SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Paseo Verde had two days off before playing in the U.S. championship game in the Little League World Series. The team spent Thursday exploring the World of Little League Museum.
The tour began with a seven-minute video presentation. Players sped their way through the exhibit — acknowledging what was there, but not slowing down to appreciate the significance. There are programs commemorating the 50th anniversary. Next to that is a display commemorating the diamond anniversary of the tournament.
Paseo Verde coach Bill Senne takes his time. It’s not the first time he’s been to the museum. He enjoys the sights. He stops every few seconds to admire the artifacts and provides his own tour as if he’s one of the museum’s caretakers.
“They’re missing out,” Senne says of the kids. “This is some great stuff.”
Senne, 66, is soaking up the experience in Williamsport because it’s going to be his last. Not just his last Little League World Series. His last year with Little League in Nevada.
Senne is retiring after 25 years of being affiliated with Paseo Verde. He was the manager in 2022 when the team was one win away from Williamsport. In 2024, when Paseo Verde made the Little League World Series, he was a volunteer that helped out with the team’s logistics.
He already knew going into Year 25 that it would be his last. It has the potential to be the perfect sendoff, with Paseo Verde two wins away from a world championship.
“I never thought it would happen. I was OK with that,” Senne said. “I’ve made a lot of friends. Influenced a lot of kids. But to imagine this happening on my last year, it’s mind-blowing.”
‘We know how to prepare kids’
Senne was asked to join the coaching staff with manager Cory Edwards and fellow coach Lynn Cowley. He agreed to do it on the premise that he didn’t want to take a job away from a father whose son was already on the team.
Edwards (Logan) and Cowley (Hudson) have sons in the lineup.
What makes this coaching staff work in Senne’s eyes is how the two dads are able to balance being a dad and coaching a team. There’s no special treatment. Everyone is on an equal playing field. It’s not just Edwards calling the shots, either. All three give equal input.
“We know how to prepare kids,” Senne said. “I have no doubt in my mind — I’m not patting myself on the back — we are the best coached team here. And in regions, and in state, and in district. I truly believe that. We’ve been told that, too, by other managers and coaches.”
It’s why Paseo Verde hasn’t lost a game since the district tournament. The team is 3-0 in the Little League World Series heading into Saturday’s U.S. title game against Hamilton, Ohio.
“We’ve been on the road for 22 days (since winning regionals on Aug. 6),” Senne said. “Six games in 22 days. Sixteen days of practice and time off, trying to take care of 12 kids. It’s crazy.”
Looking on the bright side
Senne wouldn’t want it any other way, especially on a run like this.
He’s the optimist of the team. To the point when putting together his suitcase for regionals in San Bernardino, California, he packed 30 days worth of clothes. If Paseo Verde went to Williamsport, at least he’s prepared, he thought. If not, at least he has clothes to bring home.
That’s the complete opposite of Edwards, who always takes things one day at a time.
“The guy’s positivity, it just impacts the whole thing,” Edwards said. “He’s more of the, ‘We’re going to win, and this is how we’re going to win.’ I’m more of the opposite. I think we’re going to lose, and what are all the decisions I need to make sure that we don’t lose?”
There is this feeling of what it would mean to win for Senne. Edwards doesn’t want to put the cart before the horse, though.
“Certainly getting him here. To win it for him, that’s a lot of pressure,” Edwards said, laughing. “I wanted to make sure he had the experience of getting here. I think it’s really special that he gets to do this before he retires.”
‘The highlight’
Even on the day before the biggest game in Paseo Verde Little League’s history, Senne is calm as he watches on from the first base side as the players practiced at South Williamsport Community Park on Friday.
He loves watching the way Carsynn Meyer makes contact with the ball. He applauds 4-foot-9 Adrian Cruz hustling down the base paths on a ground ball. A double from Brooks McFarland is met with a “nice hit, Brooks.”
Senne is in his element for what has the potential to be a storybook ending.
Edwards’ wife Ashley asked Senne that if a movie was ever made on Paseo Verde’s run, who he would want to play himself in the movie. He didn’t have an immediate answer.
Edwards suggested Sylvester Stallone.
“Someone asked me, ‘What’s the highlight?’ I can’t even say,” Senne said. “This is the highlight of all highlights. I can’t pick one, except for this. Ending it like this.
“Even if we don’t win either one of the next two games, just any of this is insane.”
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
