Lamar Little League’s first LLWS journey in 21 years concluded with a 7-3 loss to Braintree (Mass.). The Richmond squad surged early, with Sontag starting the attack by singling to left followed by a Williams sacrifice, Carlisle delivering an RBI single, and back-to-back hits from Disselkoen and Helmke to make it 2-0. A rolling sequence of errors opened the door for a two-run triple by McCarthy, putting Braintree ahead 3-2. The visitors extended the lead to 5-2 in the second, Lamar loaded the bases in the third but couldn’t capitalize, and Trotta’s two-run hit pushed the margin to 7-2. Sontag’s third hit in the fifth plated Miller to cut the deficit to 7-3, but the rally stalled. This marked Lamar’s LLWS return, their first since a third-place finish behind Mexico after Grichuk’s run, a reminder of the program’s enduring pipeline to elite youth baseball.

In the broader LLWS lore, Lamar’s matchup featured a mix of early offense and late-inning blocks, with key performances from in-game catalysts like Carlisle on the mound and Sontag at the plate. The game showcased the high-leverage moments that define youth tournaments: misplayed balls turning into scoring chances, runners navigating bases loaded situations, and timely hits bending momentum. The loss ends a historic dip into Williamsport for the Richmond program, echoing its prior LLWS chapter and underscoring the pathways young players traverse toward college or pro levels. Matthew Richards filed from Houston with the recap.