CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Five Tom Sox players were named all-stars by the Valley League on Wednesday (June 21). Mike Eggert (Wofford), Mark Perkins (Rice), Kyle Edwards (Old Dominion), Brice Martinez (Wofford), and Kalvin Alexander (Georgia Southwestern) will all suit up for the South team on Sunday in Front Royal.
Tom Sox Head Coach Lyndon Coleman will coach the South team – featuring players from Charlottesville, Covington, Culpeper, Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, and Staunton – due to the Tom Sox having the best winning percentage among the six teams. Coleman is the second Tom Sox manager to coach the South team in three seasons after Kory Koehler led the team in 2021.
Eggert has had a strong start to his second season in Charlottesville. He is one of five ‘Sox pitchers on the season to not allow a run and has allowed only one hit in his 6.2 innings (four appearances), striking out five.
Perkins has had a similarly impressive start, tossing nine innings (tied for the most on the team) in three appearances (two starts) and working to a 2.00 ERA. He has struck out 15 batters, the third-most on the team, while allowing only three hits and three walks.
Edwards, the lone ‘Sox player selected to both the NACSB Prospect Showcase and VBL All-Star team, has had a breakout summer for Charlottesville. He leads the team in batting average, doubles, runs scored, hits, slugging percentage, and is tied for the RBI lead. His batting average is more than 100 points higher than last season’s, and he set a team record with six RBI in last Saturday’s game at Front Royal.
Martinez has also impressed early on, going 10-for-25 (.400) in his first eight games while knocking in nine runs, tied with Edwards and Sergio Rivera for the team lead. He drove in all four runs Sunday at Culpeper and also has eight stolen bases, fifth-most on the squad.
Alexander is the third ‘Sox returner to be named an all-star, serving as one of the league’s top catchers. He has made 77 outs without recording an error or a passed ball on the summer and hit his first double of the season on Saturday in addition to a home run on June 9 against Harrisonburg.
The Valley League All-Star game will be held Sunday, June 25 at Bing Crosby Stadium in Front Royal. Festivities begin with the 60-yard dash presented by T-Mobile at 4:30 before the home run derby sponsored by Gochenour Sawmill Company gets under way at 5 P.M. The 2023 Valley League Hall of Fame class – featuring Jerry May, Denny Walling, Tony DeMacio, Johnny Grubb, Roberto Hernandez, Jason Michaels, Mike Lowell, Gary Gilmore, and Jim Morris – will be inducted at 6:30 before the game begins at 7. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6-12, and free for kids wearing a youth jersey.
