Bruns accepts baseball scholarship from UNO

OMAHA - Plattsmouth native Justin Bruns spent his freshman season showcasing his pitching skills in a Peru State College uniform.

He'll get the opportunity to display those skills in a University of Nebraska-Omaha jersey next spring.

Bruns, a 2007 Plattsmouth High School graduate, accepted a scholarship offer to play baseball for the Mavericks beginning this year. He will start classes at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II school this fall.

Bruns became one of Peru State's top pitchers this season after finishing his final season with the Plattsmouth Senior Legion team last summer. He compiled a 5-3 record in 43.1 innings pitched and led the Bobcats with a 4.36 earned run average. Only 21 of the 50 runs opponents scored on Bruns were earned runs.

Bruns held opponents to a .274 batting average, a mark that was sixth-best in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference. He gave up 17 walks and struck out 33 batters. Peru State finished 14-27-1 overall and went 8-15 in conference play.

Bruns then compiled a similar 5-3 record for the Nehawka Senior Legion baseball team this summer. He had a 0.96 earned run average and recorded 156 strikeouts. He also had three saves.

Bruns will join a Maverick program that enjoyed one of its best seasons under head coach Bob Herold. Nebraska-Omaha went 45-13 last year and won 22 of 23 games against North Central Conference opponents. The team reached the NCAA Division II Central Regional championship game before bowing to 23rd-ranked Central Missouri 11-6.

Senior pitchers Blake Denoyer, Chris Kessinger and Tim Huber were among seven Mavericks who finished their careers last spring. Bruns will join a pitching staff that will include five redshirt freshmen.