final outcome, the Henderson team's 2026 tournament run had already established a major chapter in Southern Nevada youth sports.
The journey from Henderson to the Little League World Series final demonstrated the scale of what local baseball programs can achieve when players progress through regional competition and reach the national stage.
Men's Newspaper Contributor
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