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

1. Wando (Mt. Pleasant)
2014 finish: 19-11
Head coach: Jeff Blankenship

Wando fields the top player in the state, according to Perfect Game, in outfielder Kep Brown. Ranked No. 20 in the nation, Brown is headed to the University of Miami. The Warriors also return catcher Noah Locascio, first baseman Tyler Ackard and right-handed pitcher Harrison Smith, all of whom are ranked among the top 25 players in the state by Perfect Game.

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

2. Flora (Columbia)
2014 finish: 25-4
Head coach: Andy Hallett



No South Carolina 3A team had ever won three straight state championships until Flora accomplished the feat last year. Although many of the top players on those teams have graduated, Flora still has some talent returning in senior infielders Donald Gillespie and Will Taks. Gillespie, a shortstop, is in his fifth year as a starter for the Falcons. Flora also has one of the state's top junior catchers in Josh Hernandez.

View last season's South Carolina baseball playoff brackets

3. Sumter
2014 finish: 28-2-1
Head coach: Brooks Schumake

The defending Class 4A state champions were senior-dominated on offense last year, but it returns several key players from last year's squad, including Chris Crawford and Jordan Holladay. The Gamecocks have become one of the top programs in South Carolina, winning state titles in 2006, 2011 and 2014.

View last season's South Carolina baseball stat leaders

4. Wren (Piedmont)
2014 finish: 25-6
Head coach: Randy Thompson



Wren reached the Class 3A Upper State championship game before being eliminated by Flora. Wren has one of the state's top juniors in catcher/first baseman Chase McCroskey along with senior left-handed pitcher Doug Gressly and senior catcher Chase Barbary. Wren will be without All-American candidate L.T. Tolbert, who has transferred to IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

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5. Northwestern (Rock Hill)
2014 finish: 19-5
Head coach: Mitch Walters

The Trojans advanced to the Class 4A state championship, but they lost to perennial champion Sumter. Northwestern loses four players who earned all-area honors last season, but they return the top player in the Rock Hill area in shortstop Dupree Hart. A standout on the football field as well, the College of Charleston commit batted .469 with 40 runs scored last year.