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

1. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)
2014 finish: 22-8
Head coach: Brett Kay

The Lions won the Trinity League last year and finished 22-8 overall. JSerra, which reached the semifinals of the Division I playoffs last year, will play in the National High School Invitational in North Carolina in March. The Lions have seven all-league players returning this year, including league MVP Brady Shockey (OF) and nationally ranked Chase Strumpf (SS).

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

2. Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo)
2014 finish: 23-10
Head coach: Craig Hanson



The Wolverines reached the Southern Section Division 2 championship game two of the past three seasons, losing to Temecula Valley last year by two runs. Aliso Niguel returns one of the nation's top combo players in Kyle Molnar, who was 10-2 on the mound and also batted .320. He's joined by one of the nation's top juniors in catcher Blake Sabol, who hit .330 last season.

View last season's California baseball playoff brackets

3. De La Salle (Concord)
2014 finish: 21-7
Head coach: David Jeans

The Spartans won the North Coast Section Division I championship last year and return six players with varsity experience. Topping the list is left-handed pitcher Justin Hooper, who is ranked as the top lefty pitching prospect in the country. He is targeted as one of the top 10 picks in this year's Major League Baseball Draft. He went 6-3 last year and possesses a fastball that hits 97 mph. The Spartans figure to be tough up the middle with returning catcher Andrew Schatz (.308), second baseman Myles Coston (.278) and shortstop Kevin Sandri (.281).

View last season's California baseball stat leaders

4. College Park (Pleasant Hill)
2014 finish: 27-3
Head coach: Andy Tarpley



The Falcons have won 20 games each of the past three seasons. It shouldn't be any surprise that those are also the three seasons All-American pitcher Joe DeMers has been on the College Park varsity team. He's won 31 games in his career (31-4), including 12-2 last year when the Falcons won the North Coast Section Division II championship. DeMers is one of six returning starters. Another to watch is Trevor Larnach, who batted .436 with 14 doubles. The pitching staff also returns Chris Brown, who went 11-1 with a 0.78 ERA last season.

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5. Rancho Bernardo (San Diego)
2014 finish: 30-5
Head coach: Sam Blalock

Although the Broncos lost one of the nation's top players to the Major League Baseball Draft last year, there is still plenty of talent left on the team, along with a very talented transfer joining the mix. Alex Jackson, one of the top high school players drafted last year, took his .400 batting average and 11 home runs to the next level. However coach Sam Blalock featured three freshmen in his lineup last year in Tora Otsuka (.312), Calvin Mitchell (.267) and Adam Storch (.301). The Broncos also return one of the state's top pitchers in Drew Finley (5-0) and welcome transfer Kyle Dean from Poway. Dean is one of the top outfield prospects in the country.