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

Video: Suicide Squeeze for the Win
Watch Bolles win the Class 5A state championship last year on a suicide squeeze play.


1. Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale)
Head coach: Rich Bielski
2016 record: 29-2

The defending Class 6A state champions and winners of multiple state titles under coach Rich Bielski, the Mavericks start the season as one of the top teams in the nation thanks to the return of 13 players either signed or committed to play college baseball. The University of Miami has already signed three Maverick starters in first baseman Alex Toral, third baseman Joe Perez and pitcher Daniel Federman. Toral is a possible first round pick in the June MLB Draft. Archbishop McCarthy also returns key players Adan Fernandez in right field, Andrew Fernandez at catcher, AJ Hendricks in center field and Ubaldo Lopez at second base. One of the nation's top sophomores returns on the mound in Yordani Carmona.

See last season's Florida baseball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Steinbrenner (Lutz)
Head coach: John Crumbley
2016 record: 27-5

Steinbrenner won the Class 8A state championship in 2016 and returns many of the players who led the Warriors to the title. Leading the way are a pair of pitchers who accounted for 19 wins last year. C.J. Van Eyk earned MaxPreps Junior All-American honors after going 12-1 with a 0.77 ERA, and Patrick Morris went 7-1 on the mound while also belting four home runs with 24 RBIs. Also back are outfielder Cam Coakley and Dave Crawford, along with transfers from Tampa Catholic in outfielder Jordan Lala and infielder Tyler Lala.

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3. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland)
Head coach: Todd Fitz-Gerald
2016 record: 27-2

The Eagles claimed the first state championship in school history last year, winning the first 9A state championship in Florida history. Brandon Kaminer, a MaxPreps Junior All-American, returns from that team after going 12-0 with 94 strikeouts and a 1.36 ERA. He's joined by catcher Chad McDaniel, who will play at Missouri next season. Transfer and North Carolina State commit David Vasquez comes in to play shortstop for the Eagles.

See last season's MaxPreps Florida baseball playoff brackets

4. Bolles (Jacksonville)
Head coach: Mike Boswell
2016 record: 28-3

Bolles captured the Class 5A state championship with a 1-0 win over Monsignor Pace. Sophomore Hunter Barco led the Bulldogs as a freshman, posting a 12-0 record with 89 strikeouts and a 0.54 ERA. Already committed to Virginia, Barco returns along with juniors and Tennessee recruits Austin Knight at shortstop and Max Ferguson in the outfield. North Carolina commit Clemente Inclan returns to play third base while junior Nate Skinner is back to pitch and play first base.

See last season's MaxPreps Florida baseball stat leaders

5. Canterbury (Fort Myers)
Head coach: Frank Turco
2016 record: 31-1

At 31-1, Canterbury posted the best overall record in Florida last year en route to winning the Class 3A state championship. A total of 18 wins return from that team, including 3A State Player of the Year Sam Keating with a 10-0 record and a 0.34 ERA. Five of the team's top offensive players also return, led by Tyler Shuck, who batted .432 with 11 doubles.