Henderson Paseo Verde U.S. Little League champs to light Al Davis Memorial Torch before Raiders vs. Bills

The U.S. Little League Baseball World Series champion Henderson Paseo Verde team will take part in the Al Davis Memorial Torch tradition at Allegiant Stadium ahead of Sunday’s Raiders game against the Bills.

By The Apex Times Newsroom1 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Henderson Paseo Verde team, which captured the U.S. Little League Baseball World Series title, will light the Al Davis Memorial Torch prior to kickoff of Sunday’s Las Vegas Raiders vs. Buffalo Bills matchup.

According to the Raiders, the team reached youth baseball’s biggest stage after posting an undefeated run through the Mountain Region tournament to earn a trip to the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

In the U.S. Championship Game against Ohio, Henderson Paseo Verde delivered a 12-2 win to secure the U.S. crown, the program’s statement says.

The Raiders also noted the Torch honor began in 2011 in Oakland, with the late John Madden the first to light it on October 18, 2011.

Further, the team said Mrs. Carol Davis, the late First Lady of Raider Nation, was the first woman to light the Al Davis Memorial Torch ahead of the Raiders’ inaugural contest at Allegiant Stadium on September 21, 2020.

Since the tradition’s start, the Raiders said it has featured Raiders alumni, celebrities and fans lighting the Torch before each home game, as part of a tribute to Al Davis’ legacy.

Why It Matters

The ceremony ties an NFL home-game tradition to a youth baseball championship spotlight, broadening the game-day spotlight beyond the pro level.
The selection of the U.S. champions underscores the Raiders’ yearly emphasis on community and local achievement as part of its Allegiant Stadium events.
For Little League fans, the Torch moment places the U.S. Little League Baseball World Series title picture on a national pro stage immediately before kickoff.
The lighting honor continues the Raiders’ stated commitment to honoring Al Davis’ legacy through the Torch each home week.

Sources

Key Facts

The Henderson Paseo Verde team will light the Al Davis Memorial Torch before kickoff of Sunday’s Raiders vs. Bills game.
The Raiders said Henderson Paseo Verde won the U.S. Little League Baseball World Series.
The Raiders described an undefeated run through the Mountain Region tournament that earned the team a spot at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
In the U.S. Championship Game against Ohio, the Raiders said Henderson Paseo Verde won 12-2 to capture the U.S. title.
The Raiders said the Torch tradition began in 2011 in Oakland with John Madden lighting the first Torch on October 18, 2011.
The Raiders said Mrs. Carol Davis was the first to light the Torch in Las Vegas ahead of the Raiders’ first Allegiant Stadium game on September 21, 2020.