University's Brance McCune named OVAC 5A baseball Player of the Year
McCune is the second University player to hold the honor in four years, as former third baseman Aaron Forbes did so in 2022.
The University graduate and Bethany College signee was a crucial piece of the puzzle for UHS this season in all phases of the game.
McCune averaged an outstanding .454 at the plate, tallying 44 hits in 97 at-bats. Ten of those hits came for extra bases (seven 2B and three 3B) with 18 RBI, 26 runs, and 17 walks, only striking out eight times all season. He held a .534 on-base percentage, stealing 14 bases. He was also errorless defensively in the outfield.
For Brance, this season was all about having confidence in himself.
'Honestly, I was a little surprised when I first heard the news,' McCune said. 'I had confidence in myself this season and once I got settled in, just tried to go out there and make an impact for my team every chance I could. Having a good season and being recognized for the work you put in is the best part.'
McCune earned at least one hit in 26 of the Hawks' 31 games this season with separate hitting streaks of nine and ten games. During his nine-game hitting streak between April 11 and April 28, seven of those games were multi-hit ones.
His effort offensively during the second half of the schedule was key for the Hawks, as they saw themselves sitting 6-10 after a 4-0 loss to George Washington in the Mon County Classic.
But UHS turned its season around, finishing 11-4 after the loss to GW. McCune earned 27 of his 44 hits, scored 17 runs, stole eight bases, and struck out only twice during the final 15 games.
'I think that weekend (Mon County Classic) we really showed ourselves what we could do,' he said. 'We realized we had to turn something around to make the most of the rest of the season and finish strong.'
McCune is a four-year varsity player for UHS and credits his early years as an underclassman for shaping the work ethic he has as a senior. He made the trip to Charleston as the Hawks won the Region I championship in 2023.
'Sophomore year is definitely one of those that I point to as a year that changed my game,' he said. 'Being around that senior class and group of guys, they really pushed me to be a better player and set me up to learn how I could excel going forward while continuing to improve my game.'
Brance says one thing he will take away from his time at UHS is the way he learned to be a good teammate and how a positive environment helps him become a better player.
'Being around a bunch of guys and making those bonds, that's something I'll take with me,' he said. 'I feel like that's something I'll be focusing on a lot at the next level.'
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