Tom Sox Dominate Royals in Game One Win
By: Bryan Portney
WINCHESTER, Va. – The ‘Sox are one win away from their fifth title in franchise history after opening the Valley League Championship Series with a roaring 10-1 win over the Winchester Royals on Tuesday.
This has continued to be familiar ground for the Tom Sox, who have made it to the championship series in each of the last five seasons.
First pitch was moved back 45 minutes due to lightning in the area, which would not be the only time weather would play a factor in the game.
The ‘Sox came out of the gates swinging after a road trip of over two hours to get to Bridgeforth Stadium, and they would attack early in at-bats, but it was marked by frustration as the first three innings would see them set down in order.
Lucas Cash (Bridgewater) held it down on the mound while the ‘Sox offense was finding its identity, getting two strikes in all but one at-bat in back-to-back 1-2-3 frames to open the game.
It wasn’t until the bottom of the third that the Royals broke the scoreless tie with a Zach Fortman RBI single, but Cash did not break as he induced a groundout to leave runners at first and second.
Harrison Campi (Wofford) provided the immediate counterpunch in the top of the fourth by reaching on an error to third base.
After a full-count walk to Tommy Landsnes, it was Caiden Combs (Auburn) who tied up the game by poking a single into right for his 23rd RBI of the season.
From there, the weather set in as the game was under another lightning delay.
The ‘Sox stayed upbeat through the break, but no one on the roster was more ready for another opportunity than Cash.
Cash kept up his great outing with a swinging strikeout to finish the bottom of the fourth inning, and that allowed the ‘Sox offense to start rolling.
It was a tale of two games, one before the second delay and one after.
Grayson McCollum (Kennesaw State) mashed a three-run home run over the 320-foot fence in left for his first one of the year to give the squad a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth, getting a long rally of scoring started.
McCollum, who moved to the leadoff spot for the first time in 11 days, ended up with five runs batted in on the night. He capped off that performance with an opposite-field two-run single through the right side in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 7-1 lead.
The ‘Sox tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a line-drive single on the first pitch by Bryce Neely (Virginia) to drive in two, plus a run on an overthrow to first by Winchester right-handed pitcher Aiden Jovia.
Meanwhile, Cash kept inducing weak contact through flyout after flyout to post back-to-back games of eight innings or more.
He was two outs shy of a complete game, but regardless, his impact was massive as he trusted his defense behind him.
The ‘Sox defense was able to right the wrongs of July 5 when they gave up three errors in the final frame of a 7-5 come-from-behind defeat at the hands of the Royals, as they did not commit a single error in the Game 1 victory.
Cash only allowed five hits in 8.1 innings, and he also surpassed the century mark for pitches to aid the ‘Sox to the 10-1 win on Tuesday night.
“I’m super happy to be here, just blessed to be able to come out here and give it all I got,” said Cash, who got the start in the championship series opener last year against the Strasburg Express.
Cash, who graduated from Bridgewater College and has finished his collegiate career, also said that it might be his “last time out here on the field.”
Cash pitched for the ‘Sox in 2022, 2023, 2025 and this season. Having won a championship in 2022, Cash hopes that this team will be able to finish the job tomorrow to make it his favorite memory from his four-year career in Charlottesville.
“Hopefully, winning this one tomorrow would be the new favorite,” said Cash.
UP NEXT: The Tom Sox (1-0) have a chance to win their fifth Valley League title when they return home to face the Winchester Royals (0-1). First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
