COVINGTON, Va. – The Charlottesville Tom Sox took a trip of shame to Casey Field in Covington after the Waynesboro Generals snapped their six-game win streak on Thursday night. This was the first time Charlottesville faced Lumberjacks since June 9, and they got a first-hand look at the new energy of the Tom Sox. Unfortunately, the ‘Jacks were able to overcome adversity and defeat the Tom Sox 7-6 after ten innings.
On a bright note, finding a better jumpstart to an offense will drive you insane, as Luke Wagner (Georgia) sent a side-dish to the KFC parking lot over the left-field fence in the top of the second. This marked his first hit for the Tom Sox and the first score of the game. It’s a good thing for those paying customers that games start around dinner time in the Valley League.
The Lumberjacks were quick to respond, knocking in one run in the third to tie the game. The ‘Sox, however, are larger fans of breaking ties than breaking even. After three straight singles to start the fourth, Kyle Edwards (Old Dominion) brought all three home with a double that airplaned over the head of Covington’s’ center fielder. Edwards was able to cross the plate due to a Gavin Abrams (Clemson) single, increasing the lead to 5-1.
The ‘Jacks sent their own message in the bottom of the sixth, matching Charlottesville’s offense with two straight fielder’s choices, an RBI single to center, and an RBI double to left. Covington learned that knotting it up wouldn’t be enough, and they added an RBI single to left center to step in front.
The comeback DNA of the Tom Sox wouldn’t allow this offensive chess match to end, as Cole Wagner (Georgia) sent his 13th RBI of the season across the plate with a sacrifice fly in the seventh, squaring the game up at 6-6.
Just like some of the game’s attendees, an extra inning was thrown out at Casey Field. Covington was able to close the game out in the bottom of the tenth off of a mismanaged attempt to throw out the international tiebreaker runner stealing third. A true tale-of-two-halves ended in defeat for Charlottesville.
The Tom Sox head to Strasburg for their second doubleheader of the season on Sunday, June 26. First pitch of game one will be thrown at 5 p.m.
Additional Notes
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The Tom Sox played their first extra-inning game of the season and the first in their history with the international tie-breaker rule.
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Luke Wagner hit his first home run of the season and the first Tom Sox home run since last Friday.
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Cole Wagner extended his on-base streak to eight games, the second-longest on the team (Satchell Norman, 12).
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Tom Sox hitters struck out double-digit times for the third straight game.
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Charlottesville falls to 1-3 in one-run games.
