MaxPreps 2017 New Jersey preseason high school baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Diving catch straight into a wall
Watch Tyler Pettigrew of Henley (Klamath Falls, Ore.) make one of the top catches during the 2016 season.


1. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale)
Head coach: Mark Cieslak
2016 record: 25-4

The Green Knights feature two of the top players in the state, according to Perfect Game, with senior shortstop Devin Ortiz coming in as the No. 2 overall senior and junior third baseman Justyn-Henry Malloy ranking as the No. 2 player in the Class of 2018. St. Joseph Regional reached the Non-Public A North finals before falling to Seton Hall Prep.

See last season's New Jersey baseball computer rankings

2. Eastern (Voorhees)
Head coach: Rob Christ
2016 record: 22-7 The Vikings lost early in the regional playoffs last year, falling to Toms River North. However a number of key players return for Eastern. Senior third baseman Davis Schneider is back along with junior outfielder Jack Herman, who is rated as the top junior in New Jersey by Perfect Game.

See the MaxPreps New Jersey baseball pro photo galleries

3. Hunterdon Central (Flemington)
Head coach: Kevin Cuozzi
2016 record: 22-7

The Red Devils won the Group IV state championship last year and return seven positional starters and two key starting pitchers from that team. Among the players to watch include senior starting pitcher Peter Woltersdorf, who went 11-1 with a 1.08 ERA and 65 strikeouts last year. Also back is senior catcher Matt Padre, who batted .377. Joey DeChiaro also returns after going 5-1 on the mound as a freshman.

See last season's MaxPreps New Jersey baseball playoff brackets

4. Seton Hall Prep (West Orange)
Head coach: Michael J. Sheppard Jr.
2016 record: 28-3

A total of six pitchers with varsity experience, including four who have been offered Division 1 scholarships, make Seton Hall Prep a favorite to repeat as the Non-Public A champion. Top players include sophomore pitcher Nick Maldonado, who has committed to Vanderbilt, junior center fielder Jack Zyska, who has committed to Notre Dame, and senior left fielder Nico Mottesi, who has committed to Cornell.

See last season's MaxPreps New Jersey baseball stat leaders

5. Northern Highlands (Allendale)
Head coach: Paul Abarella
2016 record: 24-10

The Highlanders won the Group III state championship last year and return one of the key pitchers from that team in righthander Zach Dreznin. He earned All-Group 3 honors last year from NJ.com in leading Northern Highlands to its first state title.