Charlottesville Treks to Harrisonburg to Play the Turks.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -The Tom Sox (1-8) will make the drive up I-81 to play against the division rival Harrisonburg Turks (4-4) for the second time this season.
Coverage: The Tom Sox social media accounts will have live updates from Eagle Field. Fans can listen to a live radio broadcast of the game on the Tom Sox YouTube. Live stats for all VBL games are available on the Valley Baseball League website courtesy of Presto.
Ticket Information: Tickets to Turks games are $7 for anyone under 55 or over 12. Seniors age 55 and older and youth from 5-12, can get in for $5. Military, Law Enforcement and first responders attend Turks games for free.
Probable Starters
Harrisonburg: TBA
Charlottesville: LHP Patrick Dudley
HISTORY IN DEFEAT:
The 'Sox faltered late in a game in which they made team history and fell to the Waynesboro Generals 15-13.
The second inning for Charlottesville saw 12 runners cross the plate, with seven of those runs coming on a grand slam from Lucas Ream (Shippensburg) and a three-run blast from Tommy Landsnes.
Those 12 runs were the most in a single inning in franchise history, with every batter both reaching base and scoring in the inning.
Charlottesville starter Clayton Armah (Auburn) ran into some trouble in the bottom of the inning and was lifted.
The 'Sox offense could only muster one run the rest of the ballgame
Evan Alwine worked a few innings of scoreless relief late, but the 'Sox were unable to mount a comeback and fell in the contest.
SCOUTING THE TURKS:
Harrisonburg stands at 4-4 on the season, with their game yesterday against Strasburg postponed.
The Turks sit in the middle of the road in most statistics across the league, though their approach at the plate has been unique as they strike out the least but also walk the least across the league.
Jaxon Walker and Brody Dalton have each slugged two homers on the year, with Walker also pacing the team in average and OPS.
Former 'Sox arm Lane Duff leads the team in innings this season with 10. He holds a 2.70 ERA over his three appearances on the mound.
ABOUT LAST SEASON:
The 2025 campaign was a wild season for the ‘Sox from start to finish.
The ‘Sox began the season 3-9, struggling to find consistency at the mound and the plate. With a four-game losing streak capping off the cold stretch.
A win against the league’s best team the Harrisonburg Turks on June 19th helped shift the tides. The team won eight of their next ten games, spurred on by efforts from new arrivals Preston Gamster, Perry Hargett and Lee Sowers.
By the end of June, the ‘Sox had climbed back to the .500 mark. But a trio of injuries would throw a wrench in the team’s plans. Ace Evan Alwine and fellow Starter JT Gibson went down with injuries that ended their seasons. The ‘Sox also lost closer Jason Ban, who was one of the most effective relievers in the valley
Despite the struggles, Charlottesville trudged forward and entered the postseason as the three seed in the south, finishing with a 20-18 record.
PLAYOFF HEROICS:
The ‘Sox defeated six seeded Waynesboro in the first round 8-5 off the back of an incredible start from Brandon Eldridge.
The division semi-final saw Charlottesville travel to Staunton to take on the Braves. The ‘Sox struck early for three runs, but fell behind 6-3 in the late innings. Through 100-degree heat the team battled, scoring three runs in the seventh and four in the eighth, holding on for a 10-7 win.
After a multi-hour rain delay the ‘Sox booked a trip to the Valley League championship in one of the greatest games in league history. Down a run in the ninth, Hudson Lutterman ripped an RBI-double to tie the game at four. In the twelfth inning, Jackson Sirois dribbled one up the third base line to bring in Sowers to go to the Championship series.
Game one in Strasburg was an offensive clash with 23 total runs scored by both teams. Kyle Langley led the way for the ‘Sox with three hits and five RBI’s. Saxon Roberts pitched the final four frames striking out eight batters but fell victim to a walk-off in the 10th.
Lutterman continued his heroics with a walk-off sacrifice fly in game two to force a winner-take-all game three.
Strasburg, off the back of a no-hit bid from John Gray and Evan Garcia, took game three 5-3 to win the Valley Baseball League in 2025.
TRADITION OF SUCCESS:
The Tom Sox have been the Valley’s most successful team since winning their first title in 2017.
The ‘Sox have appeared in all but one championship series since ‘17 (2021) and have won the league title in three of those seven years.
Charlottesville’s 214-120 record since the start of the 2017 season is the best in the VBL.
Charlottesville’s seven championship appearances and three titles since 2017 are both the most in the VBL over that span.
The ‘Sox have reached the championship series for the last four seasons. With three different head coaches making up the four trips.
BACK IN THE SADDLE:
Charlottesville will welcome back six returners for another season with the ‘Sox.
Trevor Booton headlines the group after a 2025 campaign in which he earned an All-VBL South second-team nod. Boot returns for his third season in Charlottesville with several team records in reach for the righty.
Evan Alwine will return to Charlottesville after his season ended early due to inury last year. The ace of the rotation, Alwine was near the top of the VBL in ERA before the season-ending injury.
Lucas Cash will become the first four-year player for the Tom Sox in 2026. He pitched in game one of the 2025 VBL championship after arriving a few weeks prior.
Catcher Jack McMullan also makes his return to the Tom Sox squad. McMullan helped lead the ‘Sox to a title during his stint in 2024.
Brock Clayton comes back to Charlottesville for his second season after earning an all-conference selection playing for NW Florida last season
Caden Harris, who was one of the youngest ‘Sox players last year returns with a full season of college baseball experience behind him at UVA Wise.
ACROSS COLLEGE BASEBALL:
This year’s Tom Sox team is well represented around college baseball.
The 2026 ‘Sox team is made up of players from all three levels of NCAA baseball.
In division one, seven players represent two power conferences in the SEC and the ACC. Seven other division one conferences also have representation, including the A-10, SOCON, Big East, MAAC, CUSA, Big South and the MAC.
For Division two, one player each comes from the PSAC and the MEC.
Four teams from division three have ‘Sox players, the conferences being the ODAC, NCAC, NESCAC and SAA.
The ‘Sox also have four non-NCAA squads in the JUCO ranks. With players from Seminole State, Chipola, Louisburg and Pasco Hernando.
‘SOX ACROSS THE NATION:
The Tom Sox squad this season is home to players from seven different states.
The ‘Sox have two players traveling from out west, with Simon Tesfaye from Nevada and Tanner Craytor from Colorado.
Pennsylvania sends two players to Cville, with Evan Alwine and Lucas Ream representing the Keystone State.
Georgia has a strong foothold on the ‘Sox roster, with five players from the Peach State making the trip up north.
Charlottesville also has a player each from Tennessee, (Nolan Bethel) Florida, (Elijah Hurt) and North Carolina (Xavier McCoury).
The bulk of the ‘Sox squad comes from right here in the commonwealth, with a plethora of Virginia natives staying in state for the Summer.
The Virginia group also includes three Charlottesville natives in Dom Cafferillo, Will Yow and Lucas Arbelaez.
COACHES CORNER:
Randy Tomlin returns for his third season at the helm of the Charlottesville Tom Sox
Tomlin first arrived in 2024, and led the ‘Sox to a league best 26-13 regular season record. The Tom Sox would run through the playoffs and achieve the team's fourth Valley Baseball league Championship.
For the 2026 season, Tomlin joins Corey Hunt as the second coach in franchise history to work three seasons as skipper of the Tom Sox.
Tomlin is joined by four other coaches on his staff.
Thomas Abell returns for his second season as an assistant on Tomlin’s staff. An assistant coach with the local Monticello high school baseball team, Abell will resume his duties as first base coach once again.
Former player Will Pearson makes his return as the pitching coach for the 2026 season. After winning a VBL championship in 2024, Pearson concluded his collegiate playing career with the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2025, before joining the Murray State coaching staff as a pitching analyst.
Beth Woerner joins the staff this season, becoming one of a few full-time female assistant coaches in Valley Baseball League history. Woerner has worked with numerous collegiate teams in her career, including Lebanon Valley College, James Madison and the University of Charleston.
Last but certainly not least is Coy Tomlin, the son of head coach Randy Tomlin. Coy will continue to bring his infectious energy around the ballpark this season.
‘SOX IN OMAHA:
The Tom Sox have six players competing in Omaha for the chance to become a national champion.
Ryan Wynn has been one of the key contributors in Georgia’s run to the College World Series. The 2024 VBL champ slugged two homers in the Athens regional to help the Bulldogs sweep through on their own turf and advance to a super-regional.
Ole Miss has been one of the more under-the-radar teams to advance to Omaha. But former ‘Sox player Tristan Bisetta has been a consistent starter for the Rebels this season in their run through the tournament.
Hayden Smith transferred to Troy this season and helped the Trojans to the NCAA tournament. Smith pitched four innings in the win-or-go-home game against Florida in the Gainesville Regional.
North Carolina has three former 2025 ‘Sox players on the roster for their run. With Perry Hargett, Lee Sowers and Tim Lawson hoping to achieve a title
‘SOX IN DRAFT RANKINGS:
Charlottesville has a multitude of players slated to be taken in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Headlining the list at #102 on the MLB prospects list is current ‘Sox star Will Yow. Yow, who is committed to the University of Virginia, can join the short list of active ‘Sox players to hear their name called in the draft if he is selected.
Former Cavalier and current Tennessee Vol Henry Ford checks in at #145. Ford had a solid season, including a game-tying homer in game one of the Chapel Hill regional against East Carolina. The Charlottesville native may not have a position lined up in the pros, but he certainly has a future in the next level of baseball
Robbie Lavey had another great season at George Washington with the Revolutionaries in 2026. He ranks at #186 on the MLB top 200 as one of the best catchers available in the draft this season. The 2024 VBL champ will be an asset to whatever club decides to draft him
Last but certainly not least is Caden Ferraro at #189 on MLB’s list. Ferraro was one of the most efficient hitters in college in 2026, hitting .374 and consistently finding extra bases when the ball left his bat. His skill at the plate makes him an intriguing draft prospect when the draft rolls around.
