Super Eight finalists Braintree, St. John's Prep are teams to watch. But also check out Bridgewater-Raynham, Xaverian Brothers and Norwood as the top teams in the Massachusetts baseball #MaxPrepsFab5.
Scott Creedon, Braintree
Photo by Dave Arnold
2016 Massachusetts Preseason Baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Braintree
Head coach: Bill O'Connell
2015 record: 22-3
Braintree defeated St. John's Prep to capture first place in the Division 1A Super Eight Tournament. The Wamps return All-Scholastics shortstop/pitcher
Scott Creedon, who went 8-0 on the mound last year. All-conference senior center fielder
Erik MacDonald returns as well. Braintree also has one of the state's top juniors in the outfield in
Justin Files.
See last season's Massachusetts baseball computer rankings
2. St. John's Prep (Danvers)
Head coach: Dan Letarte
2015 record: 23-4
St. John's Prep fell just short of winning the Class 1A Super Eight championship, beating Braintree in the first championship game, but falling in the second. The Eagles return all-conference outfielder
Jacob Yish along with pitchers
Chris Murphy and
Brendan Powicki.
See Massachusetts baseball pro photo galleries
3. Bridgewater-Raynham (Bridgewater)
Head coach: John Kearney
2015 record: 20-4
The Trojans reached the third round of the loser's bracket in the Class 1A double elimination tournament before falling to Boston College. Winners of at least 20 games for each of the past three seasons, Bridgewater-Raynham returns all-conference pitcher
Michael Manning.
See last season's Massachusetts baseball playoff brackets
4. Xaverian Brothers (Westwood)
Head coach: Gerry Lambert
2015 record: 15-8
The Hawks reached the second round of consolation play in the Class 1A state playoffs last year, but they return two of the state's top pitchers in right handers
Blake DeCarr and
Devon Dimascio. Xavierian Brothers is also solid in the infield with
Bryan Hart, who is ranked as the No. 3 shortstop in the state by Perfect Game.
See last season's Massachusetts baseball stat leaders
5. Norwood
Head coach: Kevin Igoe
2015 record: 15-10
Norwood captured the Division I state championship in 2015 and while 13 seniors graduate from that squad, Norwood does return a talented pitcher in all-conference selection
Sean Mellen. In last year's tournament, Mellen registered 44 strikeouts in just 21.1 innings pitched.
