Charlottesville Advances To South Division Championship With 10-7 Win Over Staunton

Charlottesville Advances To South Division Championship With 10-7 Win Over Staunton

Game Recaps
July 26, 2025•3 min read

STAUNTON, Va.– The Charlottesville Tom Sox walked off the field at John Moxie Memorial Stadium on Monday following a 3-1 to the Staunton Braves at a major disadvantage. That loss meant that the ‘Sox would have to play two games to make it back to the Valley League South Division Championship game.

Trailing by three runs on Saturday in the South Division Semifinal, it seemed that Charlottesville was doomed to repeat what happened on Monday, but an offensive flurry in back-to-back innings put the ‘Sox ahead, allowing them to cruise to a 10-7 victory.

Jackson Sirois (Maryland) had a phenomenal day at the plate, tallying four base hits and reaching base a total of five times. Hudson Lutterman (Virginia Tech) tallied two RBI, and Brock Clayton recorded the go-ahead RBI in the eighth.

The scoring for the ‘Sox though began in the top of the second. Evan Taveras reached base with a single, followed by a walk from Anderson French (Virginia Tech)and a single from Lutterman. This loaded the bases for the ‘Sox, and allowed Perry Hargett (North Carolina)to bring home the first run of the game with a walk. A fielder’s choice from Kyle Langley (James Madison)and a single from Sirois put the Tom Sox up 3-0 before the end of the inning.

After starting pitcherDawson Newman (Virginia Commonwealth)allowed a run in the second, he didn’t escape the third inning.Lane Duff (James Madison)entered and prevented some bleeding, but the Braves exited the third inning ahead, 5-3.

The ‘Sox turned toIan White (Indiana)to weather through the middle innings. White succeeded, working two scoreless innings before surrendering a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 6-3 in favor of the Braves.

In the top of the seventh, the ‘Sox clawed their way back into the ballgame. Langley and Sirois both singled to lead off the inning, and Clayton reached on an error to load the bases.Patrick Niehus (Gardner-Webb)singled home a run, followed by a French walk and a Lutterman sacrifice fly, knotting up the score at six apiece.

Niko Janssens (College of Central Florida)entered in the bottom of the seventh, working around a walk and punctuated the inning with a strikeout.

The Charlottesville offense continued to find success in the top of the eighth. Langley began what was a string of six straight singles to start the inning. Sirois, Clayton, Niehus,Tanner Schaedel (Old Dominion)and French all reached those singles. Lutterman tallied his second RBI with his second sacrifice fly, giving the ‘Sox their tenth run and putting them ahead, 10-6.

Janssens worked around two walks in the eighth and preserved the lead for Charlottesville into the ninth.

After the Tom Sox went down quietly in the top of the inning, Janssens trotted back out onto the mound to try and clinch the game. Staunton tallied a run, and brought the tying run to the plate, but Janssens hunkered down and a groundout to second sent the ‘Sox to the South Division Championship.

UP NEXT:

The Tom Sox will host the Culpeper Cavaliers as they look for their fourth straight trip to the Valley League Championship Series. First pitch is set for 7 P.M. from CHO Airport Field at Charlottesville High School.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

  • Jackson Sirois’four hits are the most by Tom Sox hitter in a single game this season, and the most since Robbie Lavey on July 27, 2024, at Culpeper

  • Niko JanssensandIan Whiteboth recorded their season-high in innings pitched (3.0)

  • The six hits Charlottesville recorded in the eighth inning is the first time they’ve done that since July 14, 2023, at Purcellville

  • 10 of the 11 ‘Sox that got an at-bat reached base safely

  • The Tom Sox now hold a 31-15 all-time postseason record

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