'Sox Look To Clinch Playoff Berth Against Staunton
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -The Charlottesville Tom Sox (17-16) look to clinch a VBL Playoff spot in a matchup with the Staunton Braves (21-12) tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Coverage: The Tom Sox social media accounts will have live updates from Moxie Memorial Stadium. Fans can watch a live broadcast of the game on the Braves' YouTube. Live stats for all VBL games are available on the Valley Baseball League website courtesy of Presto.
Ticket Information: Tickets to Braves games are $7 for general admission to the stadium. No outside food or drink is allowed in Moxie Memorial Stadium.
Probable Starters:
Staunton: RHP Cooper Marrs (Denison)
Charlottesville: RHP Clayton Armah
GRITTY WIN:
The Tom Sox battled out a 4-2 win over the Culpeper Cavaliers last night.
Gary Gibson was excellent for the 'Sox, as he navigated across five innings in his third start of the season.
He started the game with four 1-2-3 innings, keeping Culpeper off the board courtesy of some great defense from the infield and outfield behind him.
In the bottom of the fourth, the 'Sox would take the lead as Harrison Campi laced a two-RBI double, scoring Tommy Landsnes and Xavier McCoury to make it 2-0.
Gibson would surrender one run in the fifth inning, but exited the game with the 'Sox ahead 2-1.
Caiden Combs would respond immediately for the 'Sox driving in Xavier McCoury to begin the fifth and push the lead to 3-1.
Nolan Bethel entered in the top of the sixth, allowing one run but keeping Culpeper at bay in a 3-2 game.
Charlottesville would get the final run of the game in the sixth with Grayson McCollum driving in Christian Dewey to make it a 4-2 game.
Bethel would close out the final frames for the 'Sox to earn the save, pushing the 'Sox over .500 for the first time in 2026.
SCOUTING THE BRAVES:
Despite the 21-0 trouncing by Charlottesville the last time these two squads faced, Staunton has still inched closer to taking over the one seed in the Valley League South division.
Two-way player and projected starter Cooper Marrs has been one of the brightest spots for Staunton this season. He holds an average over .300 at the plate, while also maintaining a 5.60 ERA in four starts for the Braves.
The Braves pitching staff sits around the middle of the league as a whole, with an ERA of 5.89 and a 1.71 WHIP this season. Jonathan Strohecker has been the team's ace, with a 1.32 ERA in 27.1 innings pitched this season.
ALL STAR WIN:
The Valley Baseball League picked up the win over the Cal Ripken League 12-3 in an interleague showcase.
Evan Alwine and Brandon Dahlman both pitched for the VBL. Alwine worked a scoreless inning with a strikeout. Dahlman worked a full inning as well, paired with two strikeouts. The entire Valley League pitching staff finished the game with seven shutout innings to blank the Ripken League hitters.
Nicholas Dromboski was named the MVP of the game for the VBL, collecting two hits for a total of four RBI that pushed the Valley League into the lead.
This is the first time in three matchups that the Valley League has defeated the Cal Ripken League, with the latter taking the first two meetings in 2009 and 2011, respectively.
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 230-127 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.
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 one player traveling from out west in Simon Tesfaye.
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.
SOX IN THE PROS:
Charlottesville has a litany of players competing in the MLB and Minor Leagues this season.
Headlined by the Pasquatch. Vinnie Pasquantino was the first former Tom Sox player to make the bigs when he was called up in 2021 by the Kansas City Royals. The former AL All-Star has been a mainstay at first for the Royals over the past few seasons.
Wyatt Langford became one of the fastest players to reach the MLB after being drafted fourth overall by the Texas Rangers in 2023. He made the jump to the pros that season and by the end of 2024 was on the Rangers roster for their playoff run in 2024.
Trey Yesavage made history when he became the first former ‘Sox player to appear in a World Series game last year to appear in a World Series game. In typical Yesavage fashion, he shined, setting a rookie record by striking out 12 Dodger batters in his second start over seven phenomenal innings of work.
Cooper Ingle became the newest of the bunch to break through into the MLB when he was called up by the Guardians on June 26th. While Ingle’s stats were limited in a ‘Sox jersey due to injury, he stayed an entire season in Charlottesville in 2021. Ingle recorded his first hit and RBI in game two of Cleveland’s series against the Mariners.
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 beginning his coaching career.
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 THE MLB DRAFT:
Charlottesville saw eight former 'Sox be selected in the MLB draft to begin their professional careers.
Caden Ferraro was the first selection for the Tom Sox this year. The outfielder was drafted in the third round at pick 86 by the St. Louis Cardinals. The former VBL Champ and All Big 12 talent will continue to showcase his plate prowess in the pros.
Robbie Lavey was selected in the fourth round with pick 124 to become the first 'Sox player drafted by the San Diego Padres. Lavey also became the highest-drafted George Washington Revolutionary in team history.
Henry Ford was next in the sixth round at pick 191 to the Seattle Mariners. The former Cavalier and Volunteer was the first selection of day two for the Tom Sox.
Ryan Wynn joined Ford as a future Mariner in the seventh round. The former Wofford Terrier and Georgia Bulldog capped off an excellent collegiate career this season with a trip to Omaha.
Jake Bennett was selected in the eighth round by Toronto. He spent a short stint with the 'Sox in 2023 before a breakout final season in college with Dallas Baptist in 2026.
Luke Craytor became the first 2025 'Sox player to be drafted when he was selected in the ninth round by the Chicago White Sox. The Hokie finished off his playing career with a major jump in play in his senior year.
Aidan Teel got the nod in the 11th round from the Minnesota Twins. Teel spent time in college with Virginia and Mississippi State, and he now joins his brother Kyle in the pros.
Ethan Sutton was the final Tom Sox player taken off the board in the 16th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was excellent for South Florida in 2026 leading to his selection in the draft.
