MaxPreps 2015 Ohio preseason baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

By Kevin Askeland Mar 14, 2015, 12:00am

Archbishop Moeller aims for third state title in four seasons.

Joe Vranesic will lead top-ranked Archbishop Moeller into the 2015 season.
Joe Vranesic will lead top-ranked Archbishop Moeller into the 2015 season.
Photo by Alyson Boyer Rode
MaxPreps 2015 Ohio Baseball Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard

1. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)
2014 finish: 24-5
Head coach: Tim Held

After winning back-to-back Division I state championships, Archbishop Moeller fell to eventual champion Jackson in the semifinals in 2014. The Fighting Crusaders return a number of players ranked among the state's best by Perfect Game, including pitcher Joe Vranesic, pitcher Grant Macciocchi, first baseman Bryan Soth and infielder Josh Hollander.

View last season's Ohio baseball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

2. Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls)
2014 finish:
26-1
Head coach: Chris Kaczmar

Walsh Jesuit returns eight of nine position players from a team that went undefeated in the regular season for the first time in school history. It also returns three of its top five pitchers from last year and it has eight players committed to play Division I baseball next year. Topping the list are senior right-handed pitcher Ryan Feltner, who is committed to Ohio State, and senior left-handed pitcher Ty Shoaff, who is committed to Missouri.

View last season's Ohio baseball playoff brackets

3. Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio)
2014 finish: 23-5
Head coach: Bill Dreisbach

Lakota West claimed first place in the Greater Miami Conference last year and fell to Troy in the third round of the Division I playoffs. Four players who earned all-conference honors last year return for their senior season. They include infielder Austin Allinger, pitcher Andy Almquist, catcher Brandon Giltrow and outfielder Dallas Hall.



View last season's Ohio baseball stat leaders

4. Mason
2014 finish:
25-5
Head coach: Curt Bly

After playing nearly four decades under coach Ken Gray, the Comets had a successful first season under first-year coach Curt Bly last year. Mason reached the regional finals before falling to Archbishop Moeller. All-conference pitcher Rodney Hutchinson returns along with second team pick Tyler Krabbe (IF).

View the MaxPreps Ohio baseball pro photo galleries

5. Bloom-Carroll (Carroll)
2014 finish: 28-3
Head coach: Brent Boyd

Bloom-Carroll captured the Division 2 state championship last year and have reached the state final four the past two seasons. The program has also won four straight league and district titles. Bloom-Carroll also has one of the state's top prospects in Sam Bordner, a senior pitcher/first baseman who has committed to Louisville. Bordner is also expected to be a high pick in the June MLB Draft.