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Over the coming months, Prep Baseball Report Virginia/DC will take a look back at the 2015 season for each school that finished the spring in the final 2015 Power 25. In each article, we will not only recap the successful seasons of these 40 schools, but highlight the individuals who drove that success and preview what the outlook is for each team in 2016.

5. Western Branch Bruins

 

Season Recap:  Western Branch won the 2014 6A State Championship and spent all but two weeks in in the Top Five of the 2015 Power 25, never leaving the Top Ten. The Bruins captured the Monitor-Merrimac Regular Season Championship and the 6A South Regional Title and returned to the State Tournament before falling in the Semifinals to Chantilly. Western Branch finished the season with 22-4 overall record.

Key Performers:

Alex Abbey: (1B, 2015, Christopher Newport) Abbey hit in the three hole all season for the Bruins and had a strong season, hitting .445. Abbey was named to the All-Conference, All-Region, and All-6A State First Teams.

Corey Klak: (LHP, 2016, Old Dominion) Klak formed half of a two-headed monster on the mound for the Bruins, going 11-1 on the season while posting a dominant 1.20 ERA.

Grant Maiorana: (C, 2015, Virginia Tech) Maiorana was a four year varsity starter for the Bruins and one their leaders, anchoring the defense behind the plate and hitting .430 for the season from the second spot in the lineup. Maiorana was named First Team All-Conference and All-6A South Region as well as Second Team All-6A State.

Jordan Mason: (OF, 2015, Christopher Newport) Mason hit .424 on the season and set the table as the Bruins’ leadoff hitter. Mason was named to the All-Conference, All-Region, and All-6A State First Teams.

Colin Selby: (RHP, 2015, Randolph-Macon) Selby was the other half of the Bruins twin aces on the mound and was named First Team All-Conference and All-6A South Region as well as 2nd Team All-6A State.

2016 Outlook:  Western Branch will enter 2016 having to replace a talented core of graduates in Abbey, Maiorana, Mason, and Selby. The Bruins will have Klak back to anchor their rotation as they look for youth to earn Selby’s innings. Western Branch will be young this year but will continue to keep their aggressive approach on the offensive side of the ball as the Bruins look to win their third straight South Regional Championship and return to the 6A State Tournament in 2016.