MaxPreps 2016 California North Coast Section preseason high school baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. De La Salle (Concord)
Head coach: David Jeans
2014-15 record: 19-9

The Spartans finished second in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs last year, falling to College Park in the championship game. Coach David Jeans returns four senior starters and a large junior class, although none of the juniors started last season. The infield looks solid with shortstop Armani Smith (.306) returning along with third baseman Connor Redmond (.286) and catcher Mason Behiel (.298). Outfielder Joe Vranesh (.299) is the other returning starter for the Spartans. The pitching staff includes four Division I commits, including Redmond (Cal Poly), Nick Sparks (St. Mary's), Conner Roberts (Santa Barbara) and Jordan Chriss (Columbia). Junior Cullen Kafka, who has committed to Oregon, will fill out the pitching staff.

See last season's North Coast Section baseball computer rankings

2. Monte Vista (Danville)
Head coach: Bill Piona
2014-15 record: 18-9



The Mustangs reached the North Coast Section Division I semifinals before being eliminated by eventual champion College Park. Monte Vista returns five starters from that group, including a pair of pitchers. Jack Fryer (.328) leads the team at shortstop while Ryan Marsh (.301) could find a spot at first base when he's not in the outfield. Connor Bruce returns at catcher while Noah Cort (3-1) and Jack Maloon (3-0) are the top two pitchers.

See North Coast Section baseball pro photo galleries

3. Heritage (Brentwood)
Head coach: Kevin Brannan
2014-15 record: 20-5

The Patriots exited the North Coast Division I playoffs in the first round last year, but nearly every starter returns from a team that posted 20 wins during the regular season. The team's top four hitters return in outfielder Kevin Milam (.417), first baseman Jake Cruce (.354), outfielder Dominic Espino (.392) and outfielder Alex Robinson (.460). Heritage also returns 15 pitching wins, including nine by Milam and six by Austin Manning.

See last season's North Coast Section baseball playoff brackets

4. San Ramon Valley (Danville)
Head coach: Chris Declercq
2014-15 record: 16-10

The Wolves finished near the middle of the pack in the East Bay League last year and lost to Amador Valley in the second round of the North Coast Division I playoffs, but a strong group of senior pitchers, and one of the top shortstops in the Bay Area, could make San Ramon Valley a contender. Nick Moroney, committed to Santa Barbara, is a four-year starter at shortstop and he batted .339 last year. The Wolves also have another pair headed to play at the next level in infielder Ryan Davis (Georgetown) and outfielder Joey Spears (Stoney Brooke). The pitching staff figures to include seniors Theodore Fleming, Will Dennis, Zach Medley, Clayton Tennant and junior Blake Harrison.



See last season's North Coast Section baseball stat leaders

5. Livermore
Head coach: David Perotti
2014-15 record: 17-11

The Cowboys fell a run short of a North Coast Division II championship, falling to Redwood (Larkspur) 5-4 in the championship game. Livermore returns five starters from that group, including all-league first baseman Kevin Key, honorable mention all-league outfielder Justin Mitchell, honorable mention all-league pitcher Brian Martinez and Utah commit Dominic Foscalina at shortstop. Junior Logan Cole, who started every game as a sophomore, returns in the infield.