MaxPreps 2016 Sac-Joaquin Section preseason high school baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Elk Grove
Head coach: Jeff Carlson
2015 record: 24-10

The defending Division I section champions have been perennial winners under coach Jeff Carlson, capturing 11 league titles and six section championships in his 16-year tenure. The Thundering Herd are favored once again, thanks to the return of four solid senior starters in first baseman Dylan Carlson (.320), outfielder Ryan Robards (.340), second baseman Aaron Wong (.250) and transfer shortstop Josh Urps.

See last season's Sac-Joaquin Section baseball computer rankings

2. Vintage (Napa)
Head coach: Rich Anderson
2015 record: 23-7

The Crushers had their best season in well over a decade and made a deep run in the Division I playoffs before being eliminated by eventual champion Elk Grove. Four starters return on offense, including Juan Carlos Lopez (.294), Jared Horn (.319), Jacob Albert MacNichols (.379) and Joe Canepa (.372). Lopez also leads the pitching staff, as he went 8-1 last year with a 1.92 ERA.



See Sac-Joaquin Section baseball pro photo galleries

3. Pitman (Turlock)
Head coach: John Acha
2015 record: 24-7

The Pride reached the semifinals of the southern half of the Division I tournament last year and they return three of the top hitters from that team. Senior outfielder Colton Evans (.378), junior second baseman Anthony Encalade (.374) and junior infielder Dylan Roberts (.313, 10 doubles) all return to lead the offense. The pitching staff is also solid with junior Nick Jones (6-2, 1.63 ERA) and senior Matt Carrigg (4-0, 1.18 ERA).

See last season's Sac-Joaquin Section baseball playoff brackets

4. St. Mary's (Stockton)
Head coach: Rob Selna
2015 record: 21-14

The Rams have won at least 20 games every season since 2006 and are regularly the team to beat in the southern half of the section in the Division I playoffs. St. Mary's returns one of its top hitters from last year in Jarron Silva, a senior outfielder who batted .369 with 11 doubles and six triples. Michael Mendonca is the top returning pitcher with a 3-2 record in 10 appearances.



See last season's Sac-Joaquin Section baseball stat leaders

5. Lincoln
Head coach: Jon O'Connor
2015 record: 23-6

The Fighting Zebras have solid pitching and nearly half their starters return from last year's Division IV championship team. Elijah Garcia (6-1, 1.59 ERA) and Jordan Erickson (5-1, 2.42 ERA) return to pace the rotation. Erickson was also one of the team's top hitters with a .366 average. Junior Charles Middleton (.322) returns at third base while senior Robbie Higgins (.292) is back at second base.