has high expectations

after its success last season.

The Bruins lost five total games,

won the northern region title and

were the Patriot District regular season cochamps.

Lake Braddock lost three first team

all district players from that team, including

the northern region tournament's Most

Valuable Player in Joe Infante.

This year the shoes left by those three

will be filled by junior Shane Halley, who

had a sparkling 1.97 Earned Run Average

last season to go along with his 5-1 overall

record and four to one strikeout to walk

ratio.

Senior Sean Chitsaz, who lead the team

with nine wins last season, will also be

counted on to anchor the Bruins pitching staff this season.

"Our expectations are still high this season

with that pitching staff," said head

coach Jody Rutherford. Chitsaz said winning

the regional title last season was special,

but this year they will try to duplicate

that feat.

"Pitching is pretty essential to our success,"

said Chitsaz, noting the team has

good chemistry this season.

first baseman David Fennessey and junior

outfielder Jim Buckley.

Fennessey said the team simply wants to

defend its regional title this season, with

its pitching.

"It's the key to our team," Fennessey said.

The Bruins have made the regional tournament

the past three seasons.

Last season the Bruins held opponents

to four runs of fewer 19 times. They also

recorded four shutouts.

Its potent offense also scored seven runs

or more 11 times.

The Bruins scored a season high 19 runs

against Annandale as they were shutout

only once, against South County in the Patriot

district championship game. Lake

Braddock has won 18 games or more the

past three seasons.

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