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

1. Bishop Hendricken (Warwick)
2014 finish: 25-3
Head coach: Ed Holloway

The defending state champions are loaded with a host of returning all-state players, led by Gatorade State Player of the Year Gian Martellini, a catcher, who had a .467 batting average and 41 RBI. The Hawks also return all-state third baseman John Toppa, the team's top pitcher in Michael McCaffrey, and one of the state's top juniors in outfielder Dante Baldelli.

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

2. La Salle Academy (Providence)
2014 finish: 23-9
Head coach: Geoff Marcone

The Rams return three of the team's top pitchers from last year in Tyler Shemick (all-state second team), Ryan Quirk and John Beneduce. La Salle also returns one of its top offensive players from last year in Tyler Walsh, who batted .418 and earned all-state first team honors.



View last season's Rhode Island baseball playoff brackets

3. Cranston West (Cranston)
2014 finish: 15-12
Head coach: Rob Malo

Athough the Falcons lost 12 games last year, they return five of the team's top eight offensive players from last year, including junior Matt Lonardo (.413 batting average), senior Gersham Rainone (.365), Travis Collins (.375) and junior Dan Smith (.360). Lonardo earned all-state honors while the rest earned all-conference second team recognition.

View last season's Rhode Island baseball stat leaders

4. East Providence
2014 finish: 19-3
Head coach: Mick Lefort

The defending Division 2 champions return a pair of all-conference players in Marc Lavalley and junior Jon Costa. East Providence also had three other players make second team all-conference in Kyle Marquis, Tyler Lockard and Michael Allienello.

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5. North Kingstown
2014 finish: 21-5
Head coach: Steve Breitbach

Although North Kingstown loses its entire pitching staff from last year, the Skippers return four of the top hitters from last year, including Liam Darcy (.317), junior Cirella Stephen (.304), junior Bobby Daly (.250), and sophomore Mansolillo Chad (.290).