MaxPreps 2017 CIF Southern Section preseason high school baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Hagen Danner baseball highlights
The Huntington Beach senior could be selected in the MLB Draft in June.


Editor's Note: JSerra Catholic, Orange Lutheran and South Hills are included in state Fab 5 preview and thus not included in the section-level preview.

1. Huntington Beach
Head coach: Benji Medure
2016 record: 18-11

The Oilers had an up-and-down season last year, winning the National High School Invitational only to stumble in the section playoffs and lose in the second round to Orange Lutheran. Nevertheless, Huntington Beach has two of the nation's top seniors in Hagen Danner and Nick Pratto. Former teammates on Huntington Beach's Little League World Series championship team, Danner and Pratto give the Oilers two of the top arms in the Southern Section.

See last season's Southern Section baseball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Redondo Union (Redondo Beach)
Head coach: Jeff Baumback
2016 record: 31-2
The Southern Section Division 3 champion last year, Redondo Union figures to challenge for the crown again. The Sea Hawks have one of the nation's top home run hitters in Danny Zimmerman, who batted .443 with 11 home runs last year. Zimmerman also leads the pitching staff, going 6-1. Redondo Union will miss Sean Reynolds, who was selected in the MLB Draft.

See the MaxPreps Southern Section baseball pro photo galleries

3. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City)
Head coach: Jared Halpert
2016 record: 25-9

The Wolverines had an outstanding run in the Division 1 playoffs, knocking off JSerra Catholic in the semifinals along with Cypress and Vista Murrieta. Only Murrieta Mesa was able to defeat Harvard-Westlake in the postseason, winning 3-2 in the championship game. The pitching staff should be strong with potential 2018 draft pick Jesse Bergin anchoring the staff after going 9-3 in 2016 as a sophomore. He's joined by Nico Mannucci, who was 2-0 with a 0.30 ERA.

See last season's MaxPreps Southern Section baseball playoff brackets

4. Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Head coach: Burt Call
2016 record: 16-13

One of the perennial contenders in the Southern Section, Mater Dei could be back on top this year after hovering around .500 most of last year. The Monarrchs have nine players committed to Division 1 schools, including potential MLB prospects Blake Hunt at catcher, Michael Peabody in the outfield and junior Emilio Rosas at shortstop.

See last season's MaxPreps Southern Section baseball stat leaders

5. El Toro (Lake Forest)
Head coach: Mike Gonzales
2016 record: 25-6

The Chargers reached the quarterfinals of the Division 1 playoffs last year before falling to West Ranch. El Toro returns one of the top pitchers in the Southern Section in senior Noah Fluman, who went 7-1 with a 1.27 ERA and 46 strikeouts. Fluman was also one of six Chargers to sign a National Letter of Intent in November.