SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Paseo Verde built its success this summer on defense and pitching.
The two combined for a record-breaking run of six double plays throughout the Little League World Series after turning two in the championship game Sunday against Curacao.
Paseo Verde tied a Little League World Series record with three during the 12-2 win over Ohio in the U.S. title game on Saturday. They were the first team to reach that mark since Auburn, Washington, did so in 2010.
The other also came against Ohio in the first meeting between the teams Aug. 21.
Three teams — Peachtree City, Georgia (2018), Chula Vista, California (2009), and Ewa Beach, Hawaii (2005) — had five in one tournament.
“We work on that all the time,” manager Cory Edwards said Saturday. “We do it in the outfield every day, runners putting pressure on the defense.”
It’s a small bright spot in what was an otherwise tough day for Paseo Verde’s pitching and defense.
Paseo Verde gave up 11 runs on 12 hits, both the most they surrendered in a game while in Williamsport.
It started well for Paseo Verde. Starting pitcher Payton Hinsen induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the first, and got a two-run cushion after two innings.
Hinsen and Logan Edwards struggled the rest of the way by combining for eight earned runs over 4⅔ innings.
Before that, it was a defensive masterclass from Paseo Verde.
The team from Henderson shut out Tacoma, Washington, in its second game of the tournament, then followed that by keeping Iowa off the scoreboard for 5⅔ innings before Davenport scored six runs in the sixth.
Paseo Verde went 21 innings without trailing in a game. It hadn’t been losing since the fifth inning of their first meeting against Ohio.
In the rematch for the U.S. championship, Paseo Verde held Ohio to two runs while eliminating base-running threats.
“I hope they learn a lot from this experience,” Edwards said. “I’m so proud of the different dynamic of what you have to do to get here and then how you have to live when you’re here, and ultimately put you on camera and still told to play baseball and you’re going to execute well.
“When they look back and realize what they accomplished and what they’ve gained from here on out, I hope they shoot me a text or give me a call and remember that it was a hell of a ride.”
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
