October 23, 2025

One week after a 14–0 mercy-rule win over the SALL Orioles, the Ancient City Reds — playing as the SALL Braves during the Little League fall season — found themselves in a completely different ballgame Thursday night. What was expected to be a tune-up turned into a 9–9 tie that felt more like a loss, as the Reds’ defense unraveled and their usual precision slipped away.

The Reds-Braves jumped out fast, plating four runs in the top of the first mostly through walks and disciplined at-bats. Starter Liam Tarr allowed a single run in the bottom half, but the Reds looked in control early.

In the second, the offense slowed — until Brendan Roberts created a run entirely on his own. After reaching base, Roberts went full Elly De La Cruz mode, stealing second, third, and home on three straight pitches, showcasing his signature mix of IQ, speed, and swagger.

But the momentum flipped instantly.

The Orioles exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second, aided by two errors, three consecutive hit batters, and a string of well-placed singles. The Reds’ defense, normally their anchor, cracked under pressure — and the Orioles capitalized.

The bottom of the order went quiet in the third, while the Orioles tacked on two more runs on a wild pitch and another error, making it 9–5 Orioles.

In the fourth, the Reds began to fight back. Roberts doubled, stole third, and scored on an error, while Mathew Skorstad drew one of his three walks and later scored on a Patrick Halloran RBI, trimming the deficit to two. But a highlight-reel double play off Hayden Perryman’s bat ended the rally.

Skorstad then took the mound and dealt a 1-2-3 inning, holding the line for one final push.

In the fifth, Avery Ward lined a one-out single, followed by a special moment as Crimmson Lemmon recorded his first career hit. Roberts then drove in Ward with a single — part of a 3-for-4, 1 RBI, 6 stolen base performance that anchored the Reds’ offense. Lemmon later scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 9–9.

Tyce Erwin, who went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, grounded out to end the inning, and Roberts took the mound in the bottom half. He looked sharp — striking out two and forcing a soft groundout for a clean 1-2-3 frame — but the 1-hour, 45-minute timer hit zero before another inning could start.

Final: 9–9.

⚠️ Wake-Up Call

For the Orioles, it was validation. For the Reds, it was a warning shot.

This was the same opponent they beat 14–0 last Thursday — but baseball doesn’t care about last week’s box score. Defensive errors, hit batters, and missed chances piled up fast, and the Reds couldn’t deliver the knockout blow early.

Still, a few performances stood out:

• Brendan Roberts: 3-for-4, 1 RBI, 6 SB
• Tyce Erwin: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs
• Mathew Skorstad: 3 BB, 2 R

Offensively, the production was there. But the miscues in the field told the story — and for a team as detail-oriented as the Reds, that’s the kind of game that leaves a bad taste.

It’s worth remembering this game came under the SALL Braves name — a rec-season obligation allowing the Reds to practice at St. Augustine Little League while blending in a few rec players. Chemistry and rhythm naturally shift in those games, but excuses don’t change the result.

The Reds will look to reset in a much tougher matchup against FCA Belloni this Saturday — a true test to see whether this wake-up call turns into a response.