CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The reigning Valley League champion Charlottesville Tom Sox announced their 2021 schedule on Monday, February 1. Due to health & safety circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the schedule features a new format that reduces travel for teams; which includes doubleheaders against North division teams and six added South division games. Home games, with a few exceptions, will continue to start at 7 ET & road games will vary.
The Tom Sox kick off their season at home on June 5, facing the Covington Lumberjacks. The home opener marks only the second time in team history that the Tom Sox begin their season at home, having previously done so in 2016.
The 2021 schedule features doubleheaders against all North division teams. With the new format, South division teams will face their six North counterparts only twice, compared to three times in past seasons. Charlottesville’s doubleheaders will occur on Sundays in June and Saturdays in July. Home doubleheaders will begin at 5 ET and road doubleheaders will vary.
The Tom Sox and Strasburg Express face off in a doubleheader on Sunday, June 27. The Tom Sox defeated the Express in 2017 & 2019 to win both their league championships.
The six North division games lost due to the doubleheaders have been compensated by additional South division games. The Tom Sox will face the Staunton Braves and Harrisonburg Turks eight times each (as opposed to six normally), and will add an extra meeting with the Waynesboro Generals and Covington Lumberjacks.
The Tom Sox continue their tradition of hosting the Waynesboro Generals on the Fourth of July in 2021. The two teams will face off that Sunday at a time TBD.
The Valley League All-Star Game continues, taking place this season on July 11. Further information will follow in the coming months.
The ‘Sox close their season on July 23, facing the Waynesboro Generals in their 7th and final meeting. The two teams have never met to close a season.
Further information on the schedule will follow, as will health & safety and broadcast information.