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

1. Spring-Ford (Royersford)
2014 finish: 20-8
Head coach: Bruce Brobst

The Rams reached the Class 4A semifinals, falling to eventual champion La Salle College. Spring-Ford returns three players who earned all-league status last year, including a pair who earned all-area honors. Bret Clarke figures to be one of the top pitchers in the state this year while Connor Klemann anchors the defense at shortstop. Cam Simmons returns in the outfield and will also pitch.

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

2. Malvern Prep
2014 finish: 27-9
Head coach: Fred Hilliard



Malvern Prep does not participate in the state playoffs, but it did win the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools championship last year. The Friars are deep again this year with nearly the entire infield returning. Tim Quinn (1B), Mark Gentilotti (3B) and David Rodgers (SS) all return along with top pitcher Chris Butera.

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3. Loyalsock Township (Williamsport)
2014 finish: 23-5
Head coach: Jeremy Eck

The two-time defending Class 2A champions are favored to win it again in 2015. Two of the team's top pitchers return in Jake Glavin and Kyle Datres. Starting outfielder Jimmy Webb also returns. Loyalsock Township will compete against some of the top teams in the nation at the National High School Invitational in late March.

View last season's Pennsylvania baseball stat leaders

4. Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia)
2014 finish: 24-5
Head coach: Kevin Schneider



Although league MVP Josh Ockimey has graduated, three other players who earned all-conference honors return in outfielder Bay To, pitcher Pat Doudican and designated hitter Justin Curtin. The Saints advanced to the Class 2A state semifinals last year before losing to eventual champion Loyalsock Township.

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5. Central (Martinsburg)
2014 finish: 24-1
Head coach: A.J. Hoenstine

Central won its first 24 games of the season last year before falling to Loyalsock Township in the Class 2A championship game. Central returns five of the top nine offensive performers from last year, including Jay Stern (.432) and Mike Mock (.427) and Nick Hoenstine (.467). Mock is also the team's top returning pitcher with an 11-1 record as a junior.