Marion Senior High School’s Class of 2026
Marion Senior High School's Class of 2026
The Marion Senior High School Class of 2026 graduated on Friday night.
MSHS Beta Club graduates
MSHS Beta Club graduates
MSHS Beta Club graduates for 2026 include, front row, Macy Osborne, Mia Johnson, Madison Dempsey, Madison Cassell, Dannika Blevins, Kaylee Henderson. Middle row, Zoe Sage, Zoey Karnes, Madilyn Bonham, Xander Gates, Ava Austin, Lauren Linford, Kylea Lyles. Back row, Addison Umbarger, Caden Hutton, Caden Burchett, Garrett Vernon, Sebastian Jones, Addyson Williams, Sarah Blevins.
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HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: Patrick Henry (19-2) gets strong performances from Kolby Hicks, Connor Brown in win over Chilhowie in Hogo tourney finals (copy)
Patrick Henry won the 2026 Hogoheegee District regular-season and tournament titles in baseball.
EMORY, Va. – Patrick Henry High School’s ace was in the place he desired to be on Wednesday afternoon – on the mound in a much-anticipated contest with a title at stake.
“I definitely wanted the ball coming into the game,” said PH junior Kolby Hicks. “I told Coach [Eric Rutherford] that if the ball’s not in my hand [Wednesday], I’m going to be a little upset. I just wanted to come out and throw my game.”
Hicks delivered by tossing six strong innings as the Rebels recorded a 5-2 win over the Chilhowie Warriors in the finals of the Hogoheegee District baseball tournament at Emory & Henry University.
PH (19-2) added the tourney championship to its regular-season crown and extended its winning streak to 13 games.
The Rebels had played in the third-place game of the district tourney the three previous years. However, the first-place Rebels were first rate on Wednesday and have been all season.
“We’ve been pretty locked in,” Hicks said.
Hicks has locked down the opposition this season in compiling a 7-0 record on the mound. He struck out eight, allowed five hits and issued just one walk on Wednesday.
“He’s pitching so well,” said Patrick Henry shortstop Connor Brown. “He is throwing the games of his life right now. He hits his spots and has control of everything.”
Hicks fanned six in 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief against Chilhowie on April 17 in a 12-2 win.
“I pretty much just tried to do the same thing,” Hicks said. “Get them off balance with my offspeed pitches and then throw the fastball in there and see what happens.”
Hicks entered the season with a career record of 0-3 against Chilhowie on the varsity level. However, he is not the same pitcher he was before.
“He’s really came into his own this year,” said Chilhowie coach Jeff Robinson. “He’s always been a little wild [the previous two seasons], but he had great control all day today. He was really good.”
Chilhowie freshman pitcher Tyler Gonzalez was impressive in his own right after taking over for starter Noah Nash in the first inning.
He struck out five and allowed just one hit over 5 1/3 innings.
Patrick Henry actually finished with just two hits in the game and they both came off the bat of Brown, who holds down the top spot in the batting order.
He reached on an infield single to start the first inning and later came around to score on a bases-loaded walk to Carter Brown. Connor Brown also walked in the second and raced home on an RBI groundout, while he blooped an RBI single into right field in the third.
“If you drew up a leadoff hitter that’s Connor Brown,” said PH coach Eric Rutherford. “He’s got the swag and attitude to go with it, he runs the pitch count up, sees a lot of pitches and just finds a way to get on base.”
The Warriors (16-7) committed three errors and never recovered from that three-run first inning.
“The three games we’ve played them, we have given them a lot and you can’t give a team like them anything,” Robinson said. “You have to make them earn it.”
Brandon Miller went 2-for-3 and connected for a two-out, two-strike, two-run triple in the top of the fourth inning that brought Brycen Sturgill and Asher Chapman across the plate. Those were the only runs the Warriors managed.
“I think today was a step back from the way we’ve been playing,” Robinson said. “Hopefully, we can turn it around and make a little run here.”
Patrick Henry senior Aidan Monahan got the final three outs to notch the save as he got a pair of strikeouts. Monahan has been masterful on the mound and at the plate as well.
“I told Kolby and Monahan, I am glad you two are on my side,” Rutherford said. “Kolby’s a big-game type of kid and we felt good putting the ball in his hand. Kolby threw excellent today against a really good hitting team.”
PH’s only two losses have come against Class 2 schools Gate City and Richlands, teams the Rebels also beat once.
“I don’t know if we’d have wanted the pressure of playing undefeated,” Rutherford said. “I feel like those two losses really turned this team around. They really locked in and realized they hated losing. They really just put their head down and went to work.”
The Hogoheegee District held its tournament on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to avoid the rainy weather forecast for later in the week. Rutherford still got soaked on Wednesday, however, as his players poured the contents of the water cooler in the dugout over his head following the triumph.
“They got me,” Rutherford said with a smile.
Right on target.
Just like Kolby Hicks.
Patrick Henry's Kolby Hicks.
Chilhowie 000 200 0—2 5 3
Patrick Henry 311 000 x—5 2 3
N. Nash, Gonzalez (1) and Bowman. Hicks, Monahan (7) and Rutherford. W – Hicks (7-0). L – N. Nash (4-3). S – Monahan (2). HR – none.
MSHS Class of ’26 Officers
MSHS Class of '26 Officers
MSHS Class of 2026 Officers are, front row, Mia Johnson - Secretary, Marley Musick - Reporter, Zoe Sage - Vice President, Abigail Ray – Historian. Back row: Garrett Vernon - Reporter, Garrett Sweeney - Treasurer, Sebastian Jones – Historian.
