The last two springs, the race for the Hogoheegee District regular-season baseball title has ended in dramatic fashion.

In 2006, Chilhowie won two games on the final day of the regular season to clinch a tie with George Wythe and force a one-game playoff for the district’s top spot and an automatic bid to the Region C tournament. GW would go on to beat the Warriors the next night in the playoff thanks to a gem from pitcher Devin Smith (more on him later). John Battle would go on to beat the Maroons in the finals of the district tourney.

Last spring, Chilhowie used a suicide squeeze in extra innings to take a 6-5 win over John Battle in a special one-game playoff. In the district tournament, John Battle downed George Wythe to win the district tournament for the 12th straight year and in the process bid adieu to the Hogoheegee.

While the Trojans (against their wishes) are in Region D and the Clinch Mountain District now, the Hogoheegee is perhaps the most competitive district in Southwest Virginia.

I’ve got a feeling that it will once again come down to the final week of the regular-season. Most of the coaches feel the same way as well, I’d bet.

George Wythe currently resides in first place after posting a 4-1 win over Patrick Henry on Tuesday night in Emory as Devin Smith had perhaps the best game of his career. The senior struck out 21 and allowed just two hits, while also going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. He showed why NCAA Division II Concord (W.Va.) University signed him to a letter of intent.

The Maroons still have a long way to go however, with two games remaining with Chilhowie (May 2 and May 13) and a rematch with Patrick Henry (May 9). But head coach Jason Lutrell’s team does have the advantage of being a game up and to borrow from an old cliché’ control their own destiny.

The district’s big matchup tonight will take place in Emory. Patrick Henry and Chilhowie face off in a rematch from a 5-4 PH eight-inning victory on April 8 in Smyth County. Hard-throwing Rebel left-hander Ronnie Groves struck out 16 batters that afternoon (including eight of the first 10 he faced) and was overpowering. Aaron Clampitt pitched well for Chilhowie that day as well but seemed to tire late and was pulled in the eighth inning after issuing a bases loaded walk to Cody Foglesong. Both pitchers will likely be on the mound tonight in a game with second place up for grabs.

Holston and Rural Retreat are improved and could play the role of spoiler in the coming weeks. 

From 1996-2005, John Battle won every Hogoheegee regular-season and tournament title and the Trojans were barely tested during that decade of dominance.

Now the Hogoheegee has entered a new age. Perhaps Chilhowie coach Jeff Robinson put it best when summing up the district prior to the season.

“I think it will be as well-balanced and competitive from the top to the bottom in the Hogoheegee this year as it has ever been,” Robinson told the Bristol Herald Courier back in March.