MaxPreps 2017 Los Angeles City Section preseason high school baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Chatsworth hitting highlights
A look back at the Chancellors' 2008 city championship team.


1. Chatsworth
Head coach: Tom Meusborn
2016 record: 29-7

The Chancellors reached the championship game of the city section Division I playoffs last year before falling to El Camino Real. Chatsworth has not won a section title since 2009 when it completed a run of three straight city championships along with a total of seven titles in 11 years. Chatsworth could be ready to contend again, as it returns two of the city's top players in All-City selections Ryan Roche and catcher Daniel Zakosek. Roche was the Pitcher of the Year in the West Valley League last year.

See last season's Los Angeles City Section baseball computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

2. El Camino Real (Woodland Hills)
Head coach: Josh Lienhard
2016 record: 28-7 The Conquistadors have won the past two city section Division I championships, beating Cleveland in 2015 and Chatsworth last year. While All-City Section Players of the Year Jake Baer and Eric Yang have graduated, El Camino Real does return Dane Reed at shortstop and Elan Filous, the city section MVP last year, on the mound.

See Los Angeles City Section baseball pro photo galleries

3. Cleveland (Reseda)
Head coach: Sid Lopez
2016 record: 28-6

The Cavaliers have battled El Camino Real and Chatsworth for supremacy in the West Valley League for years. Two years ago Cleveland reached the championship game, only to fall to El Camino Real. Last year, Chatsworth ended Cleveland's season in the semifinals. Sid Lopez is the new head coach, hired full-time after coaching on an interim basis last year. His top returning player is Sam Villa, who earned All-Conference honors last season.

See last season's Los Angeles City Section baseball playoff brackets

4. Venice (Los Angeles)
Head coach: Kevin Brockway
2016 record: 27-7

The Gondoliers reached the quarterfinals of the Division I playoffs and they return seven of the top nine hitters from last year along with 13 pitching wins. Leading the way is shortstop Nick Atkins, who batted .504 with 20 doubles and three home runs as a junior.

See last season's Los Angeles City Section baseball stat leaders

5. San Fernando
Head coach: Armando Gomez
2016 record: 21-8

The Tigers lost to El Camino Real in the quarterfinals of the Division I playoffs last year after finishing tied for first place in the Valley Mission League. San Fernando returns two of the top players in the city in outfielder Nathan Cisneros and utility player Steven Villagran, each of whom won All-City honors last season.