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VA/DC Scout Blog: Lake Braddock at West Potomac

March 22, 2022
John Nolan
VA/DC Managing Editor, NOVA Scouting Coordinator

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Monday night saw yet another Opening Day for the 2022 season as Lake Braddock traveled to West Potomac to open their season and Patriot District schedule in a game that was originally meant to be played last Friday, but was delayed by rain. Both teams tabbed underclassmen righthanders for the start, with Braddock going with sophomore Jake Drumm and West Potomac starting junior Brody Shawn (Wake Forest). 

Lake Braddock opened up a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Bennett Zippel came in relief for the Wolverines and calmed things down as he and Drumm traded zeroes for the next few innings. Braddock added two more runs in the fourth and sixth innings to extend the lead to 9-0. With Drumm out of the game, West Potomac started rallying in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs highlighted by a Joe Humphreys home run. Braddock went back the pen for senior JB Manarchuck (Mount St. Mary's), who shut down the sixth and the game. The Bruins tacked on six more runs in the seventh and ultimately won the game by a final score of 15-6.

Drumm threw five scoreless innings of 2-hit ball, striking out 7 and Manarchuck struck out 3 in 1.2 innings of work. Offensively for Lake Braddock, Jack McCarthy was 2-4 with 2 RBIs and Evan Schick was 3-4 with 3 RBIs. For the Wolverines, Humphreys was 2-3 with his home run and Jack Bacon was 2-2 with a HBP. Zippel struck out 5 in his 3.1 innings of work. 

Take a look at video and notes on a few players from Monday night's game. 


Lake Braddock:

 

 

 

 

Jake Drumm SS / 3B / Lake Braddock, VA / 2024

Drumm is 5-11 with a lankier athletic frame, he has added some strength to it during the offseason but still has plenty of projection left in his frame. Crossfire drop and drive delivery, shoulders are closed off as he strides out to a closed landing, athletic finish, hides ball and creates deception. Throws from low three-quarters arm slot with a longer loose arm action that is quick, normal to easier effort to his delivery. Fastball was 81-84 with some late run that also has a bit of depth. Showed the ability to pitch to both sides of the plate and showed some command of the pitch as well, changing elevation. Curveball was 71-75 and thrown with good armspeed, has gradual 10/4 shape to it and is a bit slurvy right now, but it has a chance to continue to tighten as he continues to develop. Also showed a change-up at 79. Overall a strike-thrower who works ahead and quickly. Already an effective pitcher who has a chance to continue to add velocity as he adds strength.

 

 

 

JB Manarchuck RHP / Lake Braddock, VA / 2022

Manarchuck is a Mount St. Mary's commit and is 6-3 with a lankier frame that has projection left to it. Throws from a lower three-quarters arm slot, long loose arm action that is quick with normal effort to his delivery. Fastball was 86-88 with a bit of late run and some ride to it when he threw it up in the zone. Change-up was 80-81 with good armspeed and heavy late fade to it. Curveball was 72-74 with good armspeed late sharp 11/5 break to it. Threw all his pitches for strikes, showing control and ability to throw fastball to both sides of the plate. 

 

 

 

Jack McCarthy C / 3B / Lake Braddock, VA / 2023

 

 

 

Evan Schick SS / RHP / Lake Braddock, VA / 2023

 

 

 

Quincy Via OF / Lake Braddock, VA / 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

West Potomac:

 

 

 

 

Brody Shawn RHP / OF / West Potomac, VA / 2023

Shawn is a Wake Forest commit and is 6-4 with a lanky long prototypical pitcher's frame, he has a lot of projection left and room to add strength. Drop and drive delivery, strides out closed and swings into an open landing with an athletic finish. Shorter arm action that is very quick and loose, very easy effort to generate velocity, ball kind of jumps out of hand. Fastball was 90-92, touching 93 once on a pitch to finish off a strikeout. Pitch has some late sharp hop to armside with a bit of depth as well. Showed a curveball once in the game that was 80, but spiked it. Curveball during warm-ups was 79-81 with good armspeed and hard downer 11/5 break to it. Showed a change-up in warm-ups that was 85-87 with good armspeed and a bit of late run to it. Control was inconsistent during his start, which resulted in a short outing. The stuff and arm is live and he flashed control for a few pitches at a time, but needs to get more consistent with it to sustain that control to get ahead in counts and create situations to use his offspeed more. Still very much one of top prospects in his class in Virginia, just had a tough first start.

 

 

 

 

 

Bennett Zippel RHP / 2B / West Potomac, VA / 2023