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

Video: Diving catch straight into a wall
Tyler Pettigrew of Henley (Klamath Falls, Ore.) made one of the top catches during the 2016 season.


1. Lincoln Southwest
Head coach: Mitchell Vernon
2016 record: 24-9

The Silver Hawks finished in third place in the Class A playoffs, falling to Creighton Prep and Millard West in the state tournament. Lincoln Southwest returns possibly the state's top player in catcher Max McGuire, who earned first team All-Super State honors last year. Also back is Isaiah Peterson, a second team All-Super State performer. The Silver Hawks will miss outfielder Logan Foster, who was named co-State Player of the Year by the Lincoln Journal Star.

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2. Creighton Prep (Omaha)
Head coach: Pat Mooney
2016 record: 28-4

The defending Class A champions could very easily repeat, as they field one of the top pitching staffs in the state. Both Joshua Culliver and Tommy Steier are ranked among the top 15 players in the state by Perfect Game. Culliver also earned second team All-Super State honors.

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3. Millard West (Omaha)
Head coach: Steve Frey
2016 record: 28-6 The Wildcats return five of their top eight offensive players from a team that reached the Class A championship game against Creighton Prep. Leading the way is Brandon McClintock, a two-way player who batted .312 and also went 5-1 on the mound with a 1.63 ERA. Millard West will miss Cole Stobbe, the co-State Player of the Year who was the No. 78 overall pick in the MLB Draft.

See last season's MaxPreps Nebraska baseball playoff brackets

4. Norris (Firth)
Head coach: Sean Bartholomew
2016 record: 23-8

One of the top Class B programs in the state, Norris returns three of its top four hitters from last year, including junior Austin Schultz, who batted .459 with 10 doubles and four home runs. The pitching staff, meanwhile, boasts the top lefthander in the state according to Perfect Game in Jamie Young. Norris also returns Zach Argo, who went 9-1 as a sophomore. Schultz and Argo both earned Class B All-Super State honors. Young only appeared in four games last year for Norris.

See last season's MaxPreps Nebraska baseball stat leaders

5. Elkhorn
Head coach: Kyle McCright
2016 record: 28-6

The defending Class B state champions had only three seniors who saw substantial time in the starting lineup, but they were good ones. Drew Smith and Jacob Uhing have both graduated since being named honorary co-captains of the Lincoln Journal Star's Class B All-Super State Team. Still, Elkhorn returns All-State pitcher Joe Roecker, who went 3-1 on the mound and batted .371 with 10 doubles.