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Preseason Top 25 Preview: No. 23 Lake Brantley

January 18, 2017

By Doug Freeman
Florida Scouting Director 

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 25 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

Danny Gleaves
                              C Riley Wash

Team: Lake Brantley 
Preseason Rank: 23
2016 Record: 20-6
FHSAA Class: 9A
Head Coach: Eric Entrekin
Playoff Run: Lost in Divisional Playoff 
Returning Starters: 2


TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Griffin Bernardo, 3B, 2017 (Central Florida)
Riley Wash, C, 2017 (St. Leo)
Isaac Nunez, MIF/RHP, 2019 (Florida)
Logan Keller, MIF, 2019 (Alabama)
Josh McDuffie, LHP, 2017 (Newberry)

X-FACTOR
Griffin Bernardo. The Central Florida commit is one of only two return position players with any at-bats from last years 20-6 season. Bernardo will look to improve on a season where he batted .306 with 8 doubles, 2 home runs and 20 RBIs. Bernardo is a stocky and strong third baseman with a quick bat and power potential who can anchor down the middle of the Patriot order.

KEY PLAYERS LOST
MIF Jay Charleston (Tennessee)
C Luis Oliver (Embry-Riddle)
MIF Harrison Ray (Vanderbuilt)
3B Paxton Rigsby (Georgia Tech)
RHP Michael Ruff (Florida Atlantic)

OUTLOOK
The Patriots will look to a young offense after loosing 6 of their top 7 hitters to college. Led by the Central Florida commit Griffin Bernardo, Lake Brantley will look towards two young and talented infielders in Alabama commit Logan Keller and Florida commit Isaac Nunez to help anchor the offense. Keller and Nunez have both shown big time abilities with the bat throughout the summer and fall, but this will be their first time through a varsity season and they will play an integral roll in the Patriots success. On the mound, the Patriots will look to the Newberry commite senior LHP Josh McDuffie who returns after a strong season leading the team in innings pitched in 2016. McDuffie posted a 4-2 record in 47.1 IP with a 2.51 ERA. Brantley will also look to sophmore RHP Keith Cross who threw 14 innings with a 2.00 ERA in 2016. A young offense combined with experience on the mound will drive the Patriots to another successful year. 

Make sure to follow @pbrflorida on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the season.

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