Defending state champions North Davidson and Marvin Ridge are among the best, along with Providence, Cardinal Gibbons and South Granville in the North Carolina baseball #MaxPrepsFab5.
Video: Diving catch straight into wall
See an Oregon player go big for an out in a state title game.2017 North Carolina Preseason Baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. North Davidson (Lexington)
Head coach: Matt Griffin
2016 record: 30-2
North Davidson captured the Class 4A state championship last year, knocking off Green Hope in two games for the crown. The Knights have a new head coach in Matt Griffin, who takes over for the retired Mike Meadows. Griffin will have the services of
Austin Beck, an All-State outfielder who could be a high MLB Draft pick in June. Beck has signed with North Carolina, while
Jed Bryant has committed to Wingate and
Joe Butts has committed to Catawba.
See last season's North Carolina baseball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard
2. Marvin Ridge (Waxhaw)
Head coach: Mark Mennitt
2016 record: 30-6
Marvin Ridge is back after winning a state title.
Photo by Alyson Boyer Rode
The Mavericks have won two straight Class 3A state championships and could add a third this year. Marvin Ridge returns four starters from last year's team, including a pair of All-State pitchers in
Jake Kuchmaner and
Jason Cornatzer.
Alex Leshock, an All-State outfielder, also returns along with outfielder
Demarco Reaves.
See the MaxPreps North Carolina baseball pro photo galleries3. Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh)
Head coach: Jim Liebler
2016 record: 23-3
The Crusaders have lost just four games in the regular season over the past two years and entered last year's Class 4A playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the east. Cardinal Gibbons returns
Noah Campbell, a possible MLB Draft pick who has committed to South Carolina.
Pete Bloomberg ranks as one of the best pitchers in the state, as he throws in the low 90 mphs. Cardinal Gibbons also has two of the state's top juniors in catcher
Gray Betts and outfielder
Chris Thorburn.
See last season's MaxPreps North Carolina baseball playoff brackets4. Providence (Charlotte)
Head coach: Danny Hignight
2016 record: 29-4
Always one of the top teams in the state, Providence fell to North Davidson last year in the Class 4A semifinals. Providence has a strong pitching staff returning led by
Tim Townsend, who went 9-0 and earned All-State honors.
Cameron Welsch, who went 4-0 with a 0.73 ERA, also returns. The Panthers have one of the nation's top sophomores in catcher
Ray Torres, who has already committed to LSU.
See last season's MaxPreps North Carolina baseball stat leaders5. South Granville (Creedmoor)
Head coach: Curt Watkins
2016 record: 24-5
One year after winning the Class 2A state championship, the Vikings lost the state title game last year to East Rutherford. South Granville returns one of the state's top players in
Justin Bullock, who batted .460 with 10 home runs and also went 10-3 on the mound. South Granville returns 19 pitching wins from last year.
