'Sox Visit Covington for the Second Time in a Week
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Charlottesville Tom Sox (8-11) visit the Covington Lumberjacks (6-14) for the second time this week at 6:30 p.m., searching for win number ten on the campaign.
Coverage: The Tom Sox social media accounts will have live updates from Casey Field. Fans can watch a live broadcast of the game on the Lumberjacks YouTube channel or listen to a live radio broadcast on the Tom Sox YouTube channel. Live stats for all VBL games are available on the Valley Baseball League website courtesy of Presto.
Probable Starters:
Covington: RHP Nikolas Koorse (Pasco-Hernando)
Charlottesville: RHP Evan Alwine
BACK-TO-BACK:
Charlottesville finished back-to-back seven-inning mercy rule wins, defeating the Staunton Braves 12-2 on the road.
The 'Sox offense continued its hot streak to begin the ballgame, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning with a similar patient approach at the plate to the win over Harrisonburg on Wednesday.
After a couple of runs came across on walks, Ben Cardone knocked two in with a double to cap off the inning.
Conner Hedgepeth made his first start of the season for the 'Sox, working 3.2 scoreless innings and striking out two batters.
The Tom Sox added three runs in the second and two in the third to quickly move into double digits.
After adding a run in the fifth, the 'Sox turned from Trevor Booton to Brandon Dahlman to close out the mercy rule win. Every out he recorded was a strikeout, good for five to end the ballgame.
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS:
Covington has been coming into form as of late.
The Jacks have won two of three this week, including a win over the Tom Sox on Tuesday.
Stealing bases has been the name of the game for the Lumberjacks on offense this season. The team leads the league with bags swiped with 88 on the season.
Defensively, the pitching staff has started to come together. Hunter Depriest and Jacob Smith put together efficient starts that led to wins for the team over the last two weeks.
SWINGING A HOT BAT:
A couple of Tom Sox have been finding consistent success at the plate as of late.
All conversations about the Tom Sox offense have to start with Xavier McCoury. The Liberty Flame leads the team in average, walks, stolen bases and finds himself second on the squad in OPS.
Prior to last week’s matchup against Staunton, McCoury was in the midst of a nine-game on-base streak and a seven-game hitting streak. Both of which are good for the best of any ‘Sox hitter this season
The VBL South Hitter of the Week, Tommy Landsnes, has carved himself a consistent spot at the top of the order with his bat.
Landsnes has consistently found ways to produce runs for the Tom Sox early in the season, leading the team in runs scored with 12 while also driving seven of his own.
Last but certainly not least is Aiden Harris.
The big third baseman collected a hit in his first seven appearances in a ‘Sox uniform. Both his On-base percentage and slugging percentage have climbed to around .400 in his limited time with the squad.
DAZZLING DAHLMAN:
Brandon Dahlman has become the ace in the hole for Randy Tomlin and the Tom Sox out of the bullpen.
Since making his debut on June 3rd, Dahlman has climbed to third in the Valley in strikeouts on the mound. With five fewer innings than any other arm in the top five, he’s given the Tom Sox some of the most efficient innings the team has seen.
His finest performance came against Covington on June 7th, where he was perfect across 4.2 innings, striking out nine Lumberjack batters.
Nearing the halfway point of the season, he hasn’t surrendered a run period. He has kept traffic off the basepaths, allowing only two hits and five walks on the campaign.
While there is still a long way to go in the season, Dahlman has cemented himself as one of the league's finest arms in 2026.
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 220-122 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 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.
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 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.
