October 2025

The Ancient City Reds rolled into the Perfect Game Fall Sunshine State Championship knowing the truth: they’d been struggling lately. Sure, the team had crushed the Orioles 14–0 earlier in the week — but underneath the score, there were cracks. Defense that once defined them was now inconsistent. Execution that should have been automatic had faltered. And though the offense had moments of brilliance, it was largely being carried by a core handful of players.

Greenland Park hosted the first games of the weekend, and the Reds quickly realized that in baseball, little mistakes make big problems. For what could’ve been a two-game day, the team moved over to Julington Creek’s Mills Field for the remaining contests — a shift that brought new sightlines, new grass, and new challenges.

Game One – Reds 15, Money Ball 7

The Reds faced familiar foes right away — Jackson Boyce, former Red and 2024 Offensive MVP, and power-hitter Lucas Fletcher, guest-playing for Money Ball. It was personal.

From the first pitch, the bats were on fire. Eli Norquist singled, Brendan Roberts doubled, and the lineup produced a chain reaction of RBIs that quickly put the Reds ahead. Tyce Erwin, Hayden Perryman, and Alejandro Rodriguez all added key knocks in a massive early rally.

Roberts reflected on one highlight after the game:

“I know that’s Jackson in right. I was more trying to force an error — I’m not trying to score on that throw.”

The Reds’ pitching and defense eventually stabilized, and the bats exploded again. Roberts doubled later, Halloran added an RBI double, Crozier and Perryman added hits, and the Reds ran away with a 15–7 win.

Even with the victory, the same theme lingered: the offense carried a lot of weight, and defensive miscues reminded the team that perfection still wasn’t happening.

Game Two – Hardballers 19, Reds 3

Game two at Greenland Park was a harsh reminder of baseball’s unforgiving nature. The Florida Hardballers Black collected 12 hits, including two doubles, and punished every opening the Reds’ defense gave.

This wasn’t the Reds’ typical defensive self — usually reliable, crisp, and disciplined — but lately, defense had been the story, and this game confirmed it. Misreads, hesitation, and lapses allowed the Hardballers to score at will.

Despite the blowout, the offense didn’t quit. Roberts went 2-for-2, Norquist continued his hitting streak, Perryman added multi-hit contributions, and Crozier drove in a run. But when four players are doing most of the heavy lifting, it’s difficult to overcome the mistakes piling up behind them.

Bracket Play – Hard Ninety 5, Reds 4

The weekend finale moved to Julington Creek’s Mills Field, where the Reds faced Hard Ninety. They played from behind the whole game, down 5–0 in the second, after a disastrous inning featuring multiple miscues. Outside of that second inning, the defense was clean and sharp — just the kind you’d expect from a team of this caliber.

The offense mounted a furious rally. Roberts went 3-for-3, Norquist went 2-for-2 with a HBP, and both Erwin and Skorstad went 2-for-3. They drove four total runs, but the early deficit and the lone second-inning meltdown proved too much. Meanwhile, Halloran, Crozier, Rodriguez, and Perryman all went hitless — highlighting the weekend-long pattern: only a handful of players carried the lineup.

This wasn’t just a game — it was a microcosm of the weekend. Four players did most of the work, the defense mostly held, and tiny mistakes made the difference between a win and a what-if.

The Core Storyline: Small Numbers, Big Impact

Across the weekend, this pattern was unmistakable:

• Only three hitters finished above .500 — Roberts, Norquist, and Erwin.
• Skorstad (.400) and Perryman (.429) hit above .400.
• Four players were below .200 for the weekend.

Even when the offense fired, it relied on a handful of stars. Baseball may be a team sport, but at this tournament, it felt like four guys were carrying the weight of the world.

Tyce Erwin: Grit and Power

One story that stands out: Tyce Erwin. Playing the entire weekend with a broken left thumb in a splint, Erwin did more than contribute — he dominated. He went 2-for-3 in the bracket game, hit like a beast all weekend, and came out of the bullpen to throw 4.0 innings in relief with 0 earned runs in that final game. His toughness, both at the plate and on the mound, embodied the heart of the team.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Player	AVG	Key Notes
Brendan Roberts	.875	Weekend power, doubles, consistency
Eli Norquist	.778	Constant contact, table-setter
Tyce Erwin	.571	Hit and pitched through injury
Mathew Skorstad	.400	Solid bat in key moments
Hayden Perryman	.429	Produced in early rallies, limited later

The bats carried the weekend, but only a few players carried most of the weight. The numbers tell the story: talent exists, but balance is missing.

The Hard Truth

This weekend wasn’t about talent. It wasn’t about effort. The Reds’ bats were electric, the pitching was competitive, and the defense outside one inning was solid.

It was about execution and consistency. The defense, once a defining strength, had become a vulnerability, and the offense leaned heavily on just a few players.

The Perfect Game Sunshine State Championship exposed the cracks. It also showed the core of this team — Roberts, Norquist, Erwin, Skorstad — and their ability to carry, to fight, and to never quit.

The Reds’ best baseball is still ahead. The lessons are clear: tighten the defense, balance the lineup, and fix the small things — because baseball punishes every little lapse, and the Reds now know exactly what that looks like.

Quote of the Weekend:

“You can hit all you want, but defense wins baseball games. We’re better than what we showed.” – Brendan Roberts

Final Weekend Summary

• Tournament: Perfect Game Sunshine State Championship
• Location: Greenland Park / Julington Creek’s Mills Field, Jacksonville, FL
• Record: 1–2
• Scores:
  
  • W 15–7 vs 5 Star Money Ballers
  • L 19–3 vs Florida Hardballers Black
  • L 5–4 vs Hard Ninety