Defending Class M champion Sheehan starts season on top while Warde, Staples, North Haven and Notre Dame fill out the top five #MaxPrepsFab5.
2016 Connecticut Preseason Baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Sheehan (Wallingford)
Head coach: Matt Altieri
2015 record: 21-8
The winners of the Class M state championship last year, Sheehan could be the top overall team in Connecticut this season. The Titans are led by twins
Paul Gozzo and
Sal Gozzo. Paul earned all-state honors as a junior while playing catcher while Sal earned all-conference honors as a shortstop.
See last season's Connecticut baseball computer rankings
2. Warde (Fairfield)
Head coach: Mark Caron
2015 record: 14-7
The Mustangs return 10 pitching wins from last year and they also return one of the state's top players in
Reece Maniscalco, who earned all-state honors after batting .426 with 20 RBI. He also posted a 3-3 record while
John Natoli was 4-1 and
Clay Curley was 3-0.
See Connecticut baseball pro photo galleries
3. Staples (Westport)
Head coach: Jack McFarland
2015 record: 21-7
The Wreckers return their top three batters from last year in
Nate Panzer and
Noah Yokoi and junior
Ben Casparius. Panzer played outfield and batted .312 while Yokoi played catcher and batted .299. Casparius, an infielder, was one of the top power hitters in the state last year with seven home runs.
See last season's Connecticut baseball playoff brackets
4. North Haven
Head coach: Robert Demayo
2015 record: 18-6
The Indians won the Class L state championship last year with a victory over East Lyme. North Haven will miss all-state selection Nick Proto, but it returns one of the state's top catchers in
Micahl Derosa as well as eighth other seniors from last year's roster.
See last season's Connecticut baseball stat leaders
5. Notre Dame Catholic (Fairfield)
Head coach: Bill Mazzucco
2015 record: 11-10
Notre Dame might be the team to beat at the Class S level this year thanks to the return of Dillon Stimpson, one of the top-ranked pitchers in the state. Stimpson, who is headed to the University of Connecticut, is the No. 4 ranked righthanded pitcher in the state by Perfect Game.
