PRESEASON BASEBALL RANKINGS
A Florida team — Archbishop McCarthy (Southwest Ranches) — is No. 1 in the preseason Super 25 baseball rankings, but California leads all states with five teams.
The California contingent is led by No. 4 Huntington Beach. The other California teams: No. 12 Orange Lutheran (Orange); No. 13 JSerra (San Juan Capistrano); No. 15 St. Francis (Mountain View); and No. 16 La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad).
The rankings are based on past results, coaches questionnaires, quality of players and strength of schedule. Records and statistics, unless noted otherwise, are from last season.
1. Archbishop McCarthy, Southwest Lakes, Fla. (27-5)
The Mavericks have won five state titles in the past six seasons, including the 5A title last season. They have two Miami commits: junior RHP Daniel Federman (8-0, 1.99 ERA) and junior 1B Alex Toral (.386, five HRs, 31 RBI).
2. Oxford, Miss. (35-1)
Senior RHP-IF Jason Barber (12-0, 110 Ks on the mound; .337, eight HRs and 35 RBI at the plate) did not allow an earned run last season and is a Mississippi commit.
3. Parkview, Lilburn, Ga. (34-2)
The reigning state 6A and Super 25 champion Panthers have a solid pitching staff, beginning with RHP-1B Will Ethridge (13-1, 1.47 ERA), a Mississippi signee.
4. Huntington Beach, Calif. (26-8)
Key pitchers include junior RHP-C Hagen Danner (7-2, 1.15 ERA, 65Ks in 61 innings), who has committed to UCLA; OF-LHP Nick Pratto, who transferred from Mater Dei; senior RHP-3B Logan Pouelsen, a UCLA signee who didn’t allow an earned run last season; and junior Cory Moore, a transfer from Yucaipa.
5. Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, N.J. (27-5)
The Colts have two all-state players, both North Carolina commits, in RHP Luca Dalatri (9-0, 0.88 ERA, 122 Ks in 71 innings) and C Bran-
don Martorano (.444, 11 HRs, 31 RBI).
6. Coppell, Texas (25-6)
The Cowboys return 11 starters, with a deep pitching staff led by RHP Charles King (6-0, 1.09 ERA, 47 Ks in 381⁄3 innings), a TCU signee.
7. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (32-3)
The Gaels are poised to repeat as state Division I champions, led by LHP Jack Little (7-1, 1.53 ERA, 452⁄3 innings, 41 Ks, one BB).
8. Westminster Christian, Palmetto Bay, Fla. (24-7-1)
The Warriors have won 11 state titles, including the state 3A championship last season.
9. Moeller, Cincinnati (31-3)
Louisville signee LHP Nick Bennett (7-1, 0.90 ERA, 50 Ks in 541⁄3 innings) leads a strong pitching staff that includes RHP Cameron Junker (4-0, 2.29 ERA).
10. Barbe, Lake Charles, La. (32-10)
The Buccaneers have won back-to-back 5A state titles and return a trio of elite players: junior 1B-P-DH Slate Fuller (.339, 14 2Bs, five HRs), junior P-1B Adam Goree (6-2, 2.57 ERA, 69 Ks in 60 innings) and senior Tyler Booth (8-2, 3.28 ERA, 74 Ks in 64 innings).
11. Cullman, Ala. (44-10-1)
The Bearcats’ top returning player is junior OF-1B Owen Lovell (.394, 21 HRs, 61 RBI), an Alabama commit. 12. Orange Lutheran, Orange, Calif. (22-9) The Lancers have a strong pitching staff, led by Nevada signee RHP Luke Mattson (6-3, 2.74 ERA, 38 Ks in 43 innings).
13. JSerra, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (29-7)
UC-Irvine commit 3B Royce Lewis (.389, 21 RBI, 21 SB) was an All-CIF player last season as a sophomore. OF Brady Shockey (.351, 25 RBI) is a Southern California signee, and IF Chase Strumpf is a UCLA signee.
14. Walton, Marietta, Ga. (30-7)
The state runner-up Raiders return 11 seniors. One key player is SS-3B Carter Kieboom, who will be the third Kieboom brother to play for Clemson.
15. St. Francis, Mountain View, Calif. (29-5)
The Central Coast Section champs return OF-3B-RHP Jeremy Ydens (7-3, 1.69 ERA on the mound; .404 at the plate), a UCLA commit.
16. La Costa Canyon, Carlsbad, Calif. (26-7)
The Mavericks are led by CF Mickey Moniak (.426, 29 runs, 28 RBI), a potential first-round draft choice.
17. Southlake Carroll, Carroll, Texas (27-9)
The Dragons return six starters, led by RHP Matthew Canterino (11-1, 1.79 ERA, 132Ks), a Rice signee.
18. Pleasant Grove, Utah (27-3)
The Vikings return the state player of the year in Brigham Young signee C Payton Henry (.527, nine HRs, 46 RBI), along with several others from the 5A state championship team.
19. Shawnee Mission East, Prairie Village, Kan. (19-5)
The Lancers made it to the 6A state semifinals and have a talented pitching staff, led by 1B-LHP Joey Wentz (4-1, 1.01 ERA, 43Ks on the mound; .414 at the plate), the 6A state player of the year and a Virginia commit.
20. Round Rock, Texas (19-8)
The Dragons return eight starters from a team that made it to the bi-district playoffs. Leading the group are Texas A&M signees OF Cameron Blake (.373, 25 runs) and RHP Mason Cole (6-0, 0.86 ERA).
21. Chaparral, Scottsdale, Ariz. (18-12-1)
The Firebirds are led by juniors Jacob Gonzalez and Casey Candiotti, sons of former major leaguers Luis Gonzalez and Tom Candiotti.
22. J.L. Mann, Greenville, S.C. (25-6-1)
The Patriots were the state 4A runners-up and return six seniors who have signed to play college baseball.
23. South Dade, Homestead, Fla. (19-7)
Key returnees include 1B-RHP Alek Manoah (.403, 27 RBI), who is a West Virginia signee and a likely first-round draft choice; C Gabriel Cruz (.528, 21 RBI), who signed with Bryant University; and 3B-RHP Danny Vaughan (.329, 21 RBI), who signed with Charleston.
24. Ballard, Louisville (23-16-1)
The Bruins have a solid pitching staff that includes junior RHP-CF Jordon Adell, a Louisville commit who throws in the low 90s.
25. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (29-4)
The Huskies have possibly the best player in the state in junior 1B Nick Brueser (.447, 46 hits, nine HRs, 34 RBI), who has committed to Stanford. Senior RHP Zane Strand (8-1, 1.81 ERA), an Arizona State signee, is the team’s ace.