​The News Leader readers have named their male athlete of the year, selecting Riverheads’ baseball standout Brody Phillips with an impressive 55% of the nearly 78,000 votes cast. Phillips distinguished himself as a first-team all-state shortstop in Class 1, along with earning first-team all-Region 1B and all-Shenandoah District honors at shortstop. He also earned a second-team nod on both the Region 1B and Shenandoah District rosters as a pitcher for the Gladiators.
Phillips played a pivotal role in guiding Riverheads to the Region 1B championship and advancing to the Class 1 state semifinals, underscoring his impact on the team’s success this season. Following Phillips in the top five for male athletes of the year, as chosen by readers, were: Mason McWhorter of Wilson Memorial, Dalton Coffey from Buffalo Gap, Zyleke Shepherd of Staunton, and Baylor Graber from Stuarts Draft.
Readers can also view a video produced by The News Leader’s Patrick Hite in collaboration with WHSV TV3’s Connor Burgan, which reveals who they selected as the male athlete of the year. On the female side, Buffalo Gap’s Rachel Showalter earned the title of female athlete of the year, illustrating the broad field of standout performers recognized by The News Leader readers.
In addition to participation in athletic excellence, local coverage continues to highlight community events and features. Saturday morning’s Fourth of July festivities in Gypsy Hill Park kicked off with the Firecracker 5K, an event captured by Patrick Hite of The News Leader.
For readers seeking more context and stories about local athletes and community happenings, The News Leader remains a resource for comprehensive sports coverage and beyond. To stay connected with Patrick Hite, readers can reach him at phite@newsleader.com or through Instagram at @hitepatrick. Subscribe to The News Leader at newsleader.com for ongoing updates and in-depth reporting.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader under the headline: Who did readers choose as The News Leader’s male athlete of the year?