'Sox Hold on For Win in Game One of South Final
By: Matt Becker
WAYNESBORO, Va. - The Tom Sox traveled to Waynesboro to take on the Generals for Game 1 of the 2026 South Division Championship at Kate Collins Field.
While the Tom Sox swept the Staunton Braves to get to this point, the Generals had to fight tooth and nail against the Harrisonburg Turks in a winner-take-all Game 3 last night that Waynesboro won in the 10th inning on a passed ball.
For the Tom Sox, it would be Gary Gibson II getting the start against Trey Graydon, toeing the rubber for the Generals.
Let’s see how Game 1 played out:
In the top of the first, Grayson McCollum (Kennesaw State) recorded the first hit of the game, followed by a Tommy Landsnes walk. With runners at first and third and two outs, the ‘Sox stranded the runners after Generals first baseman Bryce Abbot made a diving stop to get the out at first.
After two hits put runners at second and third for the Generals in the bottom of the first, Waynesboro drew first blood on an RBI groundout to make it 1-0.
In the top of the second, the Tom Sox had runners at first and second when Bryce Neely (Virginia) got ahead in a 3-1 count and mashed a ball to the left-center field fence to tie the game. Xavier McCoury (Liberty) followed up the double with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third and nobody out, Gibson had to figure out a way to get out of the jam. After an infield flyout, a ground ball was hit to third, and the Tom Sox got the force out at the plate and the out at first due to interference to escape the jam.
With traffic on the bases again for the Tom Sox, Brayden Bachman (ECU) grounded out to bring home a run to make it 3-1 in the top of the third.
In the bottom of the fifth, Gibson was taken out after allowing a double that scored a run, finishing his day. Conner Barto (Shippensburg) came in for relief and allowed a game-tying single, ending Gibson's line with two earned runs.
Barto escaped the inning with two runners in scoring position using a strikeout and a flyout to keep the game tied.
In the top of the seventh, after a Neely walk, McCollum smoked a double to left field to give the Tom Sox the lead. After a balk to move McCollum to third, Landsnes grounded out to put the ‘Sox up 5-3.
Needing insurance in the top of the ninth, McCollum swung at the first pitch he saw for a stand-up double, and Landsnes followed that up with a single up the middle to put the ‘Sox up three. Bachman stepped up with two outs and smoked a double to the wall; Landsnes came around to score from first to make it 7-3.
In the bottom of the ninth, Cole Draper (Wofford) allowed two baserunners early, but was able to escape the inning, allowing no runs, giving the Tom Sox the win.
UP NEXT: The Tom Sox return home to CHO Airport Field to take on the Waynesboro Generals in Game 2 of the South Division Championship. Charlottesville is looking to advance to its fifth straight VBL championship, with first pitch coming at 7:00 P.M EST.
