‘Sox Across the Nation: FINAL
By: Luke Stefanisko & Ben Rekosh
With conference tournaments concluded across the nation, the college season has wrapped up for many of our former Tom Sox players in the college ranks.
In the postseason spirit, the writers of ‘Sox Across the Nation have come together to give out our awards for some of the best performers this season.
Heart & Hustle Award (A passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game):
Ben – Hudson Lutterman, Virginia Tech, ‘Sox class of 2025
Luke – JD Wolff, Air Force, ‘Sox class of 2025
Ben - Lutterman embodied the hustle and every day nature of the sport of baseball this season; he earned an opportunity and made the most of it this year. The sophomore finished the season with 10 home runs and drew 14 walks, while contributing 44 RBIs to the Hokies. His improvement in year two is what is most notable, however, as he doubled both his hit and RBI production.
Luke - How can my selection not be the player who was given the award for his last Summer with the Tom Sox? Wolff remained a flexible team player in his second season with the Air Force Academy, and is someone who will continue to trend up in the world of college baseball.
Silver Slugger (A player who demonstrated the best slugging ability at the plate, which includes extra-base hits and home runs):
Ben – Jake Bennett, Dallas Baptist, ‘Sox class of 2023
Luke – Derek Williams, Miami, ‘Sox class of 2023
Ben - There is no one I saw more highlights of this season than Jake Bennett. The All-CUSA honoree boasted 20 home runs and 53 RBIs this season for DBU.
Luke - Williams had a great season for Miami in 2025, and yet one-upped himself in 2026. He collected 30 total extra base hits with 15 homers and 15 doubles. A clear display for him to be the Tom Sox Silver Slugger this season.
Cy Young (A player who excelled on the mound this season, either in a starting role or as a member of the bullpen):
Ben – James Hays, Stetson, ‘Sox class of 2024
Luke – Daniel Powell, Kennesaw State, ‘Sox class of 2024
Ben - Hays was dominant for the Hatters all season, just as he was when he was in Charlottesville. He finished the season with a 4.73 ERA and 77 strikeouts over 72.1 innings pitched.
Luke - A shutdown reliever is hard to find in the college baseball world, but that’s exactly what Powell was for the Owls. His seven saves across 55 innings with 64 strikeouts showcased his dominance and makes my case easier for why he should be the Cy Young winner.
MVP (A player who was most valuable to his team throughout the course of the season):
Ben – Cooper Blauser, Jax State, ‘Sox class of 2024
Luke – Kyle Langley, James Madison, ‘Sox class of 2025
Ben - Winning contributes a great deal to my MVP choice, and Blauser was a key part of a Jax State team that took home the trophy in the Conference USA tournament last week. On the year, Blauser played in all but one contest for the Gamecocks and knocked 64 hits while driving in 53 runs.
Luke - Though JMU may have not had the most successful season by their standards, Langley played a huge part in their wins. He was top three on the team in most offensive categories, and had numerous highlight moments throughout the year including walk-offs and home run robberies. Most notably his improvement from last season was incredible, bringing his season average up from .247 in 2025, to .320 in 2026.
Moment of the year (The best moment from the collegiate season involving a former Tom Sox player):
Ben – Colby Wallace, East Carolina, ‘Sox class of 2024
Luke – Hudson Lutterman, Virginia Tech, ‘Sox class of 2025
Ben - We featured a clip of the ECU star in the eleventh edition of this series, and this moment following one of the Pirates’ games always stuck with me. Baseball truly is about being one's best self, and Wallace showed that in growing the next generation of ball players.
Luke - Hudson Lutterman had an incredible season littered with big moments, but this one may just be the best. With the Hokies battling back to try and earn a potential regional bid, Lutterman slugged a walk-off homer against Pitt to take the series against the Panthers and to strengthen Virginia Tech’s resume for the postseason.
Editor’s note: This will be the final edition of ‘Sox Across the Nation in 2026, as the Tom Sox season begins in just two days. An immense appreciation goes out to everyone who read this article produced on a weekly basis since the beginning of the college baseball season.
Charlottesville has made an impact of so many people at every level of baseball, and it has been a pleasure to cover it through this medium.
Stay tuned for all updates on the ‘Sox season right here on tomsox.org as well as our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.
