VHSL CLASS 1 BASEBALL: Patrick Henry pitcher Kolby Hicks was in control – as usual – in title-game triumph over Rappahannock (copy)
Patrick Henry's Kolby Hicks throws a pitch for the Rebels during the state championship game against Rappahannock.
Patrick Henry's Kolby Hicks celebrates after their 4-1 win in the VHSL Class 1 State Championship game.
Patrick Henry's Kolby Hicks swings for a hit against Rappahannock.
Patrick Henry's Kolby Hicks sprints to third base against Riverheads on Friday morning.
SALEM, Va. – Kolby Hicks used every inch of his 6-foot-2 frame to stretch and snare the screaming liner off the bat of Rappahannock’s Wyatt Langford for the final out of the sixth inning.
Patrick Henry’s pitcher then nonchalantly tossed the ball over his shoulder and strolled to the visiting dugout situated beyond the first-base line.
It kind of summed up his day – and his season – as the junior right-hander had everything under control.
Hicks pitched 6 1/3 stellar innings as PH posted a 4-1 win over the Rappahannock Raiders on Saturday in the VHSL Class 1 state baseball finals at Kiwanis Field.
He yielded five hits, struck out five and issued one walk.
“What more could you want out of a championship game than that?” PH coach Eric Rutherford said.
Hicks knew he would be the man on the mound with the title at stake when Patrick Henry rolled to a 13-1 state semifinal win over Riverheads on Friday.
“I was definitely trying not to think about it and just had a good time with the team after the win [Friday],” Hicks said. “When I came in today, I was locked in and wanted to get another win.”
Davis Richardson and Carter Sullivan of Rappahannock rapped out back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom of the first inning but got nothing.
“I was definitely nervous, but I’ve pitched in a lot of games the past few weeks,” Hicks said. “The nerves kind of helped give me the adrenaline to go in and pitch my game.”
Hicks transformed from an OK hurler in 2025 to an ace pitcher in 2026.
He went 3-4 with a 3.85 ERA a year ago with 53 strikeouts, 32 walks and eight hit batters in 40 innings of work.
His stat line this year: 9-0, 1.898 ERA, 95 strikeouts, 23 walks and five hit batters in 59 innings.
PH's record went from 11-12 to 25-2.
What was the biggest difference for Hicks?
“Just hitting the strike zone,” he said. “I threw strikes a lot more than I have in the last few years.”
He also demonstrated a trait that can’t be measured by numbers.
“I’ve played travel ball with him my whole life,” PH catcher Hank Rutherford said. “He has that dawg in him. He wants it more than other people.”
Region 1A champion Rappahannock was held to one run or less for just the fifth time in 27 games.
“He threw strikes, pounded the zone,” said Rappahannock coach Jim Bieger. “A good slider.”
PH trailed 1-0 after four innings, but Hicks wasn’t concerned.
“I knew it’d come,” Hicks said. “We have such a powerful lineup.”
Hank Rutherford’s go-ahead two-run double in the fifth inning and a sixth-inning home run by Aidan Monahan turned out to be the key knocks for the Rebels.
Meanwhile, the defense also turned in some quality plays.
“Our offense has always been good enough to score a couple of runs,” Monahan said. “But our pitching and fielding were unstoppable.”
Hicks was relieved with two outs to go after his 96th pitch resulted in a pop-up for the first out of the final inning. He got a standing ovation from the Patrick Henry supporters who were in the house.
“It definitely felt good to have the community behind me,” Hicks said.
Hicks still has another season remaining on the varsity level, but it will be hard to top what he did over the past 3 ½ months.
“Kolby had the greatest season I’ve ever seen him play,” shortstop Connor Brown of the Rebels said. “We’re always confident with his pitching. I knew when Kolby stepped on the mound today it was going to be lights out.”
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VHSL Victors
A look at local pitchers who earned the win in Virginia High School League state championship baseball games:
2026: Lake Baldwin, Lebanon (Class 2)
2026: Kolby Hicks, Patrick Henry (Class 1)
2023: Nathan “Tater” Phillips, Lebanon (Class 1)
2021: Matthew Buchanan, Lebanon (Class 2)
2015: Austin Ray, Virginia High (2A)
2014: Chandler Daniels, Virginia High (2A)
2011: Derrick Murphy, Honaker (Group A, Division 2)
2008: Justin Wilson, J.J. Kelly (Group A)*
2001: Keith Davis, John Battle (Group A)*
2000: Daniel Rutter, John Battle (Group A)
1998: Ryan Adkins, J.J. Kelly (Group A)
1996: Todd Zirkle, Powell Valley (Group A)
1996: Israel Pope, Virginia High (Group AA)
1993: Shawn Fouch, Virginia High (Group AA)*
1992: Shawn Fouch, Virginia High (Group AA)*
1991: Trevor Ruth, J.J. Kelly (Group A)*
1989: Danis Simmons, J.J. Kelly (Group A)
1988: Danis Simmons, J.J. Kelly (Group A)*
1986: Jeff Phillips, Castlewood (Group A)
1984: Tim West, J.J. Kelly (Group A)*
1983: Doug Bates, J.J. Kelly (Group A)
1983: Greg Turner, Virginia High (Group AA)
1982: Doug Bates, J.J. Kelly (Group A)
1981: Mike Baumgardner, Virginia High (Group AA)
1981: Doug Bates, J.J. Kelly (Group A)
1979: Hank Ringley, Coeburn (Group A)
1975: Gary Pate, Coeburn (Group A)*
1971: Johnny Huff, Castlewood (Group A)
*denotes the win came in relief.
