SUPER 25 PRESEASON BASEBALL RANKINGS

USA TODAY High School Sports has revealed the 2018-19 Super 25 Preseason Baseball Rankings based on results, tradition, quality of players and strength of schedule. As some states have already started their season, most states will be getting started in the coming weeks. Next rankings: March 20.

1. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). 2018 record: 18-7. Final 2018 rank: Unranked IMG has four of the top 10 players in Florida in Perfect Game’s rankings, is returning eight players committed to colleges and five incomers committed to Div. 1 programs.

2. Argyle (Argyle, Texas), 37-0, No. 2 After becoming the fourth undefeated state champion in UIL history, their fourth championship in a row, Argyle returns 11 players, nine of whom are in the top 500 in Perfect Game.

3. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 24-4, No. 20

American Heritage will run out two top-150 juniors who hit .390 last year and two returning pitchers with a sub.200 ERA.

4. Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), 31-4, unranked

Lake Travis isn’t returning as many players as other top teams, but it gets back 2017 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year Brett Baty and No. 20 RHP James Lewis.

5. Delbarton (Morristown, N.J.), 18-6, unranked

The Green Wave have the top two players in New Jersey in Jack Leiter (No. 3 RHP in country) and Anthony Volpe (No. 33 player in country).

6. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 25-8, unranked

Two of the top-15 pitchers in the 2020 class hail from Orange Lutheran, and No. 12 outfielder Garrett Frechette transferred to the school.

7. Pope (Marietta, Ga.), 34-8, unranked Pope returns five all-state players, including Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year Buddy Floyd. He’s one of four top-500 players on the team.

8. Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.), 33-6, unranked

The Broncos have three of the top-50 2019 players in the state including Texas commit Silas Ardoin (No. 3 catcher). They also have 2020 LSU commit Marcus Mott (No. 2 RHP).

9. Blessed Trinity Catholic (Roswell, Ga.), 34-5, unranked

Blessed Trinity is led by CJ Abrams, the No. 2 player in the country, and Jake Smith, who posted a 0.27 ERA with seven saves last season and had a dozen RBI through nine games this year.

10. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), 26-4, unranked

The Wolverines have a high-talent front of No. 4 2020 player Pete Crow-Armstrong, Vanderbilt commit Sam Hliboki and Stanford commit Drew Bowser.

11. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.), 30-1, No. 22

Calvary Christian won 60 games in a row before falling in last year’s championship game. They can get a new run started behind guys like Nolan Hudi (.044 ERA, 13 wins) and LSU commit Christian Cairo.

12. Malvern Prep (Malvern, Pa.), 30-7, unranked

The Friars have top-70 talent in Chris Newell (Virginia commit) and Lonnie White (Clemson commit), along with top-500 LHP Liam Dabagian (1.15 ERA over 42.2 innings last year).

13. DeSoto Central (Southaven, Miss.), 29-9, unranked The No. 1 shortstop in the state, Kamren James, hit seven home runs last year. So did Blaze Jordan, entering his sophomore year. They combined for 80 RBI.

14. Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.), 29-3-1, No. 5

Valley Christian-San Jose started this season 1-2 after winning the championship but have since rounded into form behind players like Coleman Brigman (.376 BA, 15 RBI, 15 SB) and Eddie Park (.376 BA, 1.20 ERA).

15. Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, Texas), 34-9-1, unranked

Bobby Witt, the No. 1 player in the country, leads a talented lineup that includes No. 4 third baseman Chandler Freeman and No. 14 outfielder Logan Britt.

16. Palo Verde (Las Vegas), 31-9, No. 17 As the team tries to repeat as champions, Palo Verde will get help from Jaden Agassi, the No. 1 player in the state who transferred this year after being homeschooled.

17. Providence (Charlotte, N.C.), 23-4, unranked

Providence has a deep lineup with seven athletes committed to play in college, including LSU commit Ray Torres and Appalachian State commit J.D. Yakubinis.

18. Huntington Beach (Huntington Beach, Calif.), 26-6, unranked

With five left-handed pitchers, including UCLA commit LHP-1B Josh Hahn, the Oilers present a challenge for teams and are in the hunt for a 30-win season.

19. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 17-15, No. 19

CCA forfeited its first 12 games due to transfer violations but ended up winning the championship. It will go at it again, this time with help from transfer No. 9 2021 player Irving Carter.

20. Cypress Ranch (Cypress, Texas), 32-9-2, unranked

Cypress Ranch has one of the best onetwo punches in the country in JJ Goss and Matthew Thompson, the Nos. 16 and 17 players in the country, respectively.

21. Archbishop Spalding (Baltimore), 16-13, unranked

Archbishop Spalding has some of the top talent in Maryland in Josh Moylan (No. 3 2020 player in the state), Ethan McCormick (No. 11 2020 player) and Noah Mrotek (No. 4 2021 player).

22. Stillwater (Stillwater, Minn.), 21-5-1, unranked

Stillwater has the top two players in Minnesota, RHP Will Frisch and LHP Drew Gilbert, both of whom are Oregon State commits. It also has a strong infield.

23. Westmoore (Oklahoma City), 33-6, No. 22

After losing in the championship game two years in a row, Westmoore will look to get back behind players including No. 70 senior Kale Davis and No. 57 junior Joce Bohrofen.

24. Yucaipa (Yucaipa, Calif.), 28-5, unranked

All seven returning starters hit above .300 last season, including the No. 4 shortstop in California, Jordan Andrade, and the No. 5 catcher in the state, Michael Carpentier.

25. St. Laurence (Burbank, Ill.), 30-8, unranked

St. Laurence has another year of reigning Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year Matt McCormick as the team tries to get its fifth 30-win season in the last six years.