CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Charlottesville Tom Sox (28-14) cruised to a 19-2 win over the Culpeper Cavaliers (22-22) on Sunday night, punching a ticket to their third consecutive VBL championship series and sixth in franchise history. Charlottesville tied the franchise record for most runs scored in a game while securing the mercy rule win over Culpeper in front of a packed, “Green Out” crowd at Willie T. Barnett Field.
Head Coach Randy Tomlin was all smiles after the win, shouting out a complete performance from his squad.
“I’m so proud of these guys, they’re the ones who’ve been working their butts off all summer,” Tomlin said. “They’ve played supremely well all year, with all the changes, and tonight was a great example of that.”
In the top of the second, the visitors struck first. Christian Reyna, the only Cavalier to sting the ‘Sox on Saturday, singled and scored to hand Culpeper a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the frame.
Charlottesville, however, quickly struck back. And that might be an understatement.
The Tom Sox plated five runs in the bottom of the second on four hits, two walks, and two errors. Among the notable performers in the fierce, five-run firestorm, Dean Mihos (Coastal Carolina) drove in two on a fielder’s choice while Ryan Wynn (Wofford) and Robbie Lavey (George Washington) each roped RBI singles. At the end of two, the home team suddenly held a commanding 5-1 lead.
Things only continued to go downhill for Culpeper from there as the top-seeded ‘Sox poured on seven more in the bottom of the third. Sam Mummau (Jacksonville) belted a ground-rule double, scoring two. Later in the frame, Ethan Gibson (Virginia Tech), one of the stalwarts of the ‘Sox, added a double of his own, scoring Mummau and Mihos to give the Tom Sox a 9-1 lead.
“That was definitely a fun win and hopefully we keep on winning because, well, the ‘Sox are hot,” Gibson said postgame.
With Gibson on base, Lavey worked a walk before Colby Wallace (East Carolina) brought them all home. The North Carolina native crushed his second home run of the summer to further C’Ville’s advantage to 12-1 at the end of three innings.
Culpeper dipped into the deficit, posting one run in the top of the fourth, but Thomas Whelan (Davidson) worked out of a jam to preserve the ten run margin.
Whelan’s night finished after four innings pitched, allowing just one earned run on four hits with a pair of strikeouts, pacing the Tom Sox on the bump.
For the third consecutive inning, the Tom Sox put a huge number on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Two big hits punctuated the frame as Caden Ferraro (Blinn) laced a two-RBI single and Cooper Blauser (Jacksonville State) brought in two more with a double. At the end of four innings, the Tom Sox could taste the VBL South championship with a whopping 18-2 advantage.
The Tom Sox tagged on one more in the bottom of the sixth as Isaac Vanderwoude (Virginia) put the cherry on top of the 19-2 victory with an RBI groundout.
Ayden Alexander (George Washington) took the ball from Whelan, spinning three scoreless innings and punching out four batters while surrendering just one hit to preserve the run-rule win in the top of the seventh.
While the bats stole the show, Tomlin, who’s best known as a player for dazzling in the 1991 MLB postseason, gave special kudos to his two pitchers for manning the ship en route to the big playoff win.
“We blew things open at the plate and our guys stepped up on the mound,” Tomlin, the former Pittsburgh Pirate, said. “Whelan was in and out of trouble, but he bent and didn’t brake, and Ayden was able to come in, do the same, and pitch great,”
Charlottesville’s win clinches them a trip to the VBL championship, and while the win is sweet, Wallace says the ‘Sox are chasing more.
“It’s nice to get the win tonight, but the job’s not finished. We’ve still got bigger things to do.”
UP NEXT:
The Tom Sox will host the opening game of the VBL Championship Series on Monday night at 7 p.m. The Purcellville Cannons, winners of the North Division, will make the trip to Willie T. Barnett Field.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- 19 runs are a new Tom Sox playoff record.
- Charlottesville was hit by six pitches, tied for the most in team history; and walked 12 times, tied for the sixth-most all-time.
