CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Charlottesville Tom Sox (3-1) will face the Staunton Braves (3-2) for the second straight game at Charlottesville High School. It will be broadcast live on the Tom Sox Facebook page and Tom Sox TV. First pitch is set for 7 P.M.
Coverage: Viewers can head to the Tom Sox Facebook Page to watch tonight’s game. Tom Sox TV will also have a live broadcast. A link to the live stats is available on Pointstreak. The Tom Sox Twitter account (@CvilleTomSoxVBL) will provide live updates.
Ticket Information: Admission to all Tom Sox games in 2021 is free, courtesy of Carter Bank & Trust. Parking is available at a first-come, first-served basis in the CHS upper, lower, and student lots.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Staunton: RHP Reid Celata (0-0, 6.75 ERA, 4 IP, 2 BB, 3 K)
Charlottesville: LHP Noah Overton (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 IP, 2 BB, 2 K)
LEADING OFF
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The Tom Sox take on the Braves in the second of two meetings this week. Charlottesville won the first meeting, 5-1, on Monday.
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Today’s game is the second of eight this season against the Braves.
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The Tom Sox are coming off a 2-day layoff, one of only three scheduled this season (including the all-star break).
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Following tomorrow’s scheduled off day, the ‘Sox will play 13 games in 11 days. The next day off after tomorrow, barring rain, will be June 23.
SERIES vs STAUNTON
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The Tom Sox have won 7 of the last 10 against the Braves, including a 2-1 series win in last year’s playoffs.
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Charlottesville is 6-3 against the Braves at home since the start of the 2018 season.
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6 of the last 13 games have been decided by one run. 4 of the 13 have been decided by 8 or more.
LAST TIME OUT
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The Tom Sox defeated the Braves in their first meeting, 5-1.
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Charlottesville held the league’s best offense to only one run, and held the dangerous duo of Bren Taylor and Kent Rooklin to no hits and four strikeouts. The Braves only compiled three hits on the night.
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Ryan McCarty was outstanding to start on the mound for Staunton, tossing five 1-run frames with five strikeouts.
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After McCarty departed, the Braves allowed three hits, four runs (three earned), two walks, and only struck out three in 3 IP.
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Makenzie Pate was the only ‘Sox player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with his fifth SB.
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In their first game with the ‘Sox, the duo from Georgia (Garrett Spikes and Kam Guidry) knocked in two of Charlottesville’s five runs and scored two. Spikes also stole his first base.
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Gehrig Ebel hit a 2-run single for the second straight game.
LATE-INNING SOX
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The Tom Sox have scored 15 of their 20 runs this season in the 5th inning or later.
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While the ‘Sox only had one batter reach in the first four innings of Monday’s game, 10 reached in the final four frames.
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In the first four innings of the team’s four games, the ‘Sox are 4-25 (.160) with runners in scoring position. After, they are 6-for-24 (.250).
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Despite the low numbers with RISP, the 2021 offense is batting .457 in advancement opportunities and have advanced 9 batters with outs.
SCOUTING THE BRAVES
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After entering Monday’s game undefeated, the Braves have lost their last two – Monday’s contest then a 9-4 defeat yesterday to Waynesboro.
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After hitting .341 over their first three games, the Braves are just 7-for-61 (.115) over their last two. They now sit 4th in the league with a .250 BA.
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They have stolen 21 bases on the season, the most in the VBL. Kent Rooklin and Ryan McCarty, both returners from the 2019 Staunton squad, are tied for the team lead with five apiece.
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Rooklin also leads the team offensively, batting .400 with four runs.
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Where the Braves falter is on the bump, working to a 5.77 ERA and .295 opponent average (worst in the VBL).
