CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After a herculean effort by Tom Sox players and coaches to prepare the Charlottesville High School field to be playable, the Charlottesville Tom Sox (9-5) faced off against the Waynesboro Generals (10-7) in search of extending the Valley League’s longest-running win streak. Although they picked up the momentum in the 8th inning, the ‘Sox were unable to catch up to the early lead gained and sustained by the Generals and walked away with a 10-2 ballgame.
Pitcher Justin Humenay (VCU) started off on the mound for the ‘Sox. After walking the first three batters, Waynesboro’s Tanner Garrison hit a grand slam over the CHS fence, quickly putting the ‘Sox in a 0-4 hole. Other than a 5-4-3 double play to close out the top of the second, the next three innings followed with little action as both the Tom Sox and the Generals defenses held off the opposing batters.
Tayler Montiel (Mississippi State), who took over for Humenay to start the second, awarded the ‘Sox their first strikeout of the game in the top of the third. He ran into trouble in the fourth, allowing two more Waynesboro runs on a sacrifice fly and RBI single.
Trey Yesavage (ECU) took the reins in the top of the fifth. Yesavage retired two runners on second and third with back-to-back strikeouts during the fifth before he was relieved by Christian Howe (Kentucky) in the top of the 8th, but not before Yesavage added five strikeouts to the box score in his Tom Sox debut.
Hot off the momentum of Howe’s three up and three down start to the seventh inning, Matthew Prevesk (Florida) got the ‘Sox their first hit of the night with a ground ball single to the pitcher who could not throw to first fast enough. With barely a moment to rest, Prevesk held his own at first as he survived a pickoff attempt by the Generals’ pitcher. Carter Cunningham (East Carolina), also making his season debut, replaced him on a fielder’s choice, then Brody Moss (Auburn) walked to put runners on first and second. Momentum was stalled, however, when Julian Rojas struck out to end the frame.
Gray Thomas (TCU) and Braden Halladay (Tallahassee CC) took over during the top of the 8th, in which Halladay struck out two more of the ‘Gens, but not before they escaped with another two runs to extend their lead to 10-0.
In the final hour, Kyle Joye (Wake Forest) was brought out of the dugout as a pinch hitter and walked to first. Staring down a ten-run deficit, Garrett Spikes (Georgia) fearlessly stepped up to the plate and advanced to first on an error by the center fielder. After an intentional walk to Prevesk to load the bases, Cunningham drove in the runners from second and third on a two-run single to put Charlottesville on the board.
Marty Gair (UNC) opened up the ninth with straight heat as only three Waynesboro batters were allowed to step foot in the box. Unfortunately, the Charlottesville comeback attempt was not enough to secure the win by the end.
Now sitting in second place in the South division, the ‘Sox look to hop back on the wagon Saturday, June 25, when they travel to last-place Covington.
Additional Notes
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Waynesboro stole seven bases, the most all-time by any Tom Sox opponent.
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The six-game win streak carried into today’s game was the third such streak by the ‘Sox over the last two seasons. All three of the streaks were snapped by Waynesboro at home.
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The Tom Sox allowed ten runs, the most since June 13 at Staunton (12) and second-most this season.
