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

1. Providence (Charlotte)
Head coach: Daniel Hignight
2015 record: 31-4

The Panthers captured the Class 4A state championship over Millbrook and they return five starters from that team. The left side of the infield is solid with North Carolina commit Jake Holtzapple returning at third base and Clemson commit Logan Davidson at third base. Tucker Jones, the state finals MVP, also returns in center field while Zach Brown, the game 3 starting pitcher against Millbrook, is back as well.

See last season's North Carolina baseball computer rankings

2. South Caldwell (Hudson)
Head coach: Jeff Parham
2015 record: 26-1



South Caldwell won 26 straight games before losing in the playoffs to Providence. The Spartans return six returning starters, including possible MLB Draft pick Rian Haire (10-0, 0.32 ERA, 104 strikeouts) on the mound. Other returning players include catcher Brett Macchia (.375), shortstop Brock Johnson (.370, 12 doubles), left fielder Chase Whisnant (.445), centerfielder Jacob Raby (.333) and pitcher Jared Matheson (4-1).

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3. Ardrey Kell (Charlotte)
Head coach: Hal Bagwell
2015 record: 24-4

The Knights lost in the second round of the playoffs but they return their entire starting lineup from 2015, highlighted by power hitter Aaron Pilkington, who had 19 home runs as a sophomore and six as a junior. He was also walked a school-record 30 times last year as teams pitched around the potential MLB Draft pick. The Knights also return pitcher Henry Ryan, who has signed with North Carolina, all-state sophomore outfielder Cameron Brantley and pitcher Austin Parsley, a senior who has signed with College of Charleston.

See last season's North Carolina baseball playoff brackets

4. Conley (Greenville)
Head coach: Jason Mills
2015 record: 20-5



The Vikings reached the third round of the Class 4A state playoffs last year, but are expected to go deeper in 2016. Bryant Packard, a three-time all-state selection, returns after batting .567 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs. He was also 6-1 on the mound with 59 strikeouts and a 1.86 ERA. Louisville commit Phillip Sanderson also returns on the mound and he posted a 6-1 record last season. Conley also returns hard-hitting first baseman Travis Cross, who batted .323 with 18 RBIs as a junior.

See last season's North Carolina baseball stat leaders

5. Orange (Hillsborough)
Head coach: Dean Dease
2015 record: 22-5

The Panthers advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state playoffs and they return a pair of all-state players in Bryse Wilson, who has signed with North Carolina, and catcher Brad Debo, who has signed with South Carolina. Orange is expected to be strong up the middle with Cameron Mehl at shortstop, Landon Riley at second base and Jaydin Poteat (sophomore) in center field.