Hot Start Not Enough, as 'Sox Fall in Home Opener

By: Bryan Portney

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For half of the afternoon, it was good to be back at CHO Airport Field. Unfortunately for the ‘Sox, it was a late surge by the Woodstock River Bandits that led to a 16-9 defeat in the 2026 home opener.

Four-year Tom Sox right-handed pitcher Lucas Cash (Bridgewater) spruced up the home opener festivities with the longest outing by a Charlottesville starter this year, going 6.1 innings strong with three strikeouts.

The starting pitchers have provided the most spark in Charlottesville so far this season, notching a 3.95 earned run average over 13.2 innings in the first three games.

Cash forced three 1-2-3 frames in the first four to set up a seven-run flurry in the bottom of the fourth. It was the most runs scored by the Tom Sox in an inning since a 14-2 win over the Harrisonburg Turks on July 16, 2025.

The Tom Sox took advantage of a River Bandits pitching change, starting with an RBI single to left center by third baseman Grayson McCollum (Kennesaw State).

After some more solid ‘Sox hitting, second baseman Ben Cardone (VMI) ended the day for Woodstock southpaw Yuma Koda with a two-run home run to deep center for a 7-0 lead.

The River Bandits bounced back with four combined runs over the fifth and sixth innings, but an RBI single by center fielder Tanner Craytor (Sewanee) extended the ‘Sox lead to 8-4 in the bottom of the sixth.

Craytor built on a fantastic start to 2026 with a 3-for-4 day from the plate, contributing to a .625 batting average on the season in eight at-bats. His three hits were the most by a Tom Sox player this season.

From one Louisa County High School alum to another, Cash passed the torch to left-hander Eric Davis (Roanoke) in the top of the seventh inning. Davis was signed earlier today and only faced two batters.

Woodstock ended up scoring 12 unanswered runs in the final three frames.

McCollum showed some promise late with a double and ended up scoring on a passed ball in the bottom of the ninth, though it would not prove to be enough.

The ‘Sox fell to 5-6 in home openers all-time and 54-38 overall in the Randy Tomlin era.

UP NEXT: The Tom Sox (0-3) will take Monday and Tuesday off before heading north on Wednesday to face the Purcellville Cannons.