CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Charlottesville Tom Sox (26-14) hosted the Woodstock River Bandits (22-21) for a two-game set Monday, scoring a combined 20 runs across 14 innings to secure a 3-1 season series victory. They won the first game 11-8 before taking game two 9-3.
GAME 1 – Tom Sox 11, River Bandits 8
Right-hander Caleb Ketchie (Longwood) took the ball for game one, running into early traffic. Ketchie worked through a jam with runners on the corners with the help of Chris Arroyo (Florida) who turned an unassisted double play at first base to retire the side. The ‘Sox went down quietly in the bottom half of the first as the score was knotted at zeroes, though the offense came in droves later on.
Woodstock struck first, grabbing a run on a pair of singles and a walk. Ketchie stopped the damage, providing Charlottesville the chance to respond. The ‘Sox stormed back with five runs of their own, highlighted by a three-run home run from Brady Gumpf (Notre Dame). Arroyo chipped in at the plate with a two-run double to put Charlottesville up 5-1.
The River Bandits refused to roll over, benefitting from an RBI sacrifice fly and a two-run home run of their own to pull within one in the top of the third. Salvy Alvarez (Florida Southwestern) brought around another run for the ‘Sox in the bottom half with an RBI single to make the score 6-4.
Ketchie had his finest frame in the top of the fourth, retiring Woodstock in order before the ‘Sox tacked on three more with a three-run Henry Ford (Virginia) bomb.
Despite the 9-4 deficit, the River Bandits continued to battle, scratching across an unearned run in the top of the fifth. Ketchie ended the inning and his outing, forcing a 4-6-3 double play.
Charlottesville and Woodstock traded scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth, as Yordani Carmona (St. Thomas U.) entered to retire three straight River Bandits in the the sixth. The ‘Sox cushioned their lead in the bottom half with a two-run Connor Hincks (Notre Dame) double.
Heading into the final half-inning with a score of 11-5, the River Bandits fought back a final time, adding three more runs before Carmona closed out an 11-8 game one.
Ketchie secured the victory, posting one strikeout, four walks, seven hits, and five runs (four earned). Gumpf and Ford led the way for the ‘Sox with three RBI, going 2-4 each.
GAME 2 – Tom Sox 9, River Bandits 3
Righty Braden Halladay (High Point) got the nod in game 2, facing immediate trouble as the River Bandits again struck first, going up 1-0 on a trio of first-inning hits. Woodstock doubled their lead with an unearned run in the second before Charlottesville surged back. Sergio Rivera (Florida Southwestern) and Garrett Spikes (Georgia) knocked in three runs and a wild pitch brought the score to 4-2.
The River Bandits pulled themselves within one with a sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the third, Rivera walked in a run, one of five total walks across both games. With the score at 5-3, Halladay settled into a rhythm while Charlottesville’s offense combined to hum. Halladay retired six out of the final seven batters he faced, collecting his first two strikeouts of the game.
On the offensive side, Jacob Ference (Virginia) provided three RBI across two innings, and Kyle Edwards (Old Dominion) came across unearned to bring the score to a final tally of 9-3. Lucas Cash (Wake Tech CC) closed the game with two scoreless and hitless innings of relief to lock in a second victory.
Ford continued his momentum with another 2-for-4 effort, while Rivera and Spikes knocked in two runs apiece. The night was particularly significant to “Mr. Tom Sox” Garrett Spikes who earned a piece of Tom Sox history with the most games played in franchise history. Spikes, in his third season with Charlottesville, has now appeared in 82 games.
Halladay earned the victory with five strong allowing three runs (two earned) and two strikeouts. Cash contributed two innings with a single walk in a stellar performance.
UP NEXT:
The wins bring the ‘Sox back to first place in the Valley Baseball League ahead of the Harrisonburg Turks (28-16) with the playoffs looming. Charlottesville completes its home regular season schedule Tuesday (July 25) at 1 p.m. against the Front Royal Cardinals, who sit at the eighth position in the league and in critical need of a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
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Ford finished his day going 3-for-8 with four runs, three RBI, a home run, and a couple of impressive defensive plays at third base.
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Arroyo continued his impressive doubleheader day from Sunday, going 3-for-9 with three RBI, two runs, and a double. Over his last four games, Arroyo is 8-for-15 with seven RBI, two doubles, a triple, and a home run.
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Brady Gumpf collected a season-high three RBI in game one.
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Charlottesville’s five errors in game two are tied for the second-most this season. Three of the five were committed by Ford.
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Charlottesville pitching struck out only five batters in the two games combined. Their previous low for pitching in one game was four strikeouts, done twice.
