MaxPreps 2017 Hawaii preseason high school baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Jaisten Cabatbat's highlights Kapolei High School
See the Kamehameha Hawai'i star in action last season.


1. Baldwin (Wailuku)
2016 record: 17-0
Head coach: Shane Dudoit

Baldwin was one of a handful of teams in the nation to finish undefeated, as it went 14-0 in league play and then swept the playoffs to finish 17-0. Baldwin defeated Pearl City 5-1 in the championship game and lost four seniors from that team. Baldwin loses State Player of the Year Kawena Alo-Kaonohi, but the top pitcher returns in All-State selection Damien Awai, who had 48 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched with a 6-0 record. Baldwin also has honorable mention All-State players returning at first base in Nainoa Keahi (junior) and third base in Chayce Akaka (junior). Baldwin will be without State Coach of the Year Jon Viela, who took the job of athletic director at Kamehameha-Maui. Baldwin hired Shane Dudoit as his replacement in June.

See last season's Hawaii baseball computer rankings

2. Pearl City
2016 record: 17-2
Head coach: Gavin Concepcion

Pearl City reached the Division I state championship game as the No. 5 seed, but fell to Baldwin 5-1 to finish 17-2 on the season. Pearl City lost three All-State players from its roster, but returns one of the top third basemen in the state in second team All-State selection Davin Kapuras. The Chargers return four other players who earned All-State honorable mention status, including outfielder Sam Prentice, catcher Kaleb Nishijo, shortstop Matt Aribal and pitcher Carson Okada.

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3. Punahou (Honolulu)
2016 record: 14-10
Head coach: Eric Kadooka

The Buff n' Blue lost their playoff opener to Campbell last year, but rebounded to claim the consolation prize in the Division I state playoffs. Although Punahou finished in third place in the Interscholastic League in 2016, it has two of the top players in the state returning in second team All-State pitcher Riley Guieb and outfielder Cole Cabrera. Punahou also returns catcher Logan Williams, who received honorable mention All-State honors.

See last season's Hawaii baseball playoff brackets

4. Kamehameha Hawai'i (Kea'au)
2016 record: 20-1
Head coach: Andy Correa

Only Division I state champion Baldwin had a better record in Hawaii last year than Kamehameha-Hawaii, which defeated Kapolei 5-4 in eight innings last year for its first Division II state championship. State Player of the Year Daylen Calicdan has graduated, but All-State catcher DJ Duarte (junior) returns along with All-State outfielder Kegan Miura. Honorable mention All-State picks Tai Atkins (sophomore, pitcher) and Jaisten Cabatbat (senior, shortstop) also return.

See last season's Hawaii baseball stat leaders

5. Kapolei
2016 record: 15-1
Head coach: Tom Ebanez

Kapolei fell to state champion Kamehameha Hawai'i 5-4 in extra innings in the Division II state championship game last year for its only loss of the season. Kapolei is loaded this year with four returning players with All-State first or second team honors. Andrei Stoyanow (junior) earned first team honors at first base while second team honors went to Cobey Fujii (senior) at second base, Kamea Wong (senior) at pitcher and Joe Uesato (senior) in the outfield.