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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting/Content Management 

As we enter February, the high school season is quickly approaching. As the month progresses and February turns into March, we will take a look at high school programs throughout our coverage area as they prepare for the 2016 season.
 

Team: Western Branch
Nickname: Bruins
Class: 6A South
Conference: Monitor-Merrimac Conference 2 and the Southeastern District
Coach: Roland Wright
2015 Record: 22-4
2015 Post Season: Monitor-Merrimac Regular Season Champions, 6A South Region Champions, and State Semifinals
Returning Starters/Position: 4
Returning Pitchers: 2

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Michael Everett (OF, 2016, Old Dominion) Everett is currently ranked 83^rd in the PBR VA/DC Class of 2016 Rankings.
Corey Klak (LHP, 2016 ODU) Klak went 11-1 with a 1.20 ERA and is poised to take over as the Bruins ace. Klak is ranked 72^nd in the Class of 2016 Rankings.
Garrett Marchand (CIF, 2016, James Madison) Marchand is currently ranked 77^th in the Class of 2016 Rankings.

 

SEASON OUTLOOK
Western Branch is coming off of an outstanding 2015 season that saw the Bruins win the Monitor-Merrimac regular season championship, their second straight 6A South Region championship, and reach the State Semifinals before seeing their season come to an end. The Bruins were highly ranked in the PBR VA/DC Power 25 all season and finished 2015 at No. 5. The Bruins lost some key pieces to graduation but still have a talented team going into the 2016 season. The Bruin rotation will be young but will be anchored by Klak, who is coming off of an outstanding 2015 season and is poised to step into the role of ace this spring. Marchand and Everett will lead an offense that will put a lot of pressure on teams and be very aggressive this spring. Western Branch has a recent history of being fundamentally sound as a defensive team, expect that trend to continue this spring as the defense will convert a lot of outs and not give up extra bases. While Western Branch is young this year, the Bruins are very talented and by the end of the season will be a dangerous team that will have a good chance to capture its third straight 6A South Championship and return to States.