COVINGTON Va. – The Charlottesville Tom Sox defeated the Covington Lumberjacks on Saturday, 4-0. With the win, the Tom Sox are only a half-game behind Harrisonburg for the South Division title with only two games remaining in the regular season.
After a 45-minute lightning delay got the game started late, the ‘Sox offense had to make up for lost time. After the first three batters of the inning reached, Trey Yunger (Wofford) brought in the first run on an RBI groundout. Shortly after, Garrett Spikes (Georgia) hit a 2-run single to bring the score at the end of the first to 3-0.
John Armstrong (Auburn) started on the mound for the ‘Sox. In five scoreless innings of work, he recorded six strikeouts, one walk, and let up only three hits.
Charlottesville got their fourth and final run in the sixth inning. Yunger hit a sacrifice fly to right field, but an error by the right fielder – who dropped the ball out of his glove – allowed one run to score.
Lucas Cash (Bluefield) relieved Armstrong in the bottom of the sixth for his first outing this season. After walking the first batter he faced on four pitches, Cash locked it down; throwing four scoreless innings with two hits, three strikeouts, and only the one walk. The Louisa County product – the first ever rising freshman to play in a game for the ‘Sox – earned his first career save in his first career outing.
While the ‘Sox still cruised to a shutout win over the 4-seed in the South Division, it wasn’t without a continued trend. Charlottesville left 15 men on base, tied for the third most in a single game in team history. They left a runner in scoring position in eight of the nine innings and left the bases loaded in the first, third, and ninth innings. The ‘Sox have averaged 8.3 runners left on base per game this season and have left double-digit runners on in eight games.
The Tom Sox will play a split doubleheader against Waynesboro on Sunday (July 24). The first game at Charlottesville High School will begin at 1 P.M., and admission is free courtesy of Carter Bank & Trust. Following that, they will travel to Waynesboro to cap off the regular season with a 7 P.M. first pitch at Kate Collins Field.
Playoff Update:
Following the Tom Sox’s final two games Sunday, they will have a day off before the playoffs begin on Tuesday. The crucial matchup between Waynesboro and Harrisonburg tonight was postponed, so the ‘Sox will likely have to wait until Monday to see their seeding determined.
Additional Notes
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The Tom Sox finish the regular season 3-4 against Covington, but won the final two meetings by shutout. The Tom Sox will face Covington in the first round of the playoffs if they become the 1-seed.
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Cole Wagner (Georgia) extended his on-base streak to 30 games and is now just five games shy of tying Michael Wielansky (the Tom Sox GOAT) for the longest streak in team history.
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Brody Moss (Auburn) walked for the 14th time in his last 15 games after ending the streak on Friday against Woodstock. He has multiple walks in six of his last nine games.
