'Sox Battle Back to Defeat Braves in Staunton

By Landon Weaver

STAUNTON, Va. - Things looked bleak for Charlottesville as they fell behind Staunton 6-0 after three innings, but the Tom Sox’ grit shined bright under the lights as 10 unanswered runs were enough for Charlottesville to walk out with a win.

Bryce Neely’s (Virginia) three-run home run injected confidence into the veins of every Charlottesville player in the top of the fourth, despite the ‘Sox still being behind 6-4.

Charlottesville began that inning with the bases loaded and just one out when Lucas Ream (Shippensburg) flew out to shallow right, bringing home the first run of the game for Charlottesville.

Neely then hit a home run in the ensuing at-bat, and the momentum shifted monumentally at John Moxie Memorial Stadium. With that long ball, the Cavalier is now the only player on the Tom Sox with a double, triple and home run this season.

With great offense comes the need for great defense on the flip side of each inning, and Asher Sabom delivered just that.

The Woodstock, GA native came into the contest with his team down six runs. He immediately made an impact. A crucial play from Benjamin Cardone (VMI) behind the plate, catching a runner trying to steal second, ended the third inning and kick-started the ‘Sox comeback.

This play from behind the plate gave Sabom the confidence he needed to have one of his best outings when his team needed it most.

The Braves did not score a single run when he was on the bump. Weak contact, strikeouts and masterful infield plays filled up the scoresheet with a multitude of blank spaces in the Staunton columns.

His four strikeouts were the most that he’s dished out all season, with a pivotal one bringing the first out of the seventh inning, setting the tone for the pitchers to follow him.

Along with Sabom’s strikeout heroics, he also didn’t give up a single run. This proved to be the first time all season he’d gone through an outing scoreless, and there was no better time to do it than during a comeback bid by his offense.

By the time he checked out, his squad was up 10-6 heading into the eighth, and all of the momentum was right behind them.

After Neely’s homerun, the ‘Sox tacked on six more runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Caiden Combs (Auburn) found himself running amok across the base paths, taking advantage of a flurry of Staunton errors to eventually cut the Braves’ lead to one.

In that same inning, Cardone drove in the leading run with a two-RBI single to put the ‘Sox ahead 7-6.

Grayson McCollum’s (Kennesaw State) RBI double in the seventh proved the offensive dagger for Charlottesville. Combs touched home plate, and suddenly the ‘Sox were ahead 9-6 in the blink of an eye. Before the inning could finish, the Tom Sox tacked on one more, pushing their lead to four.

The ‘Sox had scored 10 unanswered runs before the Braves finally ended their drought in the eighth, but it was too little too late for the hosts as they ran into unstoppable forces Lucas Arbelaez (Randolph-Macon) and Trevor Booton (Auburn)

For those that may not know, Arbelaez is an incoming freshman for the Yellow Jackets, but you wouldn’t be able to tell with the poise he brings to the mound.

In only his second appearance of the season, the former Charlottesville Black Knight held off the Braves in the eighth, starting with a looking strikeout. This set the table for ‘Sox mainstay Booton to finish the job in the ninth.

The Auburn Tiger was not fazed by the “tarps off” section building at John Moxie Memorial Stadium. Despite the bases being loaded with two outs, Booton left the home fans disappointed as he cut the Braves’ late charge short with a strikeout. 10-7, Charlottesville wins.

A picture-perfect ending to a picture-perfect night of baseball for the visitors.

Up Next: With Charlottesville (6-9) riding a three-game win streak, they travel to Waynesboro to take on the South-leading Generals (11-4) as they look to bounce back from a loss against Covington on Friday night.