Best high school baseball team in every state heading into the 2025 season

The pitching staff should be loaded for the Patriots with unbeaten pitchers Jack Shaw (9-0) and Tanner Hermesch (7-0) back. State hitter of the year Zack Johnson also returns along with seven of their top 10 offensive players from 2024.

Alaska
Service (Anchorage), 22-0-3
A total of 11 players return from last year's team that went undefeated and won a state championship, including all-tournament juniors Connor Monahan (Utility) and Rilen Niclai (IF/P).

Arizona
Queen Creek, 25-7
Queen Creek ended the reign of Hamilton (Chandler) as the top team in Arizona and the Bulldogs could be the team to beat again this year. Tait Reynolds, the conference offensive player of the year, returns along with conference defensive player of the year Ryker Waite.

Arkansas
Fayetteville, 26-9
The Bulldogs return the state's top player according to Perfect Game in all-state selection Landon Schaefer (SS). Fayetteville has three other players ranked in the top 10 in the state by Perfect Game including Charlie Graves (OF), Mark Brissey (RHP) and Jaison DeLamar (OF).

California
Corona, 28-3
The likely No. 1 team in the nation to start the 2024 season, Corona won the Southern Section Division 1 championship last year and returns the bulk of that squad in 2025. MaxPreps National Junior of the Year Seth Hernandez leads a team that includes potential All-American candidates Billy Carlson at shortstop, Brady Ebel at third base and Trey Ebel at second base. The outfield sports Sophomore All-American Anthony Murphy.

Colorado
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village), 25-5-1
Longtime coach Marc Johnson has retired after 52 seasons in the dugout and takes his state record 871 wins, nine state championships and 33 league titles with him. The defending state champion Bruins still figure to be the top team in the state. Four all-state players return in pitcher Ryan Falke, first baseman Connor Larkin, pitcher Wyatt Rudden and third baseman Mason Scott.



Connecticut
Warde (Fairfield), 20-4
Semifinalists in 2024 after winning the Class LL championship in 2023, Warde returns a pair of all-state players in Jimmy Dobbs and Austin Howard.

Delaware
Cape Henlopen (Lewes), 17-3
The Vikings lost four all-state players to graduation but return a pair of all-state second team picks in pitcher Brad Marks and catcher Jase Mitchell.

Florida
IMG Academy (Bradenton), 19-6
After finishing No. 1 in the nation in 2023, the Ascenders dropped to 19-6 last year. IMG Academy still has two of the top-ranked prospects in the Class of 2025 in Sean Gamble and Dean Moss. Meanwhile junior Dillon Moss is one of the top-ranked members of the Class of 2026.

Georgia
Etowah (Woodstock), 34-5
The Class 6A state champions won 22 straight games to finish the season. The Eagles return a pair of all-state players in pitcher Matthew Sharman and outfielder Trevor Condon along with pitcher Jackson Rose, who is ranked among the top 20 players in Georgia by Perfect Game.

Hawaii
Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu), 19-8
The Warriors should have one of the top pitching staffs in the state with returning all-staters Greyson Osbun and Alakai Kiakona.

Idaho
Owyhee (Meridian), 24-2
The Storm won their final 18 games to claim the Class 6A state championship. Five of the top seven offensive players return from last year, including Keagan Kelly (.425) and junior Nathan Keith (.437). Top pitcher Kaleb Doty (7-0) also returns.



Illinois
Providence Catholic (New Lenox), 33-8
A strong run to the Division 1 state championship last year should carry over to 2025 as most of the top players were underclassmen. Leading the way are the team's top hitter Nate O'Donnell (.434, 11 HR) and top pitcher Kasten Goebbert (6-0).

Indiana
Center Grove (Greenwood), 27-3
A total of nine players with 45 or more at-bats return from last year's team, led by junior Gannon Grant (.367, 4 HR). A total of 18 pitching wins return, led by Kellen Thomson (7-1) and Kobe Cherry (6-1).

Iowa
Dallas Center-Grimes (Dallas Center), 35-4
The Mustangs reached the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state playoffs and return three all-state players from that group including catcher Taitn Gray, junior Cross Bandy and Tate Perrin.

Kansas
Saint Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park), 23-7
The Class 5A state champions return three all-state players, including designated hitter Cru Huenfield, middle infielder Westin Boyle and pitcher Lincoln Boyle.

Kentucky
Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville), 40-3
One of only a few teams in the nation last year to win 40 games, Pleasure Ridge Park returns four top hitters and the two winningest pitchers in Joey Dudeck (11-0) and Grayson Roll (6-0).

Louisiana
Catholic (Baton Rouge), 38-2
Led by National Coach of the Year Brad Bass, the Bears finished the 2024 season ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. While state POY William Schmidt has graduated, the Bears return three of the team's top hitters from last year in Jack Ruckert (.456), Noah Lewis (.421) and Andrew Clapinski (.396).



Maine
Scarborough, 20-1
The Class A state champion will have to replace many of its top offensive players from last year but the pitching staff returns 14 wins led by Erik Swenson (7-0) and Ryan Shugars (5-0).

Maryland
Archbishop Spalding (Severn), 27-5
Winners of the MIAA A Conference championship, the Cavaliers lose state player of the year Jake Yeager but return three all-conference selections in Nathan Wines, Peyton Mamula and Drew Emrich.

Massachusetts
Seekonk, 23-3
The Division 4 state champions return the top five offensive players from last year's squad along with 17 pitching wins. Tyler Kropis leads the way after going 6-1 on the mound with 110 strikeouts.

Michigan
Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills), 43-2
The Warriors came within a game of possibly winning the national championship last year after falling in the state championship game to Northville. Brother Rice returns a pair of Underclass All-Americans in Blake Ilitch (9-0) and Aiden Pack (7-0) on the mound along with junior Cole Duhaime (10-0) to give the Warriors a potent pitching staff.

Minnesota
Wayzata (Plymouth), 26-1
The Trojans won 25 straight games to start the season but lost to Mounds View in the semifinals and finished third at the state tournament. They return a pair of all-state players in Adam Deselich (OF) and Noah Filer (P).

Mississippi
Sumrall, 34-5
The No. 1 Small Town team in the nation last year according to MaxPreps, Sumrall returns 29 pitching wins from last year's state championship team, including MaxPreps Freshman of the Year Drew Davis (8-3) and Leo Odom (9-0).



Missouri
Nixa, 23-15
The Eagles look to be much improved in 2025 with the return of a pair of all-state players in pitcher Colin Kelley and outfielder Wyatt Vincent. Three other Eagles made the all-conference team, including pitcher Jackson Gamble.

Montana
Florence-Carlton (Florence), 10-1
In their first year of competition, the Falcons won the state tournament, which is in just its second year of existence.

Nebraska
Lincoln East (Lincoln), 32-2
The Spartans lose several all-state players from last year's squad but three of the team's top five offensive threats return, including all-state picks Jeter Worthley (.426) and Troy Peltz (.318). Top pitcher Carter McPeak (8-1, 1.13 ERA) also returns.

Nevada
Basic (Henderson), 20-8
The Wolves had six sophomores in the starting lineup last year, including Troy Southisene (.450). His brother Tate Southisene also returns after leading the team in hitting as a junior (.576, 7 HR). Top pitcher Lincoln Evans (7-0, 0.54 ERA) is also back.

New Hampshire
Pinkerton (Derry), 20-1
The Division I state champions return four all-state players, including first team picks Leo Boucher, Michael Cloffi and Brendan Home.

New Jersey
Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City), 27-3
The Rams won the Non-Public B championship last year and had a 28-game win streak. They return six of the top eight offensive players from that team along with 14 wins on the pitching staff.



New Mexico
La Cueva (Albuquerque), 27-3
Winners of 12 state championships since 2003, La Cueva is the favorite again in 2025 with returning state player of the year Braiden Reynolds returning at first base along with all-state second baseman Reid Jacobson.

New York
Poly Prep Country Day (Brooklyn), 14-6
Upset in the playoffs by Stony Brook last year, the perennial Ivy League champions remain the favorite in New York. The Blue Devils have been invited to play in the National High School Invitational and return three of the state's top players, according to Perfect Game, in pitcher Miguel Sime Jr., pitcher Justice de Jong, and catcher Owen Ten Oever.

North Carolina
Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point), 23-7
Two of the top 30 players in the Class of 2025 return to the Trojan lineup in pitchers Josh Hammond (6-1) and Sam Cozart (5-0).

North Dakota
Thompson, 26-1
The Class B state champions won 20 straight games at one point last year. The Tommies return three all-state picks in Thomas Schumacher, Drew Odenbach and William Welke.

Ohio
Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), 29-3
An upset loss to eventual state champion Mason in the Ohio Division 1 playoffs kept the Crusaders from a state championship in 2024 but they are loaded in 2025. Greater Catholic League player of the year Conner Cuozzo returns along with the league pitcher of the year in Zion Theophilus. A total of seven all-conference picks return.

Oklahoma
Stillwater, 27-9
Having the No. 1 player in the nation and a potential No. 1 overall draft pick in the starting lineup is a good start for the Pioneers. Ethan Holliday (IF) is ranked No. 1 in the nation by Perfect Game and could follow in the footsteps of his brother Jackson, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft. He is joined in the lineup by cousin Brady Holliday (IF), who is ranked No. 2 in the state for the Class of 2027.



Oregon
Sunset (Portland), 28-3
The Apollos reached the Class 6A state final last year but lost to West Linn. Sunset returns the state's top player in Kruz Schoolcraft. He is joined in the lineup by first baseman Gabriel Coltman, the top first baseman in the state according to Perfect Game.

Pennsylvania
Governor Mifflin (Shillington), 24-5
Return six starters from last year's Class 5A state championship team, including Bryce Detwiler (.453) and Ethan Grim (.410). All 24 pitching wins from last year with Detwiler going 10-2 and Grim posting an 8-3 record.

Rhode Island
Bishop Hendricken (Warwick), 26-1
The Hawks take a 22-game win streak into the 2025 season after winning the Division 1 championship. While the bulk of the starting lineup has graduated, the Hawks have to be favored considering they have won 23 state titles.

South Carolina
Catawba Ridge (Fort Mill), 25-5
The Copperheads reached the Class 4A quarterfinals last year and return a pair of all-state players in Peyton Dhein and Caden Glauber.

South Dakota
Harrisburg, 26-6
The Tigers lost to Lincoln (Sioux Falls) in the state playoffs last year but return the state's top player, according to Perfect Game, in all-state pick Eli Kokenge. They also return pitcher Darren Safranski, ranked as the No. 3 player in the state.

Tennessee
Baylor (Chattanooga), 25-8
Nearly two dozen players return from last year's roster along with two of the team's top pitchers in Jax Bishop (5-0) and Henry Allen (4-1). The Raiders finished third in Division II Class AA behind Briarcrest Christian and Christian Brothers last year.



Texas
Tomball, 41-3
The Cougars won their first Class 6A state championship last year but lost state player of the year Cade Arrambide to graduation. Still, Tomball returns a pair of double-digit win pitchers in MaxPreps Sophomore of the Year C.J. Sampson (14-0) and fellow sophomore Karson Reeder (13-1).

Utah
Brighton (Salt Lake City), 27-5
A total of 16 players return from last year's squad, led by the team's top four hitters Jack Saba (.404, 4 HR), Riley Brown (.386, 9 HR), Easton Fry (.419, 8 HR) and Cooper Scott (.370, 5 HR).

Vermont
Mt. Mansfield (Jericho), 9-6
Conference POY Garrett Carter returns along with all-conference selections Caleb Murphy and pitcher Landon Hazen.

Virginia
Miller School of Albemarle (Charlottesville), 32-6-2
The Mavericks return four all-state players including Evan Hankins (.329), John Michael Szefc (.410), Kason Wagner (.315) and Mandela Browman (.344).

Washington
Puyallup, 25-6
The Vikings finished one run away from a Class 4A state championship last year and welcome back arguably the state's top player in MaxPreps Junior All-American Mason Pike (P/IF). Puyallup also has two of the top sophomores in the nation in infielders Brayden Landry and Maxwell Hemenway.

West Virginia
Bridgeport, 32-6
Three all-state players return for the Indians, including pitcher Jacob Stavrakis, catcher Michael Romano and pitcher Justin Duvall. The Indians reached the Class AAA semifinals before losing in three games to Morgantown.



Wisconsin
Pewaukee, 22-9
The Pirates return district player of the year Greyson Zach along with all-conference selections Owen Dobberstein and Drew Dobberstein.