‘Sox Fall In Game One Heartbreaker, 12-11

STRASBURG, Va. –After a two-hour drive for game one of the Valley League Championship Series against the Strasburg Express, the Charlottesville Tom Sox fell 12-11 in a 10-inning, four-hour affair at First Bank Park.

The most hitter-friendly ballpark in the Valley Baseball League saw 23 runs scored and a trio of home runs in game one. It was a slow start though, featuring a pitching matchup of Lucas Cash (Bridgewater)and Strasburg’s Josh Ossiander. Cash only surrendered three runs in his first start of the season for Charlottesville, as Randy Tomlin turned to a Tom Sox veteran for game one.

The newest addition to the Tom Sox roster gave up a pair of solo shots, but otherwise was effective in his start, mixing in his knuckleball to provide a solid change of pace. Strasburg’s Landon Beaver extended his Valley League lead with his 14th home run of the season in the fourth. Cash was assisted in the fifth by a five-run frame for Charlottesville as the first lead change of the game struck.

A pair of singles from Virginia Tech’s Anderson French and Hudson Lutterman put two on, as a Walker Buchanan walk loaded the bases. Perry Hargett’s (North Carolina)sacrifice fly cut the lead down to one, and then Kyle Langley (James Madison)delivered his second home run of the year to give the ‘Sox a 4-2 lead.

Langley added on a pair of RBI later down the line to deliver the first five-RBI performance of the season for the Tom Sox, and the first since Jake Books did it last season.

Jackson Sirois (Maryland)scored after a walk, two wild pitches, and an error to bring the lead to 5-2. In the bottom of the fifth, Cash was pulled after a leadoff walk and Lane Duff (James Madison)came into the game. Duff worked into trouble and was unable to locate his pitches throwing off of a very steep mound at First Bank Park.

Six runs came through on five walks and a base hit, as Duff was unable to survive the frame. The ‘Sox turned to Caden Harris (UVA Wise)to limit the damage. A three-run lead for the ‘Sox turned into a three-run deficit, but it did not stop the offense from firing back. After Strasburg padded the lead with a three-run sixth, the Tom Sox turned to Saxon Roberts (Auburn)to fire them back up and hold the deficit.

Charlottesville chipped away in the seventh with four runs. Buchanan singled, Hargett doubled, and Langley collected RBI number four with an RBI groundout to cut the lead to 11-6 for the Express. Brock Clayton singled to bring in another, then Patrick Niehus (Gardner-Webb)roped a triple into right that got by a diving attempt from Paul Osting. After a misplay in the infield, Niehus came all the way around to score a little league homer, making the score, 11-9.

Roberts shut the door in the seventh, and the offense for Charlottesville struck back in the eighth. Evan Taveras roped a leadoff double, Buchanan was hit by a pitch, and Hargett laid down a sacrifice bunt that led to a run after an Express error.

Langley picked up RBI number five on a groundout to tie the game, but that would be all for the Tom Sox offense. Roberts recorded three punchouts in the eighth, part of his eight-strikeout and season-high four innings pitched performance. Roberts’ best performance of the season kept the ‘Sox in a good spot, but the offense couldn’t muster anything in the final two frames.

Strasburg’s Braxton Pope locked it down, surrendering only two hits across the ninth and 10th.

In the bottom of the 10th, with Charlottesville having no additional pitching, head coach Randy Tomlin left Roberts out for another frame. He struck out the first batter, then gave up a one-out double to Jay Douglas. A pair of walks and the eighth punch out for Roberts loaded up the bases with two down. Paul Osting delivered the dagger, with a walk-off single through the right side to send Strasburg home happy, and send the ‘Sox back to Charlottesville with their backs against the wall.

UP NEXT:

Charlottesville will host Strasburg in game two of the series with the Express looking to clinch their first Valley League title since 2021. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. from CHO Airport Field.