LLWS 2026 Game 17 Recap: Mountain 5, Northwest 0
Nevada shut out Washington 5-0 in Game 17, breaking a scoreless tie with a five-run fifth inning. Brooks McFarland struck out five over five scoreless innings on the mound despite a shaky, 33-pitch first inning. Nevada backed him with a burst of small ball and defensive miscues from Washington.
Nevada advances to face the winner of Iowa and New Jersey on Wednesday, a spot that now belongs to Iowa. Washington drops into the loser’s bracket and must fight to stay alive. The Mountain Region representatives continue to gain momentum on their run through Williamsport.
A Five-Run Fifth Inning Breaks the Tie
Nevada opened the fifth inning with back-to-back bunt singles to get the rally started. Logan Edwards scored the game’s first run after a throwing error by Washington catcher Evan Yarbrough. Adrian Cruz added a sacrifice fly to score Michael Kleiner, and another Washington throwing error brought home a third run.
Carsynn Meyer capped the inning with an RBI single to bring the count to five runs. Owen Guzman contributed two hits of his own during the frame. The five-run outburst turned a tight pitchers’ duel into a comfortable cushion for Nevada’s pitching staff to protect.
Small ball did the damage: Nevada’s rally leaned on bunts, a sacrifice fly, and taking advantage of Washington’s mistakes in the field rather than hard contact. The approach mirrors Nevada’s win over Ohio earlier in the tournament, where timely situational hitting made the difference late in games.
Brooks McFarland Weathers a Rocky Start
McFarland needed 33 pitches to get through a first inning that included three walks and a bases-loaded jam. He settled in from there, striking out five batters over five scoreless innings and finishing with 87 pitches thrown. Kasen Workman matched him for Washington before reaching the game’s maximum pitch count in the fifth.
Washington’s hard-luck outing: Kasen Workman allowed three runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings while striking out seven, a solid line undone by defensive miscues behind him. He reached the 85-pitch limit in the fifth inning, forcing Washington to turn to its bullpen during Nevada’s rally.
How the Game Unfolded, Inning by Inning
| Inning | Key Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Brooks McFarland labors through a 33-pitch, bases-loaded first inning but escapes unscathed. Kasen Workman keeps Nevada off the board as well. | NV 0, WA 0 |
| 2nd–4th | McFarland and Workman trade zeros. Neither offense finds a scoring chance through the middle innings. | NV 0, WA 0 |
| 5th | Back-to-back bunt singles start the rally. An error, a sacrifice fly, another error, and an RBI single from Carsynn Meyer combine for five runs. | NV 5, WA 0 |
| 6th–7th | Nevada’s pitching staff closes out the shutout to seal the 5-0 win. | Final: NV 5, WA 0 |
Game 17 Box Score
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain, Nevada | 5 | TBD | TBD |
| Northwest, Washington | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| Pitcher | Team | IP | H | R | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks McFarland | Mountain | 5 | TBD | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Kasen Workman | Northwest | 4.2 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Key Play | Player | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run Scored | Logan Edwards | Mountain | Scored on a throwing error to open the fifth-inning rally |
| Sacrifice Fly | Adrian Cruz | Mountain | Scored Michael Kleiner in the fifth inning |
| RBI Single | Carsynn Meyer | Mountain | Capped the five-run fifth inning |
Next Games for Mountain and Northwest
Nevada’s path forward: Paseo Verde Little League stays alive and remains in the winners’ bracket after the shutout win. Nevada now turns its attention to a matchup against Iowa on Wednesday, with a spot in the U.S. championship game on the line. Washington must regroup quickly in the losers’ bracket to keep its tournament alive.
Conclusion
Nevada shut out Washington 5-0 in Game 17 of the 2026 LLWS behind a five-run fifth inning. Brooks McFarland struck out five over five scoreless innings despite a shaky start. Nevada’s small-ball approach and Washington’s defensive miscues combined to decide the game.
Nevada advances to face Iowa on Wednesday with a spot in the U.S. championship game on the line. Washington’s tournament run continues in the loser’s bracket, where the team must win every game to survive. Nevada’s pitching depth continues to carry the Mountain Region through Williamsport.
