CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Charlottesville Tom Sox Head Coach Randy Tomlin was named the 2024 Valley Baseball League South Division Coach of the Year, the league announced Monday (August 12). Tomlin earned the honor after leading the Tom Sox to the league championship and a league-best 26-13 regular season record.
“This honor means a lot,” said Tomlin. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity, but nothing is ever done by yourself. We had a great staff with Scott [Stricklin], Adam [Dofflemyer], and Kenny [Towns], and we worked hard together. This is a great honor for myself, the staff, and the organization for the time and effort that was put in to get the players to play, getting them ready and confident. This means a lot, I’m very honored by it, and just thank the Lord for it.”
“Randy’s level of professionalism, his calm demeanor and his dedication means the world to this organization and the Valley League,” said Tom Sox President & General Manager Chesley Mullins. “He dedicated countless hours to the organization, investing in the players and taking phenomenal care of them. He also played a major role in mentoring the younger coaches, something that’s already paid off for Adam [Dofflemyer] in his new role at George Washington. I’m really grateful for Randy, and the entire coaching staff, for everything this summer.”
The 2024 Tom Sox had a season to remember, bringing home their fourth league championship in team history after winning three-game series against the Culpeper Cavaliers and Purcellville Cannons. Charlottesville finished the regular season as the league’s leader in ERA and WHIP, while ranking third in batting average and runs scored. Under Tomlin’s guidance, Colby Wallace brought home the league’s batting title, becoming the first Tom Sox player to do so since Thomas Francisco in 2019. Additionally, Charlottesville had a division-leading six players named to the All-South Division team and six were named league all-stars. Tomlin managed both the South all-star team and the South team for the NACSB Prospect Games courtesy of the Tom Sox’s league-leading record.
Tomlin also had to battle a number of injury hurdles as the Tom Sox’s head coach. The Tom Sox were able to win the league championship despite seven regulars in the starting lineup suffering season-ending injuries, including the team’s two batting average leaders in Cade Belyeu and Jake Books.
Tomlin is the third Tom Sox skipper to be named Manager of the Year, following Corey Hunt in 2017 and Kory Koehler in 2021.
