Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

youth sports:

Mountain Ridge first Nevada team to reach Little League World Series

Mountain Ridge

Special to the Sun

A team photo of the Mountain Ridge Little League all-star team after winning the Nevada state tournament. It became the first Nevada league to reach the Little League World Series.

Mountain Ridge Little League will be the first Nevada team to play in the Little League World Series.

The Northwest Las Vegas team used a nine-run first inning today in the championship game of the Western Regional in San Bernardino, Calif., for an 11-2 victory against Northern California’s Pacifica American to punch their ticket to Williamsport, Pa.

Austin Kryszczuk crushed a three-run home run in the first inning outburst, hitting his fifth long ball in six regional games. Mountain Ridge sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning, receiving run-scoring singles from Zachary Hare and Josh Zuehlsdorff.

After Pacifica American scored twice in the first, Mountain Ridge’s Alex Barker had a RBI single in the second. Bradley Stone added a solo home run in the sixth.

Pacifica American loaded the bases in the fourth and fifth innings, but failed to score. Yes, this Nevada team — unlike Green Valley and Paseo Verde, which came one game short of Williamsport in past seasons — wasn't going to be denied.

Mountain Ridge, a team of players ages 11-13, won all six of its regional games. It only trailed once. They’ll begin play Thursday at the World Series, which is televised by the ESPN family of networks.

The World Series has been played every August since the late 1940s. And, for the first time, a Nevada team will take part in the youth baseball’s most grand event.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.

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