HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: 2026 Hogoheegee District Preview (Plus Mountain Empire District member George Wythe) (copy)
Hogoheegee District Preseason Coaches Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Patrick Henry (3);23
2. Chilhowie (3);22
3. Honaker;18
4. Rural Retreat;13
5. Holston;8
6. Northwood;6
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The race for first place in the Hogoheegee District should be compelling with a talented trio of baseball teams taking aim at the top spot.
Chilhowie finished as Region 1D runner-up to Eastside and made its fifth straight state tournament appearance in 2025. The Warriors suffered a 2-1 walk-off loss to eventual state champion Auburn in the VHSL Class 1 quarterfinals.
Honaker went 15-9 in Derrick Murphy’s first season as head coach and the Tigers came within one game of reaching the state tournament, dropping a 6-5 decision to Eastside in the semifinals of the regional tourney.
Patrick Henry battled inconsistency in going 11-12 last year, but the Rebels were picked to win the Hogoheegee District this spring in the preseason coaches poll as six starters – including their top three pitchers – are back in the fold.
Chilhowie, Honaker and PH have started the season strong in showing they are serious contenders for the regional title.
The following is a look at each of the six baseball teams in the Hogoheegee District, as well as Mountain Empire District member George Wythe:
PATRICK HENRY
The Patrick Henry Rebels opened the 2026 season with wins over Richlands (14-1), Cornerstone Christian Academy (16-4), Sullivan East (19-0) and Gate City (2-1) as they’ve been impressive on the mound and at the plate.
“We have a lot of talent in place to have a successful year,” said PH coach Eric Rutherford. “These guys have played a lot of baseball and that maturity should show this spring. If we can be consistent and play to our potential, I like where we stand.”
Junior Kolby Hicks (3-4, 3.85 ERA, 53 strikeouts in 40 innings last season), senior Aidan Monahan (1-2, 2.10 ERA, 47 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings) and senior left-hander Trajan Cannon (3-2, 3.26 ERA, 51 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings) lead the pitching staff.
Carter Brown and Connor Brown have experience pitching as well.
Catcher Hank Rutherford (.280 batting average last season), first baseman Carter Brown (.351, three home runs, 14 RBIs), shortstop Connor Brown (.385, 14 RBIs), Monahan (.403, 21 RBIs), Cannon (.231, 12 RBIs) and Hicks (.315, 18 RBIs) have proven they can swing the bat.
Sophomore second baseman/pitcher Porter Blackwell, junior third baseman Blake “J.J.” Johnson and designated hitter Hunter White are up from the junior varsity and have contributed in major ways already.
CHILHOWIE
Dawson Tuell and Noah Hill – Chilhowie’s top two pitchers from a season ago and players who were also productive at the plate – might have graduated, but the Warriors still possess plenty of talent and guys who have gotten it done at the varsity level.
Eight full-time starters return and there are 11 juniors and seniors on the team’s roster.
“Expectations are always high and our kids know that,” said Chilhowie coach Jeff Robinson. “They’re ready to accept the challenges that came with it. We have a veteran team made up of 11 returning lettermen, who are now all juniors and seniors, mixed in with a few exceptionally talented freshmen. Having watched these guys closely since they were in Little League, I can tell you one thing – they are winners.”
Senior Landon Bowman (.368, two home runs, 20 RBIs) is in his fourth year starting at catcher and is one of Southwest Virginia’s best at the position. He’ll also pitch some this spring.
All-state shortstop Jayden Schwartz (.443, 26 RBIs), senior first baseman Asher Chapman (.368, 13 RBIs), junior second baseman/pitcher Brent Kilbourne (.300, 10 RBIs; 2-2, 3.07 ERA), senior third baseman/pitcher Noah Nash (3-1, 2.47 ERA on the mound), senior outfielder Brandon Miller (.308, 22 RBIs), senior outfielder Brycen Sturgill (.309, 14 RBIs) and junior designated hitter Gavin Walker (.362, three homers, 19 RBIs) make Chilhowie’s lineup tough to face.
Infielder/pitcher Bryce Robinson, third baseman/pitcher Tyler Gonzalez and outfielder Dylan Martin lead the group of talented ninth-graders.
Junior pitcher River Nash, senior outfielder Blake Robinson, Owen Utt, and Oswaldo Solabac will also be counted on.
Chilhowie was 3-1 entering Monday with wins over Cornerstone Christian Academy (14-3), Marion (15-1) and Grayson County (10-0) and an 11-0 loss to Class 2 Union.
HONAKER
Derrick Murphy’s first season as Honaker’s head coach was a success and 2026 could be even better with a veteran crew taking the field for the Tigers.
“We are very excited,” Murphy said. “We are coming off a solid season last year where we played a lot of young guys and fell one run short of playing for a region title. I believe that experience will pay dividends for us. Returning nine guys all with varsity experience, you can’t ask for much more. We also return a deep, tested pitching staff and get to add three more quality arms to the mix. We know how challenging the Hogo will be, and look forward to the challenge. Hopefully, we can build off last season’s success and line ourselves up for a deep postseason run.”
Tusculum University signee Connor Musick (5-4, one save, 82 strikeouts, 2.36 ERA last season), Landon Schneider (4-0, 2.17 ERA), Caden Altizer (2-1, two saves, 1.59 ERA), Kam Beavers (3-1, 4.90 ERA), Christian Ball (0-3, one save, 3.50 ERA) and Silas Harris (1-0, 4.88 ERA) have experience on the mound. Jake Rasnake, Kole Reynolds and Parker Musick are newcomers who also figure to log innings.
Catcher Kam Beavers (.333, 16 RBIs), first baseman Caden Altizer (.372, 31 RBIs), third baseman Christian Ball (.281), outfielder Connor Musick (.449, 14 stolen bases, 23 RBIs) and outfielder Eli McGlothlin (.310) are top hitters who return.
Keaton Smith and Levi Johnson have experience as well.
Honaker opened the season 4-0 with two wins over Russell County rival Castlewood, a victory over Holston and a triumph on Monday over defending Region 1D champion Eastside.
RURAL RETREAT
Rural Retreat's Brody Childers scores a run during the 2024 Region 1D tournament.
The Rural Retreat Indians have one of the top leadoff hitters in Southwest Virginia in senior Brody Childers and he showed why in going 7-for-10 in the first three games of the season against George Wythe, Fort Chiswell and Eastside.
Childers will see time at shortstop, pitcher and in the outfield.
Shortstop/pitcher Trever Shelton was a first-team All-Hogoheegee District pick a season ago and joins Childers as a catalyst in the lineup.
Catcher/pitcher Justin Walker, first baseman Gage Baker, infielder Carter Haga, second baseman/pitcher Dawson Williams, third baseman Hunter Wells, pitcher/outfielder Gradyn Gibson, outfielder Mason Roberts and outfielder Braxton Graybeal are other names to know for the Indians of head coach Van Harris.
Cooper Hamm, Jayden Winbourne, Hunter Wells and Mason Roberts will also look to make things happen.
Injuries to utility man Jay Snavely and outfielder Eli Poole have hampered Rural Retreat thus far.
HOLSTON
The roster of the Holston Cavaliers features a mix of varsity veterans and promising newcomers.
Second baseman/pitcher Brodie Richardson (.250, five RBIs), shortstop/pitcher Eli Tweed (.368, nine RBIs), third baseman Creed Maness (.217, 12 RBIs), outfielder/pitcher Desmond Mickens (.226, 10 runs) and utility man Collin Widener (12 runs) have experience. Tweed was a second-team All-Hogoheegee District pick in 2025.
Catcher Isaac Little, first baseman/pitcher Carson Rouse, outfielder Lucas Prater and outfielder Colt Thomas will try to make an impact.
“We have a bunch of new faces,” said Holston coach Josh Ezzell. “Excited to start competing and find our identity as a baseball team.”
NORTHWOOD
Canaan Davidson is Northwood’s fourth head coach in the last five seasons. He takes over for Steve Barlow and spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach with the Panthers.
Shortstop/pitcher Brody Waddle and utility man/pitcher Dawson Prater are the headliners for Northwood. Waddle was a second-team all-district pick in 2025, while Prater was an honorable-mention choice.
Third baseman/pitcher Jackson Nutter, second baseman/pitcher Andrew Huff and outfielder Tyler Burnette are the seniors for the Panthers.
Catcher/pitcher Brady Sanders, outfielder Duke Colley, first baseman/pitcher Tyler Gillespie, outfielder Jason McCall, third baseman Connor Surber, outfielder Colt Stevenson and freshman catcher Will Terry are also notable players for the squad from Saltville.
MOUNTAIN EMPIRE DISTRICT
GEORGE WYTHE
Cade Bralley, George Wythe
The George Wythe Maroons have had a rough go of it so far, being outscored 45-23 in losses to Rural Retreat, Galax and Marion.
Sophomore catcher Brayden Frazier (.208), sophomore first baseman Cody Sisk (.200), junior shortstop/pitcher Cade Bralley (.566), third baseman/pitcher Cam Skeens (.325), sophomore outfielder Beach Molinary (.182), senior outfielder/pitcher Cayden Bement (.175), sophomore outfielder Caden Golliher (.250) and senior designated hitter Cannon Woods (.161) have experience for GW.
Freshman second baseman/pitcher Ethan Bement, pitcher Luke Doyle, outfielder Eli Gilbert, first baseman Paxton Rigney, catcher Devon Burks, outfielder/third baseman Hunter Hawkins and third baseman Wyatt Midkiff will be counted on as well.
The Maroons compete in a loaded Mountain Empire District. Auburn beat league rival Fort Chiswell in last year's state finals.
“We are still young but having eight returning players will help us this season. Cade Bralley, Cam Skeens, Cayden Bement are our captains with great leadership on and off the field,” said George Wythe coach Donnie Gamble. “Having Brayden Frazier behind the plate is a great asset to the team. As our freshman class is strong, Ethan Bement has worked his way into the starting lineup. We have great players with dedication and great work ethic. Luke Doyle is one of our hardest working and dedicated players. We will see what God has planned for us this season.”
