The Little League World Series offers some of the best baseball being played at the 10-to-12-year-old age level. It's not uncommon for players to debut nationally at the LLWS before going on to reach the highest level of professional baseball.
While there is plenty of crossover between the MLB and the LLWS, who knew the NFL also had ties to Williamsport?
The Mountain Region team competing in 2024 hails from Paseo Verde, Nev. The team's home field is a 10-minute drive from the Raiders' practice facility in Henderson, just outside of Las Vegas. Not only will the Raiders be rooting on the Nevada club due to its proximity, but a member of the football staff is a coach of the Paseo Verde Little League squad — Adam Johnson.
Johnson is an equipment manager for the NFL organization, but as the Raiders get prepped for the 2024 season, he is in Williamsport, hoping to bring a LLWS title back to the Silver State.
Here is more to know about Johnson.
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Who is Adam Johnson?
Johnson is the assistant equipment manager for the Raiders. He has been with the organization for 19 seasons, first joining the club when it was located in Oakland.
A native of Minden, Nev., he originally taught history and geography in a junior high school before moving to Henderson with the Raiders in 2020. Currently, he oversees "practice equipment logistics, quarterback ball preparation, and practice and game apparel for staff, coaches and players."
While the Raiders have been getting prepared for a Super Bowl run this season, Johnson has been traveling back and forth from Costa Mesa, where the football club holds training camp, and San Bernardino, where the Paseo Verde team was clinching its spot as the Mountain Region team for the LLWS.
"Sometimes it would take me an hour and 20 minutes to get there, sometimes longer," Johnson said to ESPN. "I was definitely fortunate to help [the Raiders] on those days, and being here with these kids, who have earned the right to play on, it's been magic."
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Johnson's son, Oliver, is a member of the 12-man team. The whole group of baseball players is feeling the support from the football organization. Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby even gave them a FaceTime call for encouragement.
"When you're around pro sports, you interact with different people and you see the passion of people like the Maxx Crosbys," Johnson said. "The kids see that video from Maxx and they get juiced. That's what we're here to do. Our players look up to their role models. The Raider connection makes it more special."
While Johnson is in Pennsylvania for the action in Williamsport, once the tournament concludes, he will be back with the Raiders ahead of the NFL's regular season.
"We need some advice from him," Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said. "Hell, he's in the World Series, we need some advice from him. I didn't know he was that good of a manager. We've been holding him back. He spots the ball [for us in practice], next thing I know, this guy's on ESPN, celebrating with his team.
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