The Stoneman Douglas lacrosse team holds its first practice since the shootings last week.

American Heritage has had many talented baseball teams in recent memory, but the issue in getting over the hump was always that the Patriots were in the same district as Archbishop McCarthy in Class 6A.

Each of the last three seasons, Heritage fell to the Mavericks in regional semifinals as McCarthy won three consecutive state titles to cap a run of seven in eight seasons. The Mavericks will enter the 2018 season in transition after a slew of players either graduated or transferred out and director of baseball operations Alex Fernandez and coach Rich Bielski stepped down.

So does this, combined with the Patriots entering the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by Perfect Game, open it up for Heritage to win its first state title since 2012?

“I really never looked at it any different,” Heritage coach Bruce Aven said. “I don’t look at the past. None of those teams are the same… Our thing is working on the process and then you’ll get the outcome.”

The Patriots have a loaded squad – led by Miami signee Triston Casas at first base, Florida-signed infielder Cory Acton and ace starter Bailey Mantilla, UM-bound like Casas – that can make it happen.

Aven adds that the leadership he sees on this team – with the three aforementioned seniors and USFsigned catcher Julio Cortez showing an otherwise youthful team the way – rivals that of great Heritage teams led by Zack Collins and Eric Hosmer.

While topping the Perfect Game rankings, the Patriots enter the season ranked 44th in the nation in Baseball America. Even higher on that list, at 22, is Douglas, which after the recent tragic shooting at the school, is dedicating its season to the victims’ families and the Parkland community.

With pitching and defense the foundation for the Eagles, they’re strong up the middle. They have right-handers in junior Kyle Yeoward, committed to Stetson, and senior Middle Tennessee State signee Connor Brian on the mound, plus senior shortstop John Rodriguez, second baseman Brandon Auerbach and center fielder Ricky Shimko behind them.

Douglas and Flanagan would be considered the favorites in the Broward County half of Region 3-9A, but the Eagles still have to deal with Coral Springs and Taravella and the Falcons with Cypress Bay.

Jupiter was the team to represent the region at states last year but graduated a deep senior class. Park Vista and Palm Beach Central will once again contend to represent Palm Beach County in 9A.

Nova reached states in Class 8A last year. The Titans, led by senior pitcher Trace Moore, could be in for another battle with St. Thomas Aquinas after the two went 12 innings in the regional final last year. Dwyer looks to be the team to represent South Florida in Class 7A again.

Pompano Beach returns its core after reaching states in Class 5A last year. Pitcher and Pepperdine signee Trevor Kniskern and LSU-signed pitcher/ shortstop Chase Costello are both back for the Golden Tornadoes, who will have to compete locally with Somerset Academy and North Broward Prep, among others, in a deep district. NBP has a prized pro prospect in shortstop Xavier Edwards, a Vanderbilt signee.

In Class 4A, Calvary Christian, led by Florida commit Christian Scott on the mound, seeks a third consecutive trip to states and enters the season ranked 20th nationally by Perfect Game. American Heritage-Delray, returning a talented young core, will eye a return to states but will have to go through Benjamin to get there.

Trinity Christian is primed for a run for a third consecutive Class 2A state championship. The Warriors return Palm Beach triple-crown winner Angel Tiburcio, who is signed to FIU. Irving Carter, the winning pitcher in last year’s title game as an eighthgrader, goes into his freshman season already committed to Miami.

Other players to watch Broward

Keshav Babu, Sagemont, OF, Jr.; Enrique Bradfield, American Heritage, OF, So.; Blake Butler, South Plantation, C, Jr.; Ryan Cabarcas, American Heritage, P, Jr.; Jared Campbell, Nova, OF, Jr.; Jonathan Campbell, Hollywood Hills, P, Sr.; Jordan Carrion, American Heritage, IF/P, So.; Preston Clark, Taravella, P, Sr.; Ty Crittenberger, Cardinal Gibbons, IF, Sr.; Jurden D’arnault, Highlands Christian, IF, Sr.; Tyler Evans, Flanagan, OF, Sr.; Gio Ferraro, American Heritage, IF, So.; Hunter FitzGerald, Douglas, IF, Jr.; Danny Garcia, West Broward, P, Sr.; Blake Hely, St. Thomas Aquinas, P, Sr.; Tristan Jeramillo, Stranahan, UT, Sr.; Jorge Julio, Cypress Bay, IF, Sr.; Michael Kleinman, Posnack, UT, Fr.; Bryce Ledwitz, Fort Lauderdale, UT, Sr.; Nicholas Martinez, Pines Charter, SS, Sr.; Luis Moriyon, Flanagan, P, Sr.; Xavier Moronta, Somerset, OF/P, Jr.; Leon Paulino, Chaminade-Madonna, OF, Jr.; Manny Paz, Plantation, P, Jr.; Eddie Quezada, Northeast, IF, Sr.; Caleb Roberts, St. Thomas Aquinas, C, Sr.; Maxwell Romero, C, Pines Charter, Jr.; Chris Ruckdeschel, St. Thomas Aquinas, OF, Sr.; Ben Rushing, Cypress Bay, IF, Sr.; Matt Russo, Coral Glades, P, Sr.; Antonio Schembari, South Broward, OF, Sr.; Mike Schuler, Pompano Beach, OF/P, Sr.; Kendall Skeete, Dillard, 1B, Sr.; Juan Teixeira, Somerset, P, Sr.; Miguel Useche, Flanagan, C, Jr.; Nick Vera, St. Thomas Aquinas, C, Jr.; Alex Wertmen, University School, UT, Jr. Duncan White, Monarch, UT, So.

Palm Beach

Kris Armstrong, Benjamin, SS/P, Sr.; Brendan Bell, Park Vista, P, Sr.; Nelson Berkwich, American Heritage-Delray, P, So.; Blake Calder, Boca Raton Christian, UT, Sr.; Alex Cordero, West Boca, 1B, Sr.; Patrick DeClemente, Olympic Heights, P, Sr.; Jake Fishman, Spanish River, OF, Jr.; Dakota Gaillard, Jupiter, IF, Sr.; Cadarius Gaskin, Atlantic, P, Sr.; Troy Hamilton, American Heritage-Delray, IF, Sr.; Drew Kendall, Park Vista, OF, Sr.; Carmine Lane, American Heritage-Delray, UT, So.; TJ McKenzie, Benjamin, IF, Jr.; Clayton Moore, Jupiter Christian, C, So.; Zatavion Morgan, Pahokee, UT, Sr.; Bartram Murray, Trinity Christian, IF, Sr.; Jeremy Neff, Palm Beach Central, P, Jr.; A.J. Orrico, Santaluces, IF, Sr.; Jorel Ortega, Spanish River, IF, Jr.; Brendan Power, Palm Beach Central, IF, Sr.; Alex Rao, Oxbridge, P, Sr.; Jason Richman, West Boca, P, Sr.; Kaeber Rog, Trinity Christian, IF, Sr.; Pablo Ruiz, Forest Hill, IF, Jr.; Alden Stacie, Lake Worth Christian, OF, Jr.; Isaiah Thomas, Benjamin, OF, Sr.; Nick Toney, Royal Palm Beach, C, Sr.; Dylan Tosto, Wellington, C, Sr.; Ryan Wallace, Park Vista, P, Sr.; Jorge Zambrano, Trinity Christian, P, Sr.