By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, July 31 — For the first time in almost 15 years, someone besides the legendary Wayne Comer will be calling the shots for the Panthers next spring on the diamond. Last week, the Page County High School Athletic Department announced that Joey Hilliard will be the next head coach for the varsity baseball program.
“I’m really grateful and excited about being named Page County baseball’s head coach,” Hilliard told PVN. “Coach Burke and Coach Comer have set a standard of winning at Page, and I’m committed to making Page baseball a contender year after year.”
The last two baseball seasons at Page have produced similar results. The Panthers graduated five seniors from a 2023 team that finished 11-14, but fell just one win short of qualifying for the Class 2 state tournament. The 2022 Panthers featured nine seniors, but still only finished 11-12…that time two wins away from qualifying for the state playoffs.
Coach Hilliard is a 1990 graduate of Page County High School, who played four years of varsity baseball under former head coach Jim Burke. The former shortstop and pitcher earned All-District honors on the mound in 1989 and 1990, as well as All-Region in ’90. His senior year, Hilliard was named to the PCHS Baseball Hall of Fame.
After coaching at Page for nine years and being promoted from the junior varsity baseball ranks after two seasons at the helm, Hilliard knows the history of the program and wants to get back to contending for state championships.
The new baseball coach will have to find ways to fill the void left in offensive production by the graduation of outfielder Hayden Plum, catcher Everett Foltz, infielder Adam Short, outfielder Gunnar Strickler and outfielder Jacob Williams. The loss of Foltz behind the plate and Williams on the mound also creates some defensive holes as well. Page has done well the last two seasons at producing runs, but struggled on the mound, particularly in terms of of depth.
In addition to leading the JV baseball program the last two years, Hilliard also coached middle school basketball for two years, and is going on his seventh year as girls JV basketball coach. He does not teach at the school, but has worked with Merillat Industries in Mount Jackson for 28 years.
For more information about Page County High School,
visit https://www.pagecounty.k12.va.us/o/pchs
•••
RELATED ARTICLES
Panthers honor 2022-23 athletes with annual sports awards
Panthers name Parker head boys basketball coach
Panthers advance to Region 2B title game Friday, earn spot in Class 2 state tournament next week
Bulldogs, Panthers well represented on Bull Run’s All-District spring teams
Panthers sweep Region 2B quarterfinals, Luray girls soccer survives and advances to semifinals
Be the first to comment