CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Charlottesville Tom Sox (26-14) fell in game one of the 2024 VBL South Championship on Friday night. The Culpeper Cavaliers (22-20), backed by a stellar start from Tyler Kaltreider, traveled to Charlottesville High School and took a 4-1 victory home with them.
The opening game of the semifinals began in a deadlock. Both starters traded zeroes on the scoreboard until the bottom of the fourth with the Cavs and ‘Sox combining for just three hits in three and a half frames before C’Ville drew first blood.
In the bottom of the fourth, Ryan Wynn (Wofford) singled, advanced to second on a groundout, and then to third on a flyout. Caden Ferraro (Blinn) then roped an RBI single with two outs to bring Wynn around and give the ‘Sox a 1-0 advantage.
The Cavaliers didn’t wait long to strike back, however, plating three runs on three hits in the top of the fifth and pushing Charlottesville starter James Hays (Stetson) out of the contest.
Hays tossed 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts in the start for Charlottesville before being relieved.
Ryan Grzesiak (Florida Southwestern) came in for Hays and worked the ‘Sox out of the top of the fifth, limiting the damage to keep the visitors’ lead at a 3-1.
Culpeper blanked the Tom Sox in the bottom of the inning and teed up their bats yet again for some insurance.
In the top of the sixth, the Cavaliers further ignited the Culpeper fans that made the trek to C’Ville, adding another run on two hits. At the end of five and a half innings, Culpeper led 4-1.
Kaltreider was terrific in the start for the Cavaliers, going 6.2 innings while allowing just a run on five hits with seven strikeouts. He piloted his squad into the seventh, where Levi Wilson followed by Bryce Demory took over and combined to keep Charlottesville scoreless the rest of the way.
The Tom Sox threatened in the bottom of the ninth after Nick Parham (East Carolina) and Dean Mihos (Coastal Carolina) were hit by pitches in consecutive at-bats, but Culpeper worked through the frame without surrendering any runs to take game one of the three game series 4-1.
UP NEXT:
With its back against the wall, Charlottesville will make the trip to Culpeper County High School for a 7 p.m. elimination game on Saturday night. The Cavaliers will look to stave off the Tom Sox and advance to the VBL Finals, while the Tom Sox will be fighting to keep their season alive.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Charlottesville failed to score more than two runs for the third straight game and the fourth time in their last five games.
- The Tom Sox dropped their fourth straight game against Culpeper
- The ‘Sox have lost their last four playoff series openers. They lost all three of last season’s openers, and went on to win two of the three series.
- Charlottesville’s 1-6 batters combined to go 2-for-24 and reached base only five times. Their 7-9 hole batters went 3-for-9 and reached seven times.
- The ‘Sox went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and the leadoff batter reached base only twice on the night.
