Curacao looks to build off its runner-up finishes in 2019 and 2022

When it comes to Little League, there aren't many international teams with a recent track record as impressive as Pablo Little League's from Curacao. In its last two appearances in 2019 and 2022, the Caribbean region representative has finished as the runner up in the Little League World Series, one small step down from the greatest accomplishment in the tournament.

With the 2020 tournament being cancelled and the 2021 one not featuring International teams, Pablo enters the 2023 Little League World Series having represented the Caribbean region three straight times.

So, in this case, is the third time the charm?

This team certainly has a lot going for it, both on paper and according to its manager Zaino Everett, who also coached the 2022 team.

On paper, it left little room for doubt in its qualifying regional.

Not only did it win each of its matchups by a combined score of 47-4, it also pitched four shut outs and finished the regional 6-0. Compared to its 2022 regional, where it outscored its opponents 29-17, pitched one shutout and dropped a game, there's a clear difference.

A dominant regional performance doesn't always equate to a strong outing in the series, but that doesn't mean those results don't foreshadow anything. In 2022, Pablo finished its regional run thanks to its mound holding firm, and that proved to be its biggest strength come August.

Of its six victories in the 2022 Little League World Series, not one of them featured its opponent scoring more than two runs and three of them were shutouts where Pablo scored a combined four. While its offense struggled, scoring 23 runs in eight outings, its defense kept them in it until the last game.

The biggest difference between its 2022 and 2023 teams is offense. In six regional victories, it averaged just under eight runs per contest and scored in the double digits in half of them.

"This year is like last year. Our strength is our pitching and our defense. But this time, we have some guys that can hit some bombs," explained Everett. "That's going to be the difference because last year we didn't have the power."

This team also returns four players that now have valuable experience under their belts in Joshua Acosta Fernandez, D'Shawn Winklaar, Jay'Dlynn Wiel and Shemar Sophia Jacobus. That's an advantage that not many of the other 19 teams in the tournament can relate to. The only other league in the field back from last year is Nolensville, Tennessee on the United States side.

Those four Caribbean players, along with the coaches, know what it takes to be successful in the Little League World Series. They're aware of the challenges that await them due to their experience, and that's a factor that could go a long way.

"You know the competition isn't easy, so you have to work hard to win because the best 20 teams are here. They have to work hard to win every ball game," said Everett. "This year, we have the experience combined with the power. It's going to be a great run for us."

Experience and chemistry are two central aspects of almost every championship run, and this team has both according to Everett. He describes his team as a family, one that's completely connected mentally.

"Just to have your team with you and have everybody together, every person's nose in the same direction, that's important because everyone wants to win," said Everett. "You have to just talk a little bit with them (the players). Just trying to stay calm and do their best, and that's going well."

When it comes to the Little League teams that'll ultimately make deepest runs in 2023, there's a large number of possibilities of who can get to the championship game.

And Curacao will look to build off its success from its past two World Series runs and get to another championship game.