Patrick Henry’s Aidan Monahan chosen the Class 1 Boys Player of the Year; Patrick Henry’s Eric Rutherford is the Class 1 Boys Coach of the Year
The Virginia High School League announces its 2026 Class 1 all-state baseball team. Patrick Henry (Glade Spring) senior outfielder/pitcher Aidan Monahan is the Class 1 Player of the Year, and Patrick Henry (Glade Spring) head coach Eric Rutherford is the Class 1 Coach of the Year.
Monahan, a versatile 6’1”, 185-pound outfielder and right-handed pitcher, posted impressive numbers this spring. As an offensive threat, Monahan batted .506 (42 for 83) with 42 RBI, 8 home runs,6 doubles, and scored 40 runs along with a 1.460 OPS, .592 OBP, slugging .867. A big-game pitcher, he posted a 6-2 record with two saves, 0.719 ERA, 76K, and only gave up 5 earned runs in 48.2 innings. In Patrick Henry’s run to the state title, Monahan batted .556, with six RBI, with a .600 OBP in the region tournament.
He continued his torrid streak in the state tournament, batting .667 with a 1.897 OBP, .786 OBP, and slugging 1.111, including one home run, 2 RBI, and 6 runs. Monahan went 3-for-4 with a home run and also got the final two outs on the mound for a save to close out their 4-1 win over Rappahannock in the championship game. Monahan will play at Emory & Henry University in the fall.
In just three seasons, Patrick Henry baseball coach Eric Rutherford took his Rebels to a 25-2 record and the program’s first-ever state title with a 4-1 win over Rappahannock in the Class 1 finals at Kiwanis Field in Salem.
Since taking over the program in 2024 and after spending one season as the JV coach in 2023, the former John Battle baseball standout has compiled a 48-25 career record, reaching the state title game for the first time in school history. He also added the Hogoheegee District COY and Region 1D COY. His son, Hank, was chosen as the 1st team catcher on this year’s Class 1 all-state team.
