By Madison Hricik
It’s time everyone! The playoffs have arrived, and it’s time for the chaos to really begin. In this breakdown, we’ll be looking at the TomSox and Generals series beginning tonight and what to look out for.
Charlottesville TomSox
The TomSox have been a force throughout the regular season, earning the regular season title and were the first team to clinch a playoff berth. They come into the playoffs with a 30-10 record, 8-2 in the last ten games.
At the plate, Charlottesville has the momentum on its side. Cole Foster and Pierce Bennett lead the team in batting averages with .417 and .412 respectively over the last seven days. The two aren’t the only ones that had hot streaks though, Victor Castillo leads the team in batting for the entire season, with four RBIs and six runs in his last six games.
On the mound, Justin Humenay has gone four innings with five strikeouts for a 0.00 ERA this week alone. Tristan Sipple also displayed his skill set by going 3.2 innings with three strikeouts for a 0.00 ERA. The TomSox have the depth in their bullpen, and when both the bats and pitching connect for this team, they certainly are dangerous.
Waynesboro Generals
The Generals are looking for redemption in these playoffs after an early exit in the 2019 season. And although Charlottesville brings a lot to the field, Waynesboro has the ability to do the same.
Michael Robinson has been flying high heading into Game 1, holding a .500 batting average this week. Earning three runs and an RBI this week, Robinson had seven hits in his 14 at- bats so far — a much needed confidence boost to start the series. Zach Levenson is another force to watch for as he hit a .438 this week, smashing a homer, four RBIs and two runs.
The Generals recently have been using their starting pitcher through four or five innings before bringing in relief, and it’s been an effective tactic. Cole Beverlin went three innings for six strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA, Brady Jones went four innings with five strikeouts for a 0.00 ERA.
Series Prediction
It’s not easy to look into a crystal ball and make a confident decision, but it’s likely this series is going to be three games. Charlottesville’s offensive power is something that cannot be overlooked, but Waynesboro has challenged them throughout the regular season. The Generals won last night 5-1, giving them the confidence that they can do the same in the playoffs.
At the end of the day this series is going to be about which team clicks the fastest and maintains the momentum. Based on stats alone, it’s likely to pick Charlottesville as the first round winner with the final game ending in a 4-1 Game 3 win. It’s going to be an exciting series, and it all starts tonight at 7 p.m. in Charlottesville.