Tom Sox Fall In Game Three Of Valley League Championship Series, 5-2

STRASBURG, Va.– Charlottesville’s bid to win back-to-back Valley League championships ended on Wednesday night in Strasburg, as the Express claimed this year’s title with a 5-2 win in game three.

Strasburg’s John Gray and Evan Garcia combined for a no-hitter in the winner-take-all contest.

The Express took an early lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run double from Jake McCarter, and rode that momentum for the rest of the game.

Gray carried a perfect game bid into the top of the seventh before Perry Hargett (North Carolina)reached on an error.

Battling on the mound with Gray was Dawson Newman (Virginia Commonwealth), who entered the game in the bottom of the second.

Newman fired in five and two thirds innings and allowed three unearned runs, all on a three-run homer by Landon Beaver in the seventh, which essentially iced the game for the Express.

Charlottesville walked four times in the final two frames, but couldn’t get anything to land in the outfield grass.

The Tom Sox end the 2025 season with a 24-20 record.