MaxPreps 2016 California preseason high school baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Huntington Beach
Head coach: Benji Medure
2014-15 record: 25-8

The Oilers figure to have one of the top teams in the nation after winning the Southern Section Division I championship last year. Coach Benji Medure returns one of the nation's top junior pitchers in Hagen Danner, who has already committed to UCLA. Fellow UCLA commit Logan Poulesen, who was also a Team USA member along with Danner, returns at third base. Landon Silver, an All-Southern Section selection who has committed to Santa Barbara returns in the outfield. The Oilers also landed one of the top pitchers in the country in Nick Pratto, who transferred from Mater Dei. Pratto was the MVP of Team USA 18U, which won the Gold Medal last summer.

See last season's California baseball computer rankings

2. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)
Head coach: Brett Kay
2014-15 record: 27-5-1



Ranked among the top teams in the nation all season long, JSerra fell to Hart (Newhall) in the third round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs. The Lions return many of their top players from last year, including MaxPreps Sophomore All-American and Trinity League MVP Royce Lewis at third base, and potential Major League Baseball draft picks Chase Strumpf at shortstop and Brady Shockey in the outfield. All-league players Jack Owen (Junior), Collin Quinn and Davis Wendzel also return.

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3. Rancho Bernardo (San Diego)
Head coach: Sammy Blalock
2014-15 record: 26-7

Led by legendary coach Sammy Blalock, who should go over 900 career wins this year (893-318), Rancho Bernardo will be a very young, but very talented team. The bulk of the returning starters are still just juniors, but they saw plenty of playing time last year. Alika Williams (.402) returns at shortstop, Calvin Mitchell (.333) is back in the outfield, Tora Otsuka (.294) is also in the outfield, Emilio Escobedo (.269) returns at catcher and Tyler Dean (.333) is back at first base. All are juniors. The only returning senior starters in the field are Connor Shadroo (.294) and Jacob Gorman (.330) in the infield. The top returning pitchers include Freshman All-American Joey Magrisi (8-1, 1.11 ERA) and seniors Gorman (3-1), and Cameron Gallaher (3-1).

See last season's California baseball playoff brackets

4. Orange Lutheran (Orange)
Head coach: Eric Borba
2014-15 record: 22-9



Pitching will be the key for the Lancers as they have three returning starters along with a newcomer to create a competitive group on the mound. Cole Spear (RHP, 4-1) has committed to UC Irvine while Luke Mattson (RHP, 6-4) has committed to Nevada Reno. Chris Burica (LHP, 1.77 ERA) is headed to Creighton while junior Jason Farese (LHP) has committed to San Diego. The outfield should be strong with UCLA commit Garrett Mitchell (.372) in centerfield and freshman Jasiah Dixon, a Team USA 14U member, also in the mix. Tristan Hanoian (.326), a TCU commit, leads the infield at shortstop.

See last season's California baseball stat leaders

5. Saint Francis (Mountain View)
Head coach: Mike Oakland
2014-15 record: 29-5

The Lancers return one of the nation's top players in MaxPreps Junior All-American Jeremy Ydens (.404), a versatile player who can pitch, play infield and outfield. He's joined by infielder Andrew Martinez (.419) catcher Johnny Mendoza (.299) junior infielder Emilio Nogales (.232) and junior infielder RJ Teijeiro (.403).