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For the next two weeks we will roll out our Preseason Power 25. Three staff members voted on their version of the thirty best teams in the Preseason Power 25, with a possibility of 90 total vote points for each team. We will release three teams per day for the first week and then move to two teams per day once we reach the Top 10 next week. Voting for preseason teams centers more around the depth of talent on that team, as well as where it stacks up within their region/area, as opposed to strictly predicting schedule outcomes. 

Generally, larger schools and classifications have a greater depth of player talent on roster. However, once the season begins and records begin to take shape, the Power 25 will be adjusted as needed. In addition to that, we will debut our Private School Top 10 around April 1st and Small School Top 10 around mid-April. 

Starting out the Top 20 of the Power 25 at the #20 spot is Lake Braddock.

#20 Lake Braddock

The 2019 State Champs and 2021 and 2022 Region Champs made yet another State Tournament trip in 2023, seeing their season end in the quarterfinals in an instantly classic playoff game courtesy of Jonny Farmelo magic. The Bruins lost some key players to graduation in catcher and big bat Jack McCarthy (Mt. St. Mary's) as well as Evan Schick (Marymount) and Daniel Lipovski. Two key players return for one more run at a Championship in senior ace Jake Drumm (George Mason) and middle infield star Jamie Laskofski (William & Mary). Look for both to contribute on the mound and offensively, and they will have help from fellow seniors Henry Steene, in the rotation, and Pad Hall (Denison), in the lineup. Juniors Matthew Mayer and Everett Sisk could push for more time this year and a pair of sophomores to keep an eye on are CJ Prentiss and Matt Schaeb. Lake Braddock and rival West Springfield have had a stranglehold on Region C and the Patriot District for years, look for that to continue as Drumm and Laskofski look to lead the Bruins over the hump in June this spring.

Final Thoughts:

"I think it will be really tough to replace McCarthy and Schick in this lineup, as well as on the defensive side. However, when you bring back to seniors like Drumm and Laskofski it is tough to count a team out. Drumm has the stuff and pitchability to beat anyone. In addition to all of that, this is a program that is there every year, and when that happens it breeds confidence and expectation. They know how to get there and have the pieces on the roster to make it happen again."

- Jason Burton (Virginia/DC Scouting Director)