HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: Patrick Henry powers way past Honaker and into sole possession of first place in the Hogoheegee District (copy)
Patrick Henry's Carter Brown celebrates with teammates after his home run hit against Honaker. Home-plate umpire Cecil Coleman looks on.
Patrick Henry's Porter Blackwell catches the ball for an out against Honaker.
Patrick Henry's Aidan Monahan swings to hit against Honaker during their win Tuesday.
Honaker's Silas Harris attempts to get the out on Patrick Henry runner Connor Brown at third base.
Honaker's Eli McGlothlin swings for a hit against Patrick Henry.
Patrick Henry's Connor Brown steals second base against Honaker on Tuesday.
Patrick Henry's Porter Blackwell swings to hit against Honaker during their win Tuesday.
Patrick Henry's Kolby Hicks throws a pitch against Honaker on Tuesday.
Patrick Henry's Connor Brown throws to first base for an out against Honaker on Tuesday evening.
EMORY, Va. – The Patrick Henry Rebels are locked, loaded and now leading the Hogoheegee District all by themselves.
Each of the team’s nine starters reached base at least once on Tuesday evening as PH powered its way to an 11-5 victory over the Honaker Tigers and took over sole possession of the top spot in the Hogoheegee’s baseball standings.
Hunter White went 3-for-3 with two doubles and Carter Brown crushed a three-run homer to highlight another stellar showing by the Rebels when it comes to swinging the sticks.
Patrick Henry had posted a 12-2 win over defending league champion Chilhowie last Friday.
“We’re hitting the ball well right now,” White said. “It’s a good thing when everybody can contribute to it.”
Patrick Henry (9-2, 3-0) fell behind 3-0 on Tuesday but took the lead for good by scoring six times in the bottom of the third inning.
“I’m proud of them,” said PH coach Eric Rutherford. “They didn’t panic.”
The tiebreaking blow was a home run by Carter Brown that traveled down the left-field line and cleared the fence.
“That was a monster shot,” Rutherford said. “I thought it was popped up and I was yelling back [to the baserunners] and then turned around and saw it.”
The dinger came on a 1-0 curveball from Honaker left-hander Landon Schneider.
“I knew that was gone,” Brown said. “Every home run I’ve hit this year has come when they’ve thrown me a curveball.”
Brown had a feeling a big inning was coming.
Schneider had held Patrick Henry in check in beating the Rebels in the semifinals of last year’s district tournament.
“Before we came to bat [in the third inning], we had a talk,” Brown said. “We just told each other, ‘We’re the meat of the lineup, we’re the ones that produces us runs and we need to get going on this.’ ”
Nine batters and a half-inning later, the Rebels had turned a three-run deficit into a three-run lead and Honaker (9-3, 2-1) couldn’t recover.
“We came out early and swung the bats really well and got up on ‘em,” said Honaker coach Derrick Murphy. “I knew it was going to be a seven-inning game and they kind of got hot in the third and fourth innings, squared some balls up and battled back. They are really tough one through nine. They are going to score some runs.”
White delivered his three hits from the eighth spot in the batting order.
“He was on JV last season as a sophomore,” Rutherford said. “We knew he was going to have to fill one of the key spots that we lost from last year. … I’m happy with how he’s swinging it.”
Aidan Monahan added two hits and three RBIs for the Rebels, who also got another strong pitching performance from Kolby Hicks.
“Hicks really found the zone and gave us a lot of trouble,” Murphy said.
Hicks struck out 12 and walked two in 6 2/3 innings.
“Getting that lead helps any pitcher and was big for Kolby,” Rutherford said.
He hit his pitch limit with two outs in top of the seventh inning after surrendering back-to-back doubles and Monahan got the final out on the mound.
Hicks has a 4-0 record this season.
“Kolby gets it done. I get excited when he pitches,” Brown said. “People can’t hit him very well.”
Ninth-grader Kole Reynolds of Honaker managed to do so on Tuesday as he went 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs to lead the way for the Tigers.
“He went to the plate with a really good approach all night long,” Murphy said. “To just be a freshman, he’s doing a really good job.”
Caden Altizer finished 3-for-4, scored two runs and collected the other RBI for Honaker.
The Tigers play at Northwood (0-11, 0-4) on Thursday, before hosting Chilhowie (10-2, 4-1) in an important game on April 28.
“We’re just getting started in the Hogo,” Murphy said. “The district’s really tough this year and there’s still going to be a lot of really good ballgames.”
Meanwhile, Patrick Henry goes to Rural Retreat (6-6, 2-1) on Thursday as the Rebels look to continue their impressive hit parade.
“It’s something to see, I reckon,” Brown said. “We grind hard and we hit every single day. … I’m proud of my whole team.”
Honaker 102 000 2—5 8 2
Patrick Henry 006 122 x—11 11 2
Schneider, Rasnake (4) and Beavers. Hicks, Monahan (7) and Rutherford. W – Hicks (4-0). L – Schneider. HR – Ca. Brown (PH), 3rd, two on.
