They entered the season with six starters back and a rotation that included two of the top pitchers in the Northern Region. That is usually a pretty good recipe for some preseason buzz.
It hasn’t quite worked out that way for Lake Braddock, however. Understandably, much attention has focused on No. 1 Madison (12-1), nationally ranked at No. 14 by USA Today, or Oakton (11-2), with a ton of quality players back from last year’s Group AAA state runner-up.
It is easy to forget that the eighth-ranked Bruins are the defending region champions. And with a rotation that includes junior Shane Halley and senior Sean Chitsaz it is no surprise that Lake Braddock (11-2, 6-1 Patriot District) is again lurking in the region title chase.
“To have two guys like that on the mound is definitely a luxury,” said Lake Braddock coach Jody Rutherford, whose team played at Lee Monday night. “Especially given what we’ve run intothis year. I’d say every team in our district has a solid No. 1 option. So we need them to be good if we want to win it again.”
Before Monday night’s game, Halley and Chitsaz had allowed just six earned runs between them and posted a combined record of 8-1. That builds on a stellar 2006 season for both players. Halley posted a 5-1 record with an 1.97 ERA. Chitsaz won a team-high nine games for the Bruins, who have also received solid relief pitching this spring from freshman Ryan Lindemuth.
Lake Braddock has allowed more than five runs in a game just once all year — that in a 10-8 loss to No. 6 Osbourn (11-1) on April 7 in the Hawaiian Tropic Classic championship game in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
“That was one of those days where I think both teams were running low on pitchers,” Rutherford said. “Six games in six days is a lot of baseball. But it’s something that prepares you for the postseason, too. I think we learned a lot from that trip.”
Lake Braddock doesn’t have a stable of offensive stars. Instead, Rutherford has a balanced group that takes advantage of its opportunities. Senior first baseman David Fennessey leads the team with three home runs. The Bruins have scored at least five runs in all but one game.
Saturday they earned an important district win over South County (8-4, 5-2). Lake Braddock trailed 2-0 in the fourth inning against the Stallions and senior pitcher Kyle Hald (Old Dominion).
With two outs and the bases loaded, senior Kevin Muehleib drilled a three-run triple to deep center field. That was all Chitsaz would need in a 6-2 victory. He allowed just seven hits and struck out 10 batters before Halley finished out the seventh inning.
Something Bruin
» Lake Braddock went 22-5 last season, winning the Northern Region title. Lost to South County in Patriot District final and to Monacan in the Group AAA state quarterfinals.
» Lake Braddock has lost just twice. The only time the Bruins failed to post at least five runs in a game came on March 29 at home vs. West Springfield when sophomore pitcher Mike Kent shut them out, 2-0.
» Four Patriot District teams were within one game of first-place Lake Braddock entering last night’s games — Hayfield (6-5, 5-1), West Springfield (6-5, 4-2) and South County (8-4, 5-2).
