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

1. DeSoto Central (Southaven)
2014 finish: 28-10
Head coach: Mark Monaghan

The Jaguars fell to Oak Grove in last year's Class 6A state championship game, but they start the season as the No. 1 team in the state. DeSoto Central has, quite possibly, the state's top all-around athlete in Austin Riley, an all-state football player who could also go high in this year's Major League Baseball Draft. He batted .465 with nine home runs last year and also had an 8-3 record with a 1.51 ERA. The pitching staff also returns Keegan James (6-2) while the offense returns Brant Blaylock (.372) and Colin Coates (.310).

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

2. Jackson Prep
2014 finish: 33-4
Head coach: Chuck Box



Jackson Prep does not play in the Mississippi High Schools Activities Association, but it did win the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools AAA Division I state championship last year. Besides returning five offensive starters, the Patriots return every pitching win from last year, including Noah Hughes (11-1), Parker Caracci (7-1) and Nick Elrod (6-0). Top returning hitters include infielder Gene Wood (.596, 6 home runs), outfielder Jake Mangum (.446) and outfielder Trace Lovertich (.360).
 
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3. Brandon
2014 finish: 25-9
Head coach: Stacy Hester

Brandon reached the Class 6A semifinals, falling to eventual champion Oak Grove in two games. Eight of the top nine offensive players return from that team, led by Jackson Mitchell (.427, 3 home runs), Erick Hoaard (.360, 9), and Hunter Wilson (.303, 6). The pitching staff also returns mostly intact with Zach Taylor (8-3 record) and junior Chad Butcher (8-2) the top returning throwers.

View last season's Mississippi baseball stat leaders

4. Oak Grove (Hattiesburg)
2014 finish: 27-6
Head coach: Chris McCardle

Winners of two state titles in the past three seasons, Oak Grove defeated DeSoto Central in three games in last year's final. Although Oak Grove lost one of the state's top players in Kirk McCarty, it returns five starters from last year's group, including Southern Miss signee Matthew Guidry at shortstop, J.C. Keys in the outfield and Ryan Cullop. The top returning pitcher is sophomore sensation Drew Boyd. Laken Wilson and Daniel Moore should provide speed on defense at second base and in the outfield respectively.

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5. Purvis
2014 finish: 25-10
Head coach: Tony Farlow

The Tornadoes fell to West Lauderdale in the Class 4A state finals, but they return six of the team's top eight hitters from last year and 21 pitching wins. Jacob Williams is the top returning pitcher as he went 9-2 last year with a 1.23 ERA. Will Curtis returns after batting .369 with four home runs while Nathan Roseberry (.276) and Johnny Ford (.414) each had three home runs.