Riverdale Baptist, Archbishop Spaulding could be top programs in Maryland; Bel Air and Sherwood to challenge in Class 4A while Huntingtown is 3A favorite in the Maryland baseball #MaxPrepsFab5.
Video: Bel Air Triple Play - #MPTopPlaySee the 2015 amazing sequence was a MaxPreps Top Play.
2017 Maryland Preseason Baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro)
Head coach: Ryan Terrill
2016 record: 35-3
Riverdale Baptist plays a freelance schedule and does not compete for a state title, but it has one of the best lineups in the nation, let alone the state of Maryland. Two of the state's top four players, according to Perfect Game, play for Riverdale Baptist, including pitcher
Harold Cortijo and third baseman
Brandon Dorsey. Cortijo batted .531 with 40 RBIs and went 8-1 on the mound.
Riverdale Baptist celebrates a Maryland privates schools state championship in 2015.
File photo by Michael Smith
2. Archbishop Spalding (Severn)Head coach: Joe Palumbo
2016 record: 27-5
The top team in the MIAA, Archbishop Spalding returns four starters from last year's team.
Nick Vermillion, a senior utility player, batted .364 last year with 25 RBIs while senior outfielder
Evan Fochtman batted .297.
Jordan Geber is the top returning pitcher.
See the MaxPreps Maryland baseball pro photo galleries
3. Huntingtown
Head coach: Guy Smith
2016 record: 21-4
The Class 3A state champions return five players from last year's group that won the first baseball state championship in school history. They include
Davaughn Reid,
Andrew Pawlowski and
Alec Holtkamp. Coach Guy Smith indicated that all three should play at the college level next year.
See last season's MaxPreps Maryland baseball playoff brackets4. Bel Air
Head coach: John Swanson
2016 record: 19-4
The Bobcats won the Class 4A state championship last year, knocking off Quince Orchard in the finals. Bel Air returns a pair of All-District players in infielder
Mike Yetter and outfielder
Zach Radcliff.
Liam Powers also returns and joins Radcliff on the coaches association Preseason All-State Team.
See last season's MaxPreps Maryland baseball stat leaders
5. Sherwood (Sandy Spring)
Head coach: Sean Davis
2016 record: 21-1
The Warriors were undefeated before falling in the postseason to Howard in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. Seven of the top eight offensive players return from that team, led by
Brendan Collins (.469 batting average) and sophomore
Michael Bouma (.431).
Connor Brady is the top returning pitcher after going 5-1 last year.
