MaxPreps 2017 Arizona preseason high school baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Diving catch straight into a wall
Tyler Pettigrew of Henley (Klamath Falls, Ore.) made one of the top catches during the 2016 season.


1. Hamilton (Chandler)
Head coach: Mike Woods
2016 record: 27-7

The 2016 Division 1 state champions return 12 seniors from last year's club, including five position player starters and all but one pitcher. The Huskies also have one of the nation's top seniors in Nick Brueser. The Gatorade State Player of the Year hit .442 with nine home runs and 47 RBIs as a junior. He's joined by shortstop Drew Swift (.404), who was first team All-State, and second baseman Cole Bellinger (.391), who was second team All-State.

See last season's Arizona baseball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Mountain Ridge (Glendale)
Head coach: Lance Billingsley
2016 record: 26-6
Mountain Ridge reached the Division 1 finals before falling to Hamilton. Three of the Mountain Lions' four starting pitchers have Division 1 talent, according to coach Lance Billingsley. They are led by Tommy Lowe, who went 9-1 with a 1.84 ERA, and Nolan Ruff, who was 4-1 with a 2.07 ERA. Junior Matthew Liberatore is a potential All-State candidate, according to Billingsley.

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3. Thunderbird (Phoenix)
Head coach: Michael Jacobs
2016 record: 25-7

The Chiefs should be one of the top Division 2 schools in 2017, returning key members of last year's pitching staff that racked up 25 wins. Sasha Sneider returns after going 9-1 as a sophomore with a 1.95 ERA. He'll be joined on the pitching staff by junior Haydn McGeary, who was 5-1 with a 2.93 ERA, and Danny Kreamer, who was 3-0. McGeary is also the top returning batter, hitting .442 as a sophomore.

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4. Corona del Sol (Tempe)
Head coach: David Webb
2016 record: 21-7

The Aztecs lost in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs, but they return 15 pitching wins, including 13 from their top two pitchers. Daniel Sotelo returns for his sophomore season after posting a 7-0 record with a 1.32 ERA. Also back on the mound is Brandon Bracy, who was 6-2. Jacob Clemens and Chase Hamilton are the top two returning hitters, batting .411 and 360, respectively, last year.

See last season's MaxPreps Arizona baseball stat leaders

5. Skyline (Mesa)
Head coach: Pat Herrera
2016 record: 19-11-1



The Coyotes fell in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs, but they return six of the team's top offensive players from last year. Topping that list is senior Boyd Vanderkooi, who hit .319 while playing the infield. Vanderkooi was also the team's top pitcher with an 8-2 record. Skyline returns all 19 pitching wins from 2016.