State College, defending champion North Penn and Malvern Prep all have a shot to be the top team. Also watch out for Parkland and Punxsutawney in the Pennsylvania baseball #MaxPrepsFab5.
North Penn won it all in Pennsylvania last season.
File photo by Ken Reabe Jr.
2016 Pennsylvania Preseason Baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. State College
Head coach: William Tussey
2015 record: 19-6
The Little Lions return 13 pitching wins from a team that reached the second round of the AAAA state playoffs. Among those returning pitchers are
Bailey Ishler (5-0) and
Tristan Ballenger (4-2). The offense returns outfielder
Brandon Raquet and infielder
Chris Adams. Raquet batted .444 while Adams had a .306 batting average.
See last season's Pennsylvania baseball computer rankings2. North Penn (Lansdale)
Head coach: Kevin Manero
2015 record: 19-4-2
North Penn captured the Class AAAA state championship in 2015 and was also the winner in 2013. The Knights return two key players headed to play at the next level in
Mason Nadeau (Penn State) and
Kadar Namey (Saint Joseph's). Nadeau was first team all-conference last year as an outfielder.
See Pennsylvania baseball pro photo galleries3. Malvern Prep
Head coach: Freddy Hilliard
2015 record: 31-7
Malvern Prep has seven players committed to play college ball, including all-league outfielder
Chance DiFebbo, who is headed to Delaware. The offense also has a potential 2017 draft pick in junior catcher
Shane Muntz, who has committed to Virginia Tech. The pitching staff has a pair of good young arms in sophomores
Brady Devereux (Wake Forest) and
Billy Corcoran (Pitt).
See last season's Pennsylvania baseball playoff brackets4. Parkland (Allentown)
Head coach: Kurt Weber
2015 record: 27-2
The Trojans have a new coach this year in Kurt Weber, who has been with Parkland since 1999 as an assistant to the recently retired Tony Galucy. Parkland reached the AAAA semifinals last year and returns four starters from that team, including second baseman
Tyler Bruno (.414), outfielder
Andrew Roth (.397), sophomore outfielder
Cullan Wadsworth (.294) and junior catcher
Austin Mueller (.268).
See last season's Pennsylvania baseball stat leaders5. Punxsutawney
Head coach: Mike Dickey
2015 record: 19-2
The Chucks were one of the favorites in Class AAA, but lost in the first round to eventual champion Knoch. Four key starters return, including pitcher
John Matthews (6-0), Penn State-bound center fielder
Braxton Giavedoni, first baseman
Lance Pennington (.327) and junior catcher
Joseph Dipietro (.321).
