Sox Visit Front Royal on Wednesday
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -The Charlottesville Tom Sox (11-12) travel to Bing Crosby Stadium to take on the Front Royal Cardinals (9-14) in an inter-divisional matchup at 7 p.m.
Coverage: The Tom Sox social media accounts will have live updates from Bing Crosby Stadium. Fans can watch a live broadcast of the game on the Royal Examiner YouTube Channel. Live stats for all VBL games are available on the Valley Baseball League website courtesy of Presto.
Ticket Information: Tickets to Royals games are $7 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6-12.
Probable Starters:
Front Royal: RHP Dylan Henshaw (Stony Brook)
Charlottesville: RHP Evan Alwine
SLUGFEST:
Charlottesville moved back into playoff position with an 11-9 win over the Harrisonburg Turks on Sunday.
Brock Clayton reached base five times in the win, and Grayson McCollum registered a 4-for-4 day at the plate. Both became the first to accomplish those feats since Jackson Sirois did both in a playoff matchup against Staunton last season.
Clayton Armah got the start for the Tom Sox, striking out five batters over 3.2 innings pitched.
The 'Sox found the board in the second, after Brock Clayton reached third and came around to score on a Ben Cardone single. They would score again in the third after Clayton drove home McCollum with another base knock.
After Armah came Anthony Mancini, who would throw 1.1 innings, allowing only one run to keep Charlottesville within striking distance.
The 'Sox would create traffic and cash in during the fifth inning. A Turk mistake would bring home a run, and a fielder's choice allowed the 'Sox to gain another.
McCollum's third hit in the sixth made it a one-run ballgame, and a Bryce Neely sacrifice fly tied the game at six. McCollum would collect his final hit in the seventh to give the Tom Sox the 9-7 lead.
Gary Gibson pitched two scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, and handed the ball over to Brandon Dahlman. Dahlman got touched up in the eighth, but managed to keep the game tied into the bottom of the inning.
Clayton scored on a wild pitch to make it 10-9, and Xavier McCoury drove in Luke Craddock to put the 'Sox up 11-9. Dahlman sat down the Turks in the ninth 1-2-3 to pick up the win.
SCOUTING THE ROYALS:
Front Royal becomes the fourth North Division team the 'Sox have faced this season. Charlottesville holds a 1-2 record against inter-division opponents.
The Cardinals have had a lot of success at the plate this year, ranking top five in the Valley in Hits, Runs, extra-base hits and walks. Front Royal has six qualified hitters with over a .300 average this season.
The pitching side is where the team has struggled, with an ERA of 6.52, which ranks second-worst in the VBL. Much like Waynesboro, the Cardinals do not have a single qualified pitcher who has met the minimum.
These two teams last played on July 10th last year in Front Royal, where the 'Sox picked up a off the back of a nine strikeout performance on the mound from Tim Lawson.
WALK THIS WAY:
The Tom Sox have taken a much more patient approach to their at-bats over the last week.
In the win over Harrisonburg, the ‘Sox worked a season-high 12 walks, which led to an eight-run first inning that paved the way for a 10-0 run-rule victory over the Turks.
They followed up that performance by drawing eight walks against Staunton on Thursday, which once again helped lead to a mercy rule win over the Braves.
The ‘Sox reached base via the walk seven times in the win over Covington on Friday, with Chase Jackson’s RBI walk proving to be the game-winning run.
A team that was once near the bottom of the league in walks, Charlottesville has now climbed to fifth in the Valley with 140 total on the season. The patient approach has surged the Sox back into the playoff equation. Proving that patience is always key.
A TRIO OF ALL-STARS:
Charlottesville will be represented by three pitchers on the VBL All-Star team come July 7th.
Lucas Cash and Brandon Dahlman made the roster as starters, and Evan Alwine was selected as an alternate.
Cash leads the Valley League in innings pitched this season with thirty total. He has gone at least five innings in each of his starts, with his last being a complete-game seven-inning shutout victory over the Harrisonburg Turks.
Dahlman arrived a week into the season and quickly cemented himself as one of the best pitchers in the Valley League. The righty has struck out 32 batters in 16.2 innings pitched while only allowing two earned runs.
Evan Alwine has earned his second consecutive All-Star nod in the Valley League. The Pennsylvania native has worked as a reliever and a starter for the 'Sox this season across 20.1 innings. In his last start, he went seven innings, holding the Lumberjacks scoreless while striking out seven batters.
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 224-123 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.
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.
