A closer look at the teams that comprise the MaxPreps national high school top 25 baseball rankings.
By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
1. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), 30-2
Best Wins: Defeated No. 23 Hamilton 9-7 and No. 50 Rocky Mountain 8-0 at Cleats Invitational.
Toughest Losses: Fell to Newbury Park 8-7 in the finals of its own Bishop Gorman Easter Tournament.
Players to Watch: Jeff Malm, .585, 58 RBI, 58 runs scored, 25 doubles, 6 HR; Joey Rickard, .545, 40 RBI, 70 runs scored, 15 doubles, 9 HR; John Rickard, .444, 52 RBI, 14 doubles, 9 HR.
Longest Win Streak: Opened the season with 17 straight wins.
What’s Up Next: Complete Sunset-Southwest League play this week against Clark, April 30, and Durango, May 1.
2. Owasso (Okla), 27-2
Best Wins: Defeated No. 24 Broken Arrow 1-0; defeated Bishop Kelley, 8-1.
Toughest Losses: lost to Broken Arrow 8-3 and 4-3; lost to Bishop Kelley 7-4.
Players to Watch: Brian Flynn, a 6-8 hard-throwing lefthander is 6-1 on the season with 100 strikeouts. His fastball has reached 91 mph.
Longest Win Streak: Won first 23 games of the season and had 45-game win streak dating back to 2007 season.
What’s Up Next: The Rams are competing in the 6A Regionals in Owasso with Sapulpa, Claremore and Bartlesville. Defeated Sapulpa in first game Tuesday 8-0.
3. Plano West (Plano, Texas), 27-0
Best Wins: A loss to Southlake Carroll in the second game of a doubleheader later turned into a forfeit win after it was determined the Dragons played an ineligible player. Defeated McKinney 3-1 in finals of McKinney Tournament and 6-2 in the finals of the Sherman Tournament.
Toughest Losses: Plano West is undefeated on the season.
Players to Watch: Jason Coats, .474, 36 RBI, 14 doubles, 7 HR; Ryan Ford, .337, 44 RBI, 6 HR; Kale Kiser, .446, 12 doubles, 34 runs scored; Ben Flora, 8-0, 62 Ks, 38.2 IP, .744 ERA.
Longest Win Streak: The Wolves have yet to lose in 28 games this year.
What’s Up Next: Faces South Garland (15-13) in the first round of the Class 5A Region II Bi-District playoffs on Friday.
4. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 25-2
Best Wins: Defeated Wellington, 8-0, at National Grand Slam Tournament.
Toughest Losses: Fell 6-4 to Stephens County and lost 4-3 to Palm Beach Central at the National Grand Slam Tournament.
Players to Watch: Joe Velviso, .529, 34 RBI, 15 HR; Eric Hosmer, .479, 39 runs scored, 10 HR; Eric Acevedo, .397, 31 RBI, 10 HR; Adrian Neito, .351, 34 RBI, 13 doubles, 5 HR.
Longest Win Streak: Won nine games in a row between first and second loss of the season.
What’s Up Next: Opened Regional playoffs with 18-0 win over Pope John Paul II (Boca Raton) and will play Coral Springs Charter on May 2.
5. Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs, Fla.), 23-2
Best Wins: Def. Oviedo 12-3, 4-2 and 15-3; def. Flagler Palm Coast 8-2; def. West Orange, 7-3.
Toughest Losses: Lost to University (Orlando) 6-2 in final game of regular season.
Players to Watch: First baseman D.J. Hicks is a preseason All-American.
Longest Win Streak: Won 21 games in a row.
What’s Up Next: The Patriots edged Boone (Orlando) 11-10 in the first round and will meet University (Orlando) in the second round on Friday. University recently defeated Lake Brantley to end the Patriot’s 21-game winning streak.
6. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 13-0
Best Wins: The Ironmen have recorded six shutouts and have allowed only one run in six other games. Defeated Bergen Catholic 10-0.
Toughest Losses: No losses, closest game was a 3-0 win over Ocean Township.
Players to Watch: Pitcher Eric Pfisterer threw two no-hitters and a one-hitter in his first three starts of the season. He was also batting .636 through the first 10 games of the season.
Longest Win Streak: The Ironmen have won their first 13 games to start the season.
What’s Up Next: Plays at St. Joseph (Metuchen) on Saturday.
7. Brookwood (Snellville, Ga.), 21-1
Best Wins: Defeated Flanagan (FL), 15-4; def. Walton, 9-2; def. Kenesaw Mountain, 15-2.
Toughest Losses: Only loss of the season was to McEachern, 12-10.
Players to Watch: Seth Adkins, C, Region 8-AAAAA co-player of the year in 2007; Chase Hawkins, P/IF, four-year varsity starter; Ryan Lewis, OF, two-time preseason 2nd team all-state; Jordan Erisman, P, preseason AAAAA all-state.
Longest Win Streak: Current 15 game winning streak.
What’s Up Next: Final regular season games against Central Gwinnett and South Gwinnett. Region 6 tournament begins May 9.
8. Klein (Spring, Texas), 20-4
Best Wins: Def. Oak Ridge 11-1; def. Klein Collins 5-3 and 13-0.
Toughest Losses: Lost to Stony Point 4-1 at Brenham Tournament.
Players to Watch: Matthew Purke, P, ranked by MaxPreps as one of nation’s the top 25 players to watch in 2008. He has a 7-0 record entering this week’s playoffs.
Longest Win Streak: Current 14-game win streak.
What’s Up Next: Klein meets Conroe Oak Ridge in first round of Bi-District play Saturday.
9. Sarasota (Fla.), 19-2
Best Wins: Defeated Lakeland twice, 3-2 and 9-0.
Toughest Losses: The Sailors are two runs away from a perfect season. They lost to Charlotte 1-0 and Eagles View 3-2.
Players to Watch: Shortstop Casey Kelly is one of the nation’s top shortstops.
Longest Win Streak: Current 13-game win streak.
What’s Up Next: Defeated Gaither (Tampa) in first round of 6A playoffs, 8-1. Will play winner of St. Petersburg-Lakeland matchup on Friday.
10. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 28-1
Best Wins: Handed Bearden its only two losses, 3-2 and 10-4.
Toughest Losses: Fell to Blount (Maryville) 3-2 on April 23 and Pigeon Forge 5-3 on April 25.
Players to Watch: Freshman standout Phillip Pfeifer started the season 8-0 and gave up just one earned run in his first eight wins. Matt Ramsey, P, signed with Tennessee. Michael Williams, C, signed with Kentucky.
Longest Win Streak: Won 27 straight games to start the season.
What’s Up Next: Farragut concluded its regular season on Tuesday against Morristown-Hamblen East and will await its seeding for the Tennessee state playoffs.
11. Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 19-3
Best Wins: Def. Seminole Ridge (Loxahatchee, Fla.) 16-11 and Cottonwood (Salt Lake City) at Anderson Bat National Classic.
Toughest Losses: Lost 11-0 to league rival Servite; fell 7-2 to Crespi at Anderson Bat National Classic.
Players to Watch: Tyler Smith, .422, 6 doubles, 22 runs scored; Gerrit Cole, .317, 6 HR, 6-1 record, 103 Ks, 51.0 innings; Aaron Gates, 6-1 record, 102 Ks, 40 innings.
Longest Win Streak: Won 11 games in a row during March.
What’s Up Next: Completes its Trinity League season with two games against Mater Dei and St. John Bosco.
12. Richland (Wash.), 9-0-1
Best Wins: Swept Kennewick in doubleheader 4-3 and 15-3.
Toughest Losses: Fell to Moses Lake 10-9, but beat Moses Lake in second game of doubleheader 17-1.
Players to Watch: Josh Rapacz, .543; Cody Shepherd, .525, 8 HR; Brett Jacobs, .513, 6 HR.
Longest Win Streak: Current five-game win streak.
What’s Up Next: Plays a three-game set with Pasco on Friday and Saturday before beginning district playoffs next week.
13. Alvin (Texas), 26-3
Best Wins: Def. Lamar 7-0; def. Cy-Fair 5-3.
Toughest Losses: Fell to Cy-Ridge 8-3; Clear Creek 5-1 and Clear Lake 8-4.
Players to Watch: Travis Snider, C, .351; Travis Jenkins, P, 6-1, 69 K, 42 IP; Aaron Stewart, 7-0, 51 K, 34 IP; Andrew Gross, .354, 6 HR.
Longest Win Streak: Nine-game win streak in early March.
What’s Up Next: Competes in the Region 3 District tournament with three games against Dulles (19-12).
14. Poway (Calif.), 20-4
Best Wins: Def. Green Valley (Henderson, Nev.), 11-9; Def. Grossmont, 8-2.
Toughest Losses: Lost to Rancho Buena Vista 3-2; Lost to Westview 14-8; Lost to Rancho Bernardo 4-1.
Players to Watch: Brett Thomas, .458, 28 RBI, 7 doubles; Alex Dickerson, .420, 29 RBI, 8, doubles; Josh Anderson, .400, 6 HR; Dillon Dooney, .378, 5 HR, 9 doubles.
Longest Win Streak: Won eight in a row in early April.
What’s Up Next: Tough three-game sets with La Costa Canyon and Torrey Pines over next two weeks.
15. Darby (Hilliard, Ohio), 5-0
Best Wins: Routed Groveport-Madison 11-1, Olentangy 13-4 and Lancaster 14-4.
Toughest Losses: Since the rankings came out earlier this week, Darby’s record has been updated to 13-2 with losses to Worthington Kilbourne, 5-2; and Upper Arlington, 4-3.
Players to Watch: Adam Scheiderer, C, .423; Jon, Long, P, 4-0.
Longest Win Streak: Had seven-game win streak ended by Upper Arlington.
What’s Up Next: League matchups with Westland and Groveport-Madison.
16. Niceville (Fla.), 21-7
Best Wins: Defeated Crestview and Pace by identical 6-0 scores in district playoffs.
Toughest Losses: Fell to Lexington Christian 2-1.
Players to Watch: Brett DeVall, P, is ranked by MaxPreps as one of the top 25 players in the country.
Longest Win Streak: Current five-game win streak.
What’s Up Next: Niceville edged Rutherford 6-5 in nin innings and will meet Pace for the fourth time this year on Friday. Niceville is 2-1 against Pace with wins in the last two outings.
17. Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater, Fla.), 24-2
Best Wins: Exploded for huge wins over Ridgewood (20-0), Lennard (19-0), Northeast (17-0) and Canterbury (26-3).
Toughest Losses: Fell to Pendleton 4-2; lost to Florida Christian 10-9.
Players to Watch: Ryan Weber, P, all-state as junior; Sam Mende, IF, all-state as junior.
Longest Win Streak: Won 17 in a row after starting season 1-1.
What’s Up Next: Defeated Cardinal Mooney in the first round of the 3A playoffs and will face Bishop Verot in Friday’s regional semifinals.
18. Indianapolis Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.), 11-1
Best Wins: Whipped Cardinal Ritter 23-0 and Bishop Chatard, 16-0.
Toughest Losses: Lost to St. Xavier (Louisville) 2-0; lost to Evansville Central, 5-4.
Players to Watch: Tyler Koors, Kevin Bower and Dillon Peters.
Longest Win Streak: Won six games in a row after loss to St. Xavier.
What’s Up Next: Will compete in the City Tournament this weekend, which it has won the past four years.
19. Oakton (Vienna, Va.), 9-1
Best Wins: Avenged earlier loss to Westfield with 11-1 win on April 23.
Toughest Losses: Only loss is to Westfield, 7-1, in third game of season.
Players to Watch: Bret Williams, P-1B.
Longest Win Streak: Has won seven in a row since loss to Westfield.
What’s Up Next: Meets Fairfax in Concorde League matchup Friday.
20. Rowlett (Texas), 26-0-2
Best Wins: Handed Rockwall three of its losses this year, 2-0, 8-1 and 6-3.
Toughest Losses: No losses, but tied Flower Mound 1-1 and Dallas Jesuit 1-1.
Players to Watch: Brandon Loy, .517, 26 RBI, 33 SB; Andrew Smith, P, 8-0, 46 Ks, 50.2 IP; Tait Norris, P, 8-0, 40 K, 38.1 IP.
Longest Win Streak: Completed regular season with 21-game win streak after 1-1 tie with Dallas Jesuit.
What’s Up Next: Meet Plano East (14-15-1) in the Region II Bi-District playoffs starting Friday at Plano East.
21. Conway (S.C.), 15-0
Best Wins: Def. Nitro (27-3 on the season), 6-0; topped Sumter 2-1 and 2-0.
Toughest Losses: Has not lost this season.
Players to Watch: Jeff Caskey, SS, signed with Lander College.
Longest Win Streak: Won 17 games to start the season (won two more since rankings first released earlier this week).
What’s Up Next: Conway defeated Goose Creek and Dutch Fork in first two rounds of District VI playoffs. Takes on winner of Goose Creek/Dutch Fork game today to decide district champion.
22. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), 28-6
Best Wins: Def. Lufkin (Texas), 16-5;
Toughest Losses: Lost to Acadiana twice in league play, 6-5 and 4-2.
Players to Watch: Trey Brown, RHP; Ryan Doiron, RHP/3B
Longest Win Streak: Won eight in a row in early April.
What’s Up Next: Plays West Jefferson in the first round of the Class 5A Bi-District playoffs Friday.
23. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 21-8
Best Wins: Beat Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins, Colo), 9-1.
Toughest Losses: Nearly upset No. 1 Bishop Gorman, falling 9-7.
Players to Watch: Kyle Peterson, C, third year on the varsity; Sammy Vandenhueval, P.
Longest Win Streak: Has current eight-game win streak.
What’s Up Next: Hamilton advances to the semifinals of Pool A in the Class 5A playoffs.
24. Broken Arrow (Okla.), 18-7-1
Best Wins: Def. Owasso twice, 8-3 and 4-3.
Toughest Losses: Lost to Union 4-2, lost to Bishop Kelley 6-3.
Players to Watch: Lance Rymel, P; Brett Ziegler, P/1B, Mike Samuel, SS; and Wesley Moody, OF, have all signed letters of intent to play college baseball next year.
Longest Win Streak: Won seven games in a row the end of March.
What’s Up Next: Broken Arrow defeated Putnam City 6-0 in the first game of Class 6A Regional play on Tuesday. Will play Sand Springs today.
25. St. Albans (D.C.), 24-2
Best Wins: Def. St. Anne’s Belfield, 7-2.
Toughest Losses: Lost to Vero Beach 4-3 and St. Christopher’s 6-5.
Players to Watch: Danny Hultzen, LHP, 90 MPH fastball. He’s 10-0 on the season with 0.74 ERA, 115 strikeouts in 61 innings.
Longest Win Streak: Won 17 in a row before loss to St. Christopher’s.
What’s Up Next: Meets Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City, N.J.) and Notre Dame Academy (Middleburg) on Saturday.
