High school baseball: Digging into history to crown national champions all the way back to 1910

But having multiple national champions isn't a bad thing. The recognition is good for the sport and makes for good debate. Unfortunately, high school baseball has a relatively short history when it comes to recognizing national champions. Joe Namath Prep Sports was the first organization to name a national champion in 1976 and Collegiate Baseball began doing rankings and naming national champions in 1977. USA Today followed in the late 1980s and Baseball America began in the early 1990s. The Fab 50 rankings by Student Sports/ESPN ran from 2000-2013. MaxPreps started its first national rankings in 2009 while Perfect Game began doing rankings in the past decade.

Prior to 1976, however, there was no official recognition. MaxPreps is hoping to fix that. But first a little rankings history.

High school football has had national rankings since 1959 when Art Johlfs of Minnesota began producing end-of-season rankings while naming a national champion. He also retroactively chose football national champions back to 1927 as part of his business called National Sports News Service (NSNS).

Barry Sollenberger of Arizona took over the reins of the NSNS in the late 1970s and he added to Johlfs' national rankings list back to 1910. He also began working on a national high school baseball record book and retroactive national baseball rankings around 1981, but he never finished this project. He went on to work for the Arizona Interscholastic Association as its sports information director for many years and he died suddenly in 2005.

MaxPreps hopes to pick up where Sollenberger left off. Using research from multiple sources, MaxPreps has retroactively chosen national champions back to 1910 (a date that is an homage to Sollenberger's football research). MaxPreps has also chosen a single national champion for each season between 1976 and 2021 when various media outlets began doing rankings and choosing national champions. MaxPreps is not attempting to nullify the work of organizations like USA Today, Baseball America and others, but to recognize a single champion for each year based on the rankings produced by those organizations.

High school baseball national champions dating to 1910

2021 — Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 39-2
Coach: Glenn Cecchini
Top Players: Jack Walker, P (MaxPreps National Player of the Year, 13-0); Gavin Guidry (all-state, 9-0).
Biggest Wins: Defeated Sam Houston (Lake Charles) 1-0 in semifinals; defeated West Monroe 5-0 in state finals.
Competition: St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), 43-1 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national champion); Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.), 28-2 (Perfect Game national champion); Madison Central (Madison, Miss.), 32-2 (Baseball America national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Besides ranking No. 1 in the nation via the MaxPreps computer ratings, Barbe defeated six of the top seven teams in Louisiana ratings and five of the top 100 teams in the nation — more than any other nationally ranked teams. Barbe's title was the 11th state championship and second national crown.

2020 — None
COVID 19 ended the season before it could be completed

2019 — Argyle (Texas)
Record: 40-1-1
Coach: Rick Griffin
Top Players: Chad Ricker, P (12-0, All-America); Dillon Carter, OF (medium school All-American).
Biggest Wins: Keller, 7-5; Coppell, 12-9; Prosper, 6-0; Sweeny, 6-3 (4A state championship game).
Competition: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 24-1 (USA Today national champion), Cypress (Calif.), 31-3 (Perfect Game national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Argyle won the national championship for the second straight season by winning a second straight Texas 4A title. The only loss was to eventual 6A champion Southlake Carroll. Argyle did not lose a single postseason game over two seasons and had 14 players make the all-district team. Argyle was a 77-1-1 over two seasons. Also chosen national champion by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and Baseball America.

2018 — Argyle (Texas)
Record: 37-0
Coach: Rick Griffin
Top Players: Bryson Hudgens, P (12-0, medium school All-American); Brendan Dixon, IF (.422, medium school All-American); Hayden Clearman, OF (.455, medium school All-American).
Biggest Wins: Jasper, 14-4 in Class 4A state semifinals; Sweeny, 5-0 in state finals.
Competition: Parkview (Ga.), 36-6 (Baseball America national champion); Riverdale Baptist (Md.), 32-1 (USA Today national champion); Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.), 30-1 (Perfect Game national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Undefeated state champions in Texas are rare, especially at the higher levels, so Argyle's 37-0 season made it the choice as national champion. Eight players on the team earned all-area honors of some kind. The 37-0 record also gave Argyle the best record in the country. Also chosen national champion by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

2017 — Shawnee (Okla.)
Record: 40-0
Coach: Todd Boyer
Top Players: Tanner Sparks, UT (10-0, .504, state player of the year).
Biggest Wins: Carl Albert, 20-3 in state semifinals. Claremore, 12-7 in Class 5A state championship.
Competition: Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 28-3 Florida state champion.
Reasons for No. 1: Shawnee was nearly a unanimous national champion as it was ranked No. 1 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Perfect Game, Baseball American and MaxPreps.

2016 — Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.)
Record: 30-1
Coach: Tom Donald
Top Players: Grant Gambrell, P (12-0, .363, all-state), Quentin Selma, IF (.443, all-state); Hunter Reinke, P (11-0, all-state); Zach Presno, C (.338, all-state).
Biggest Wins: Clovis North, 4-0 Central Section championship game. Bullard, 5-3 in section semifinals.
Competition: Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.), 27-2 (Perfect Game national champion; Baseball America national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Buchanan has one of the top programs in the nation and plays in one of the toughest leagues in California in the Tri-River League. The Bears had won the Central Section in 2015 and were previously national champions by one poll in 2011.

2015 — Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
Record: 34-2
Coach: Chan Brown
Top Players: Austin Biggar, C (.370, 11 HR, All-American); Wes Ethridge, P (13-0, All-American).
Biggest Wins: Walton, 3-0, 8-1 sweep in state finals.
Competition: Oxford (Miss.), 35-1; Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 32-3.
Reasons for No. 1: Parkview was the easy choice for national champion in 2015 after it swept through the Georgia state playoffs, which are all best-of-three series, without a loss. Parkview was named national champion by MaxPreps, USA Today, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Baseball America and Perfect Game.

2014 — Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 39-2
Coach: Glenn Cecchini
Top Players: Kennon Fontenot (.434), Beau Jordan (.396), Bryce Jordan (.481), Gunner Leger (11-0), Adam Goree (12-0).
Biggest Wins: St. Amant, 2-0 state semifinals; Live Oak, 7-1 state finals.
Competition: Lambert (Suwanee, Ga.), 36-2 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national champion, USA Today national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Barbe earned recognition from Baseball America, Perfect Game, and MaxPreps as the national champion over Lambert after the Georgia squad dropped a game in the final best-of-three series in the Georgia state championships. Barbe won its final 28 games to surpass Lambert and ascend to the top of the rankings. The state title was the seventh in school history.

2013 — Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola, Fla.)
Record: 30-0
Coach: Richard LaBounty
Top Players: Avery Geyer, all-area player of the year; Drew LaBounty (.511); Evans Bozeman (.402, 7 HR); Cody Henry (.400).
Biggest Wins: Bishop Verot, 2-0 state semifinals; Monsignor Pace, 7-5 state finals.
Competition: Owasso (Okla.), 36-0; Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), 28-4 (Perfect Game and Baseball America national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Although Pensacola Catholic played in one of the smaller enrollment divisions in Florida, it still earned enough respect from pollsters to finish No. 1 by MaxPreps, Student Sports, USA Today and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. The Crusaders had won the state championship in 2012 as well and finished among the top 40 in the nation.

2012 — Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Record: 40-3
Coach: Nick Day
Top Players: Johnny Sewald (.431); Joey Gallo (.509, national player of the year); Justin Jones (.458).
Biggest Wins: Carroll (Corpus Christi, Texas), 8-4; Gloucester Catholic (N.J.), 8-0; Coronado (Henderson), 11-1 in state championship game.
Competition: Parkview (Ga.), 31-6 (Baseball America national champion). American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 28-4 (Powerade Fab 50 ESPNHS and Perfect Game national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Three outlets ranked the Gaels No. 1 for the season, including MaxPreps, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and USA Today. As a team, Bishop Gorman averaged .436 with 476 runs and 57 home runs. Joey Gallo earned MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors.

2011 — Broken Arrow (Okla.)
Record: 36-2
Coach: Shannon Dobson
Top Players: Archie Bradley, P (12-1, All-American, national player of the year); Patrick Hope (drafted 163 overall).
Biggest Wins: Jenks, 15-2 and 20-8 in semifinals, Owasso, 4-0, in state finals.
Competition: Archbishop McCarthy, 29-3 (Baseball America, Perfect Game and USA Today national champion), Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), 30-2 (ESPN Fab 50 national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Bradley was a force on the mound, racking up 137 strikeouts in his 71.1 innings. The Tigers dominated over the final third of the season, averaging 10 runs a game over the final 10 games. Broken Arrow was No. 1 by MaxPreps and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

2010 — Sumrall (Miss.)
Record: 35-1
Coach: Larry Knight
Top Players: Chase Lewallen (.545); Jackson Posey (12-0, .523); Connor Barron (.514).
Biggest Wins: Oak Grove, 9-0; Water Valley, 11-1 and 5-1 for state championship.
Competition: Flanagan, 25-2, Florida state champion (Baseball America national champion). Pace (Fla.), 29-2 (ESPN Rise Fab 50 national champion). Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 31-3 (Perfect Game national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: With multiple players returning from 2009 national championship team, Sumrall began the year as the top team in the nation. A loss to Oak Grove knocked Sumrall down in the rankings, but an unblemished run through the postseason put the Bobcats back at No. 1. Sumrall was ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps, USA Today and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

2009 — Sumrall (Miss.)
Record: 36-0
Coach: Larry Knight
Top Players: Jared Miller (11-0. .412, 14 HR); Jackson Posey (.505, 10 HR); Luke Lowery (10-0).
Biggest Wins: South Pontotoc, 10-4 and 11-1 in state finals.
Competition: Naples (Fla.), 33-1, Florida 4A champion (ESPN Rise Fab 50 national champion); Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 40-4, Nevada state champion (Baseball America, Perfect Game national champion); Menchville (Va.), 26-2 (USA Today, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: The Bobcats won their second straight Mississippi state champion, but didn't rise to No. 1 in the rankings until after the season. When Moody lost in the Texas state playoffs, it dropped out of the No. 1 spot and allowed Sumrall to take over No. 1. MaxPreps was the only outlet to have Sumrall No. 1, however it went on to finish No. 1 again in 2010, this time by three media polls.

2008 — Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
Record: 33-0
Coach: Greg Butler
Top Players: Mike Dennhardt, P (10-0, all-state); Steve Proscla, 3B (.545, 9 HR, all-state), Eric Pfisterer, P (10-0, all-state).
Biggest Wins: Christian Brothers Academy, 5-4 Non-Public A state final.
Competition: American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 31-2, Florida state champion (Baseball America, USA Today national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: The 33 wins was the most ever for a New Jersey team in an undefeated season. The Ironmen also came from behind to beat St. Joseph in the Bergen County Tournament final and pulled out a one-run win over Seton Hall Prep in the section finals. Became first undefeated Bergen County team since 1950. Ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and Rivals.com Fab 50 (Student Sports).

2007 — Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, N.J.)
Record: 32-1
Coach: Mike Sheppard Jr.
Top Players: Rick Porcello (10-0, 1.18 ERA, 11 home runs, state player of the year, taken in first round of MLB draft); Evan Danieli, P (11-0, all-state); Jaren Matthews, 1B (.500, 5 HR, drafted in 17th round, all-state).
Biggest Wins: St. Joseph's, 10-0, state final.
Competition: Long Beach Wilson (Calif.), 32-3, Southern Section champion (Baseball America national champion). Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 31-3 (Student Sports Fab 50 national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Seton Hall Prep won its third straight Non-Public A state championship, defeating St. Joseph's (Metuchen) 10-1 in the championship game. Both Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and USA Today ranked the Pirates No. 1. Ranked No. 1 in the nation in four different preseason polls.

2006 — The Woodlands (Texas)
Record: 38-1
Coach: Ron Eastman
Top Players: Steven Maxwell, P (championship game MVP); Kyle Drabek, P (All-American, 14-0, 12 HR, first round draft pick),; Paul Goldschmidt, 3B (future Arizona Diamondback); Mickey Armstrong Jr., C (all-tournament).
Biggest Wins: Def. Katy, 5-3 in Class 5A state final; Midland, 5-3 in semifinal.
Competition: Monsignor Pace (Fla.), 28-4, Florida 4A state champion; James Monroe (Bronx, N.Y.), 50-2, PSAL A champion.
Reasons for No. 1: After an early season loss, the Highlanders won 32 straight games to finish No. 1 in the Baseball America, USA Today, Student Sports and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper rankings. The team featured one of the nation's top players in Kyle Drabek, son of former Pittsburgh Pirate Doug Drabek.

2005 — Russell County (Seale, Ala.)
Record: 38-1
Coach: Tony Rasmus
Top Players: Colby Rasmus (All-American, 24 HR, .484); Cory Rasmus (all-state, 11-0); Kasey Kiker (12-1, 173 Ks, all-state).
Biggest Wins: Pinson Valley, 5-1, 7-0 in Class 5A state championship game.
Competition: Brownsburg (Ind.), 35-0, Indiana state champion; Nova (Davie, Fla.), 30-1, Florida state champion (Student Sports Fab 50 national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Led by the Rasmus family, coach Tony and players Colby and Cory, Russell County finished the season ranked No. 1 by USA Today, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and Baseball America. The only loss of the season came in the Class 5A state semifinals to Stanhope Elmore in a three-game series. Began the season ranked No. 4 by Baseball America.

2004 — Chatsworth (Calif.)
Record: 35-0
Coach: Tom Meusborn
Top Players: Jason Dominguez, P (13-0, Los Angeles Times all-star); Willie Cabrera, IF (Los Angeles Times all-star); Mike Moustakas, IF (freshman, future MLB player); Matt Dominguez, IF (freshman, future MLB player).
Biggest Wins: Defeated San Pedro, 7-1 for Los Angeles City Section championship.
Competition: La Cueva (Albuquerque, N.M.), 28-0, New Mexico state champion (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: The Chancellors ended up with a 50-game win streak in winning their second straight national championship. That streak eventually stretched to 54 in 2005 as the Chancellors, ranked No. 1 by Baseball America, Student Sports and USA Today, won their second straight Los Angeles City Section championship in 2004.

2003 — Chatsworth (Calif.)
Record: 33-1
Coach: Tom Meusborn
Top Players: Justin Cassell (15-0, 119 strikeouts, All-LA City Player of the Year); Jordan Sisson, C (All-City); Jason Dominguez, P-OF (11-0, All-City); Keith Renno, OF (All-City).
Biggest Wins: Carson, 3-0 for Los Angeles City Section championship.
Competition: La Costa Canyon (San Diego), 32-1 (Student Sports Fab 50 national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Although ranked No. 2 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, Chatsworth was ranked No. 1 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, USA Today and Baseball America. The Chancellors had one of the top pitching combinations in the nation in Justin Cassel, brother of NFL quarterback Matt Cassel, and Jason Dominguez. In 2002, Chatsworth (31-2) finished the season ranked No. 5 by USA Today.

2002 — Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City, Texas)
Record: 35-1
Coach: Rick Carpenter
Top Players: James Loney (8 HR, .509); Wardell Starling (12-0, 109 Ks).
Biggest Wins: Austin Bowie, 11-4 Class 5A state finals; Round Rock Westwood, 6-1 state semifinals.
Competition: Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.), 28-2 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: The Knights won 27 straight games heading into the postseason and then lost their first playoff game to Lamar (Houston). Elkins bounced back to win the remainder of its games and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by Baseball America, Student Sports and USA Today. Elkins had a pair of players drafted in Loney and Starling.

2001 — Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.)
Record: 27-2
Coach: Kenny Kedrena
Top Players: Miguel Sanchez, P (11-1); Mike Lange (All-Southern Section); Adam Simon (All-Section).
Biggest Wins: Burroughs (Ridgecrest), 8-0 for Southern Section championship.
Competition: Seminole (Fla.), 21-10 Florida state champion. All 10 losses by forfeit. (Student Sports Fab 50 and Baseball America national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: USA Today and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper both named the Lancers No. 1 in the nation after they won the Southern Section championship. Bishop Amat posted 11 shutouts on the season.

2000 — Rancho Bernardo (San Diego)
Record: 30-3
Coach: Sam Blalock
Top Players: Scott Heard, C (All-American); Matt Wheatland, P (All-North County player of the year).
Biggest Wins: Vista, 1-0 San Diego Section championship game.
Competition: Gloucester Catholic (N.J.), 33-1 (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national champion, but ranked No. 2 in New Jersey).
Reasons for No. 1: In 2009, the San Diego Union named the 1999 Rancho Bernardo team as the best in San Diego history, but it was the 2000 team that won a national championship. Due to its 1999 season, Rancho Bernardo started the season ranked No. 1 by USA Today, Student Sports and Baseball America. While some losses dropped the Broncos from the top spot during the season, they rose back to the top with the win over Vista.

1999 — Lassiter (Marietta, Ga.)
Record: 35-2
Coach: Mickey McMurtry
Top Players: Jarrod Schmidt, P (12-0); Chad Bendinelli, P, (11-0).
Biggest Wins: Brookwood, 10-0, 6-0, in state championship series.
Competition: Bellaire (Houston), 38-2, Texas state champion (USA Today national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Lassiter outscored opponents 81-21 in the playoffs and finished the season with a 33-game win streak. Lassiter was named No. 1 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and Baseball America.

1998 — Edwardsville (Ill.)
Record: 40-0
Coach: Tom Pile
Top Players: Ben Hutton, P (17-0, 1.07 ERA, All-Metro); Dave Crouthers, OF (.486, All-Metro).
Biggest Wins: Tinley Park Andrew, 10-2, in Class AA state final.
Competition: Vestavia Hills (Ala.), 32-2 Alabama state champion (Baseball America national champion); Clovis (Calif.), 33-2 (USA Today national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Three different teams earned recognition as national champion, but Edwardsville was the only one to finish undefeated. Ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Edwardsville, ironically, did not have any players on the Chicago Tribune's all-state team, but the downstate club did place two on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Team.

1997 — Washington (New York City)
Record: 44-2
Coach: Steve Mandl
Top Players: Vicente Rosario, CF (.623, 16 HR, drafted 8th round); Emmanuel Ulloa, P (14-1, 127 Ks, drafted 21st round); Manuel Olivera, P (12-0, 147 Ks); Sharbel Torres, 2B (.495).
Biggest Wins: Lehman, 7-3 PSAL championship.
Competition: Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), 32-3, Florida state champion (Baseball America national champion); Clovis (Calif.), 33-2 (USA Today national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: George Washington had reached the PSAL championship game three straight years before finally winning in 1997. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper lists GW as its national champion (Baseball America had GW third). In 14 years at George Washington, Mandl posted a record of 432-61.

1996 — Westminster Christian (Miami)
Record: 36-0
Coach: Rich Hoffman
Top Players: K.O. Weigandt, P (all-state); Mark Walker, OF (all-state); Jason Moore, SS (all-state); Manny Crespo, OF (all-state.
Biggest Wins: Liberty County (Bristol, Fla.), 10-6.
Competition: Cherry Creek (Colo.), 22-0; Kennedy (Granada Hills, Calif.), 31-3; Monterey (Lubbock, Texas), 36-3.
Reasons for No. 1: National champions in 1992, Westminster earned the honor again in 1996 by sweeping national champion recognition from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national champion, Baseball America, and USA Today.

1995 — Germantown (Tenn.)
Record: 38-0
Coach: Phil Clark
Top Players: Jay Hood (All-American); Chris Lotterhos (All-American); Matt Hale (all-state); Tom Hildebrand (all-state).
Biggest Wins: Fountain Valley, 10-6; Montgomery Bell Academy, 6-3 AAA state final.
Competition: Fountain Valley (Calif.), 26-3-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Winner of the Upper Deck tournament in California, Germantown finished the season undefeated while winning the AAA state championship. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Baseball America, and USA Today all named Germantown as national champion. Key win for Germantown came in the Upper Deck tournament when it defeated Fountain Valley, which was ranked No. 1 in the nation.

1994 — Start (Toledo, Ohio)
Record: 31-0
Coach: Rich Arbinger
Top Players: Matt King, P (all-state); Dan Wardrop, 1B (all-state); Steve Luda, 3B (all-state).
Biggest Wins: Washington (Massillon, Ohio), 10-2 for Division I state championship.
Competition: Sarasota (Fla.), 33-4, Florida state champion (Baseball America national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: Start went 27-3 in 1993 and got as high as No. 4 in the national rankings. A total of seven starters returned from that team in 1994. Start became the first team from the City League to win a state championship in 67 years. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper named Start the national champion.

1993 — Bullard (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 26-3-1
Coach: Mike Noakes
Top Players: Tony Sciola, C (Fresno Bee All-Area team, .431); Greg Marchbanks, 3B (all-area, .365); John Phillips, P (14-0, 114 Ks, all-area player of the year).
Biggest Wins: West (Bakersfield, Calif.), 5-2 for Yosemite Division championship.
Competition: Arundel (Md.), 21-1, Maryland state champion (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national champion); Greenway (Ariz.), 32-2 (Baseball America national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: In a replay of 1986, Esperanza (Anaheim) defeated Simi Valley (Calif.), which was ranked No. 1 in the nation. Simi Valley's loss was Bullard's gain as it moved into the No. 1 spot in the USA Today final national rankings nearly a month after playing its final game. Bullard had won the school's fifth section championship on May 21.

1992 — Westminster Christian (Miami)
Record: 33-2
Coach: Rich Hoffman
Top Players: Alex Rodriguez, SS (all-state, All-American, future MLB No. 1 draft pick); Mikey Lopez, IF (all-state); Doug Mientkiewicz, C (all-state, future MLB player); Steve Butler, P (all-state, All-American).
Biggest Wins: Florida Air, 5-1, Class 2A state championship.
Competition: Cherry Hills West (N.J.), 27-3, New Jersey state champion (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national champion)
Reasons for No. 1: Led by a pair of All-Americans in future MLB standout Rodriguez and team MVP Butler, Westminster Christian earned national champion honors from USA Today. The team possessed five players who went on to play professionally.

1991 — Fairfield (Ohio)
Record: 32-3
Coach: Gary Yeatts
Top Players: Spence Gunnell (All-city player of the year, .465, 9-2); Terry Mitchum, 1B (all-city); Chris Williams, SS (all-city); Tracy Moore, P (all-city).
Biggest Wins: Newark, 10-2, state semifinals; Boardman (Youngstown), 4-0, Division I state final.
Competition: Northeast (Pasadena, Md.), 24-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Sitting at No. 10 in late May, Fairfield climbed up the USA Today rankings until it took over the No. 1 spot following the win over Boardman. Named by the Cincinnati Enquirer as the third greatest team in city history.

1990 — Carlsbad (N.M.)
Record: 26-0
Coach: Tom Forni
Top Players: Shane Andrews, P (all-state, No. 11 overall pick in MLB draft); Mark Beeman, 3B (all-state); Jamie Zuniga, OF (all-state).
Biggest Wins: Farmington, 14-11, for state championship.
Competition: Lake Brantley (Fla.), 30-4, Florida state champion (USA Today national champion); Monte Vista (Cupertino, Calif.), 27-3.
Reasons for No. 1: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper tabbed Carlsbad as the national champion with several weeks left in the season, stating that there wasn't anything any other team could do to knock the Cavemen out of the top spot. The state title was the third in a row for Carlsbad.

1989 — Sarasota (Fla.)
Record: 32-1
Coach: Clyde Metcalf
Top Players: Ron Scott, P (all-state); David Ferriera, IF (all-state); Greg Blosser, OF (all-state); Ray Suplee, OF (all-state);
Biggest Wins: Sandalwood, 9-0, for state championship.
Competition: Bullard (Fresno), 28-2
Reasons for No. 1: One year after being upset by Sandalwood in the AAA finals, Sarasota defeated the Jacksonville team 9-0 on a no-hitter by Scott in the 4A championship. The win gave Sarasota the national championship by both USA Today and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

1988 — Memorial (West New York, N.J.)
Record: 28-1
Coach: Anthony Ferrainolo
Top Players: Juan Llanes, 2B (.6-5, all-state first team); Bob Montalvo, SS (all-state second team);
Biggest Wins: Def. Madison Central, 7-3, for Group IV championship.
Competition: Bullard (Fresno) 29-1
Reasons for No. 1: Under Ferrainolo, who passed away in 2011 as the state's all-time winningest coach in New Jersey, Memorial won four group championships and seven sectional crowns. Both USA Today and Collegiate Baseball chose Memorial as the national champion. The only loss was an 8-1 defeat to Bayonne, which ended a 23-game win streak.

1987 — La Porte (Ind.)
Record: 34-2
Coach: Ken Schreiber
Top Players: Bub Gale, P (15-1, 127 Ks, all-state).
Biggest Wins: Evansville Central, 4-1, for state championship (ending Central's 22-game win streak).
Competition: Cooper (Abilene), 33-3 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper co-national champion).
Reasons for No. 1: La Porte had already won four state championships under coach Schreiber, who was the winningest coach in Indiana baseball history. The 34-2 record was the best winning percentage posted by a La Porte team.

1986 — Pine Bluff (Ark.)
Record: 27-1
Coach: Billy Bock
Top Players: Jon House, IF (all-state); Mark Lewis, IF (all-state; Chris Bryan, P (10-0, all-state).
Biggest Wins: North Little Rock Northeast, 1-0, Class AAA state championship.
Competition: Bellaire (Houston), 29-4; Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.), 25-3-1 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national champion)
Reasons for No. 1: The only time we will disagree with the national champion selections chosen in real time is 1986. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper chose Esperanza as the national champion after it knocked off No. 1 Simi Valley in the Southern Section semifinals. Esperanza went on to win the section title. However, Cal-Hi Sports does not select Esperanza as its state team of the year (it chose Santana of Santee instead). Esperanza was also the fourth seed entering the Southern Section finals. The more obvious choice in 1986 was Pine Bluff, which won a state record fourth consecutive state championship and finished the season with one loss.

1985 — Hialeah-Miami Lakes (Hialeah, Fla.)
Record: 32-1
Coach: Gary Krey
Top Players: Ricky Rojas, P (all-county, 13-0, state record 618 career strikeouts); Ozzie Carcache, 2B (all-county, .390); Titi Roche, OF (all-county, .451).
Biggest Wins: Mosley, 4-2, for Class 4A state championship.
Competition: Oak Forest (Ill.), 36-1
Reasons for No. 1: The state championship was the fourth for Miami Lakes over the previous nine seasons and was arguably the best of the four. Rojas was one of the top prospects in Florida and was taken in the fifth round of the MLB draft. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper chose Miami Lakes as co-national champions along with Oak Forest (Ill.).

1984 — Tate (Cantonment, Fla.)
Record: 38-1
Coach: Randy Putnam
Top Players: Jay Bell, SS (.505, 8th overall pick in MLB draft).
Biggest Wins: Southridge (Miami), 4-2, in Class 4A state championship game.
Competition: Northwest Omaha (Neb.), 19-0, state champion; Rancho Cordova (Calif.), 33-5-1; Freeport Brazoswood (Texas), 33-5.
Reasons for No. 1: Tate had been one of the more successful baseball programs in Florida, winning three state titles starting in 1962. The 1984 state title was the school's fourth (it has won seven total, winning again in 1986). Bell ranked as one of the top high school players in the country, being the third high school player drafted in 1984. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper chose Tate as the national champion.

1983 — Omaha Northwest (Neb.)
Record: 21-1
Coach: Bill Olson
Top Players: Gregg Olson, P (27-0, 0.76 ERA, 276 Ks in career, fourth overall pick in 1988 MLB draft).
Biggest Wins: Def. Millard South, 10-0, for Class A state championship.
Competition: Port Arthur Jefferson (Texas), 34-3; El Cerrito (Calif.), 27-1; Hamilton (Ohio), 27-2
Reasons for No. 1: Behind the pitching of future Baltimore Oriole Olson, son of coach Bill Olson, Northwest dominated in the mid-1980s, winning 53 straight games. The streak began in 1983 when Northwest was named national champion by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. The state championship was the second of four straight for Northwest.

1982 — Madison Central (Richmond, Ky.)
Record: 40-0
Coach: Don Richardson
Top Players: Ricky Congleton, P (10-0, tournament MVP); Tim Black (all-tournament); Gene Cruse (all-tournament); Greg Stephens (all-tournament).
Biggest Wins: Pleasure Ridge Park, 9-0, in state championship game.
Competition: Carol City (Fla.), 27-6, Class 4A state champion; Sharpstown (Houston), 32-4; Euclid (Ohio), 33-1.
Reasons for No. 1: The first undefeated state champion in Kentucky in 16 years, Madison Central set a state record for most wins in an undefeated season that stands today. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper named the Indians as national champion.

1981 — Bowie (Md.)
Record: 22-0
Coach: Bumps Vaughan
Top Players: Alex Pauley (All-Met by Washington Post); Brent Friehauf (All-Met); David Vaughan (All-Met), Swen Thompson (All-Met).
Biggest Wins: Ovrerlea, 3-2, for Maryland Class AA state championship.
Competition: Boone (Orlando), 27-3; Westminster (Los Angeles), 23-4; Monterey (Lubbock, Texas), 38-4.
Reasons for No. 1: Over the course of the 1981 and 1982 season, Bowie won 54 straight games. In the 10 seasons starting in 1978, Bowie went on to post a record of 208-25. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper selected Bowie as national champion.

1980 — Bullard (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 29-2
Coach: Mike Noakes
Top Players: Richie Gaynor, P (16-1, North Yosemite League pitcher of the year, threw no-hitter in playoffs vs. Mt. Whitney); Randy Asadoor, SS (drafted in 11th round)
Biggest Wins: South (Bakersfield), 11-6 for Yosemite Division championship.
Competition: Miami Lakes (Fla.), 29-2.
Reasons for No. 1: From 1977 to 1980, Bullard went 110-11-2 with four straight league championships. Pitcher Gaynor was drafted in the sixth round of the MLB draft and had two no-hitters on the season. Coach Noakes played at Fresno High School for Ollie Bidwell, coach of the 1958 championship team.

1979 — White Oak (Jacksonville, N.C.)
Record: 22-0
Coach: Tom McGirt
Top Players: Louie Meadows, P (national player of the year, 29-0 career pitching record).
Biggest Wins: East Gaston, 4-2, for state championship.
Competition: Oregon Clay (Ohio), 25-2; Miami Lakes (Fla.), 23-6; Tampa Catholic (Fla.), 30-4.
Reasons for No. 1: White Oak won back-to-back state championships in 1978 and 1979, posting a 45-0 record during that run. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper picked White Oak the national champions in 1979.

1978 — Southeast (Wichita, Kan.)
Record: 23-0
Coach: Jim Deckinger
Top Players: Mark Nordyke, 1B (All-City); Jim Thomas, SS (All-City); Bret Reynolds, 3B (All-City); Mark Reynolds, OF (All-City); Doug Hoppock, P (All-City); Kevin Clinton, P (All-City).
Biggest Wins: Shawnee Mission South, 6-3, for state championship.
Competition: Coral Park (Miami), 3-2; Redwood (Larkspur, Calif.), 30-5.
Reasons for No. 1: The second team to ever be chosen national champion by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Southeast had six players make the All-City first team, with half a dozen playing baseball at the college level. Became first Kansas team to win state championship with undefeated season.

1977 — Edgewood (West Covina, Calif.)
Record: 29-1
Coach: Karl Major
Top Players: Mike Pill, P (14-0, 33 straight wins, 0.50 ERA); Ken Angulo, P; Rick Aguilera, P (future MLB player).
Biggest Wins: Magnolia, 3-1, for Southern Section 3A championship.
Competition: Redwood (Larkspur, Calif.), 33-4; Bullard (Fresno), 31-1-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Edgewood won the CIF Southern Section 3A championship in 1976 and won it again in 1977. While Collegiate Baseball Newspaper selected Redwood (Larkspur, Calif.) as the top team in the nation, Cal-Hi Sports gives the edge to Edgewood for its state team of the year.

1976 — Lakewood (Calif.)
Record: 22-4-1
Coach: John Herbold
Top Players: Billy Simpson, OF (drafted No. 12 overall); Don Ruzek, SS (drafted No. 43 overall); Stan Williams, OF (drafted 11th round); Randy Whistler, C (drafted 14th round)
Biggest Wins: Long Beach Jordan, 5-3, for Southern Section championship.
Competition: Nathan Hale (Tulsa, Okla.), 35-2; Arundel (Md.), 21-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Lakewood had contended for the Southern Section championship the previous two seasons before winning it all in 1976. Joe Namath Prep Sports Magazine, edited by Barry Sollenberger of Arizona, selected Lakewood as the national champion. Four Lakewood players were chosen in the MLB draft.

1975 — Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.)
Record: 27-3
Coach: Ernie Martinez
Top Players: Bill Bordley, P (16-1, 0.45 ERA, 176 Ks, CIF Player of the Year); Chris Smith (.395, future MLB player); Tim Collins (All-CIF).
Biggest Wins: Lynwood, 1-0, CIF Southern Section championship.
Competition: Nathan Hale (Tulsa, Okla.), 34-2, Oklahoma state champion.
Reasons for No. 1: Bordley, a two-time All-CIF player of the year who was drafted in the first round by the San Francisco Giants in 1976, led Bishop Montgomery to the Southern Section championship. He won 16 games, including a no-hitter against Bassett in the CIF playoffs.

1974 — Monterey (Lubbock, Texas)
Record: 36-4
Coach: Bobby Moegle
Top Players: Jimmy Shankle, C (All-state); Marlin Hamilton, OF (all-state).
Biggest Wins: Spring Woods, 4-2, for Class 4A state championship.
Competition: Rummel (La.), 19-0.
Reasons for No. 1: En route to becoming the winningest baseball coach in Texas state history, Moegle led the Plainsmen to four state titles. The early 1970s was the heyday for Monterey as it reached the state finals in 1971, 1972 and 1974, winning the title in the latter two seasons. Arguably the 1974 squad was Moegle's best state title team.

1973 — Kennedy Catholic (Burien, Wash.)
Record: 28-1
Coach: Joe Faccone
Top Players: Floyd Bannister, P (15-0, 14 shutouts, 0.00 ERA, 182 Ks).
Biggest Wins: Shadle Park, 5-0 (Bannister no-hitter, 14 Ks), Clover Park, 2-1, state championship.
Competition: Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio), 27-1
Reasons for No. 1: With future first round MLB draft pick Bannister on the mound, the Lancers were unbeatable as he tossed 14 shutouts in his 15 wins. The championship came in the first season that Washington held a state tournament. Bannister was eventually chosen No. 1 overall in the 1976 MLB draft.

1972 — Tucson High Magnet School (Ariz.)
Record: 25-0
Coach: Ray Adkins
Top Players: Ron Hassay, SS, (.486); Frank Castro, P (13-0, 0.68 ERA).
Biggest Wins: Chandler, 4-3, in state finals.
Competition: Monterey (Lubbock, Texas), 30-6, Texas state champion; Escambia (Tallahassee, Fla.), 28-1-1, Florida state champion.
Reasons for No. 1: Tucson had previously won a national record 26 state championships, but the 1972 team is considered the best of Tucson's 27 state crowns. The team batted .433 on the season and was led by future MLB catcher Hassey, who batted .486 and played shortstop. Al Lopez batted .340 and hit a home run to beat Chandler in the finals. Castro pitched all three games in the postseason and struck out 26 batters over 23.2 innings.

1971 — El Segundo (Calif.)
Record: 33-2
Coach: John Stevenson
Top Players: Scott McGregor, P (18-1, CIF Player of the Year); George Brett, SS (.339, All-CIF, future MLB Hall of Famer); Kirk Allison, OF (.429, All-CIF).
Biggest Wins: Def. Lompoc, 5-2;
Competition: East Jefferson (La.), 21-2; Lompoc (Calif.), 26-2; LaPorte (Ind.), 33-4-1, Indiana state champion.
Reasons for No. 1: Lompoc was actually the top seed in the 3A CIF state finals after beating El Segundo in the 1970 playoffs. However, the Eagles got a pitching win from McGregor and four hits from Allison in the 5-2 championship win. Both McGregor and Brett went on to win a World Series with the Orioles and Royals, respectively.

1970 — Archbishop Molloy (Queens, N.Y.)
Record: 36-0
Coach: Jack Curran
Top Players: Carl Czurda, P (11-0, 0.41 ERA); Rich Kisielewski, P (0.58 ERA); Gary Kenney, C (.314); Ed Kurpiel, 1B (.407, 10 HR, Daily News All-Star).
Biggest Wins: McClancy (Jackson Heights, N.Y.), 7-5, for Catholic High School Athletic Association championship.
Competition: Lompoc (Calif.), 27-1, Naugatuck (Conn.), 22-0; South Bend Clay (Ind.), 39-3
Reasons for No. 1: Molloy had won eight straight Queens crowns and five city championships over the previous six seasons under legendary coach Curran, who is also one of the winningest basketball coaches in high school history. Molloy finished the season with a 47-game win streak.

1969 — Creighton Prep (Omaha, Neb.)
Record: 19-0
Coach: George Kocsis
Top Players: Jim Jacobsen, P (0.00 ERA); Jerry Jurgensen, P.
Biggest Wins: Omaha Ryan, 1-0, state semifinal; Omaha Westside, 4-3, state finals.
Competition: Huntsville Lee (Ala.), 20-0; Grant (Sacramento, Calif.), 16-1.
Reasons for No. 1: The Junior Jays only trailed in a game twice throughout the season en route to posting the first unbeaten season at Creighton Prep in 30 seasons. Creighton Prep also won the third state title of the school year after winning championships in football and basketball.

1968 — Hoover (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 27-3
Coach: Jack Hannah
Top Players: Ron Dunn, 2B (drafted 94th overall); Richard Wurkits, C (drafted 118th overall); Fred Frazier, IF (drafted 81st overall in 1969), Bruce McKinney, P (10-1, All-Metro Player of the Year).
Biggest Wins: Bakersfield, 10-3, in Central Section championship game.
Competition: Franklin County (Tenn.), 31-3; Manual (Peoria, Ill.), 26-3.
Reasons for No. 1: Hoover dominated baseball in the valley, earning Fresno Bee All-Metro MVP and coach of the year honors three years in a row and culminating with the 1968 team that featured three MLB drafted players.

1967 — South San Antonio (Texas)
Record: 39-0
Coach: Cliff Gustafson
Top Players: John Langerhans, P (threw no-hitter in state final, played at Texas); Raul Zamora (played at Baylor); Dennis Magro (played at Texas); Mark Salazar (All-tourney, 36-1 pitching record).
Biggest Wins: Def. Beaumont Forest Park, 3-0, in state championship game.
Competition: Hillsborough (Tampa, Fla.) 17-3; King (Corpus Christi), 32-3; La Porte (Ind.), 28-3, Indiana state champion.
Reasons for No. 1: The Bobcats won seven state championships in 10 seasons with the 1967 title being the final one. Gustafson coached South San Antonio before moving on to a Hall of Fame career at the University of Texas. The 39 wins were also part of a 45-game winning streak. Seven of the players on the team went on to play at Division 1 schools. First Texas team to go undefeated in tournament's 19-year history.

1966 — Ritenour (Overland, Mo.)
Record: 23-2
Coach: Lee Engert
Top Players: Mike Pruett, P (drafted by Cardinals); Jerry Reuss, P (drafted 2nd round by Cardinals, 1967).
Biggest Wins: Def. Augustinian Academy (St. Louis), 2-0.
Competition: El Segundo (Calif.), 24-4-1; Ashland (Ky.), 25-0; Fairmount West (Ohio), 19-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Ritenour was one of the top baseball programs in Missouri during the 1960s, but hadn't won a state championship until 1966. The Huskies won its sixth straight Suburban Conference championship and posted 10 shutouts during the season. The pitching staff included two hurlers who were eventually drafted, including Pruett, who picked up the win in the state finals and went 8-1 on the season and 24-2 for this career. There was also Reuss, future World Series winner with the Dodgers, who was drafted in 1967 after leading Ritenour to a second straight state championship.

1965 — Fair Park (Shreveport, La.)
Record: 33-3
Coach: James Farrar
Top Players: Dick Hicks, P (14-1, 144 Ks, All-City Player of the Year); Randy Bouknight, P (7-0, All-City); Jerry Smith, P (6-0, All-City); Wayne Burney, 1B (.404, All-City).
Biggest Wins: Redemptorist, 2-1, 8-3 in state finals.
Competition: Manual (Peoria), 25-3, Illinois state champion.
Reasons for No. 1: Fair Park had an outstanding team in 1963, winning 44 games and a Louisiana state championship. The 1965 team was part of the Fair Park dynasty during the 1960s, placing nine players on the Shreveport Times All-City Team and seven on the All-District team.

1964 — Lawton (Okla.)
Record: 23-1
Coach: Orval "Bo" Bowman
Top Players: Tom Fremin (All-state, .358); Johnny Wilson (All-state, .389, 25 RBI).
Biggest Wins: Northwest, 4-1.
Competition: Lynwood (Calif.), 23-2; Lima (Ohio), 18-0; Christian Brothers (Memphis, Tenn.), 21-2.
Reasons for No. 1: Lawton won 55 of 60 games from 1962 to 1960 and went 60 consecutive games without being shutout. Lawton was considered the top program in Oklahoma in the early 1960s after reaching the state tournament six straight years. The 1964 team was the most successful of all Lawton teams. Lawton also won the state championship in football that season.

1963 — Science Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.)
Record: 22-3
Coach: John Broyles
Top Players: Steve Spurrier, P (7-0, .400, football All-American, future Heisman Trophy winner); Tommy Hager (.396), Jim Sanders (.344); Dave Foster (.328).
Biggest Wins: Christan Brothers, 7-6, 7-5 for state championship.
Competition: Muskegon, 21-1; Rocky Mount, 16-5; Fair Park, 44-4-1.
Reasons for No. 1: The Hilltoppers made their fourth straight trip to the state tournament and repeated as state champions in 1963. Future Heisman Trophy winner Spurrier pitched two games in the state playoffs, including the final game against Christian Brothers. Spurrier was also All-American in football and all-state in basketball.

1962 — Bishop Armstrong (Sacramento, Calif.)
Record: 22-2
Coach: Dick Sperbeck
Top Players: Jim Fox, 1B (.482, All-City); Mike Green, P (9-0, 127 Ks, All-City); Bert Bonomi, C (All-City); Larry Marietti, IF (All-City); Doug Crawford, IF (All-City).
Biggest Wins: McClatchy, 1-0, Grant, 9-2.
Competition: Science Hill, 22-2, Tennessee state champion; Cape Girardeau (Mo.), 21-0, Missouri state champion; Chicopee (Mass.), 21-0, state champion; Clarksdale (Miss.), 20-1, Mississippi state champion.
Reasons for No. 1: One of the top athletic programs in the Sacramento Valley during the 1960s, the Falcons had one of the top pitchers in the state in Green, who was the Sacramento player of the year as a junior. A total of six players made the Sacramento Bee All-Metro team.

1961 — Berwyn/Cicero Morton (Cicero, Ill.)
Record: 23-2
Coach: Dick Kucera
Top Players: Arnie Vesely (state tournament MVP); Wayne Reznicek (all-tourney); Rick Rakowski (all-tourney); Rich Hanus (all-tourney); Larry Mack (all-tourney); Billy Posen (all-tourney).
Biggest Wins: Wood River (Peoria), 20-0 in state finals (Larry Mack threw no-hitter).
Competition: Grand Haven (Mich.), 31-0, state champions; Jesuit (New Orleans), 15-5, state champion; Beaver Falls (Pa.), 16-0, WPIAL champion (Led by Joe Namath).
Reasons for No. 1: Morton East, as it was known in 1961, dominated in the state finals, nearly doubling the previous high score in a championship game. The overwhelming performance resulted in scribes musing that Morton East was the best Illinois team to ever win a state tournament.

1960 — Bellaire (Texas)
Record: 40-5
Coach: Howard Allen
Top Players: John Crain, P (all-tournament); Bill Pruett, C (all-tournament); Steve Cosgrove, 3B (all-tournament); Tom Hillary, SS (all-tournament); Jerry Braswell, OF (all-tournament).
Biggest Wins: Harlandale, 5-4, state championship game.
Competition: Roosevelt (Fresno, Calif.), 20-2; Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio), 21-2; Medford (Ore.), 26-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Harlandale actually entered the state tournament as the favorite based on its undefeated record, but Bellaire picked up the win in the championship game to claim the first state title in school history. Bellaire added another state championship in 1962 and has been one of the more successful programs in the state over the past 50 years.

1959 — DuPont Manual (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 33-1
Coach: Ralph Kimmel
Top Players: Bobby Marr, P (10-1, four no-hitters, batted .600); Leland Melear, P (10-0, one no-hitter).
Biggest Wins: Defeated Lafayette, 17-0, in semifinal. Defeated Greenville, 3-1, in state finals.
Competition: Elder (Cincinnati), 21-2; Christian Brothers (Memphi, Tenn.), 20-2; Lakeland (Fla.), 22-5; St. Ignatius (San Francisco), 28-3; Woodlawn (Ala.), 20-1.
Reasons for No. 1: The 1959 state championship was the fifth in school history, setting a state record. It was also the fourth state championship in the decade for the Crimson. Courier Journal staff writer Earl Cox, noted that the Manual team might have been the greatest in Kentucky prep history.

1958 — Fresno (Calif.)
Record: 25-1
Coach: Ollie Bidwell
Top Players: Dick Ellsworth, P (15-0, future MLB pitcher); Jim Maloney, P (future 20-game winner with Cincinnati Reds); Pat Corrales C (future MLB manager).
Biggest Wins: Beat frosh teams from Stanford and Cal.
Competition: Maine, 20-2, Illinois state champion; Cleveland NJROTC, 23-1, Missouri state champion; Elder, 22-3, Ohio state champion.
Reasons for No. 1: Arguably the greatest team in California history. One year after going 22-2, Fresno did even better in 1958. Team posted 15 shutouts, which was a state record for several decades. Team included three future professional players.

1957 — Academy of Richmond County (Augusta, Ga.)
Record: 17-0
Coach: A.L. Williams
Top Players: Pitching staff of Jack Fisher, Herb Alewine and Luther Shead combined for 11 shutouts in 14 regular season games. The highest ERA on the staff was 0.35. Staff posted three straight no-hitters.
Biggest Wins: Lanier, 8-1, in state championship game. Northside, 4-1, in semifinals.
Competition: Fair Park (Shreveport, La.), 21-2, Louisiana state champion; Pasco (Fla.), 26-5, Florida state champion; Abilene (Texas), 27-5-1, Texas state champion; Fresno (Calif.), 22-2; Mesa (Ariz.), 21-1, Arizona state champion.
Reasons for No. 1: A total of nine players on the 1957 team went on to play at either University of Georgia or Georgia Southern College, according to the Area of Richmond County Hall of Fame. The 1957 team finished its season on a 30-game win streak, including an 8-1 win over Lanier (Ga.) in the finals. Richmond Academy had won seven straight region and state championships and had posted a record of 147-13 during that stretch.

1956 — Abilene (Texas)
Record: 26-3
Coach: B.L. Blackburn
Top Players: All-state players included Jim Carpenter, LF; Bruce Boyd, 1B; Freddie Green, 3B; Glynn Gregory, C (.437); Altus Scott, P (13-1, two no-hitters); Bob Carothers, SS.
Biggest Wins: Highland Park, 13-0 (state championship), Fort Worth Paschal, 8-3 (state semifinals).
Competition: Lane Tech (Chicago, Ill.), 20-1; Tucson (Ariz.), 20-2; Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio), 25-2; Beaumont (Mo.), 21-1; Chattanooga Central (Tenn.), 17-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Abilene was the runner-up to Paris in 1955 in the state finals and it also had a good group of athletes from a Class 4A state champion football team in the fall. The 13-0 win over Highland Park was the widest margin of victory in a state final. Abilene had been to the state finals three other times before finally winning in 1956.

1955 — Elder (Cincinnati)
Record: 22-2
Coach: Don Ruberg
Top Players: Ron Moeller, P (winning pitcher in state finals, 10 strikeouts); Dick Selcer 2B, (all-state quarterback).
Biggest Wins: Massillon, 3-0, for Ohio state championship. Defending state champion Mansfield, 18-3, in semifinals.
Competition: Joplin (Mo.), 15-1
Reasons for No. 1: Elder was one of the most dominant teams in the nation during the 1950s. It won the state championship in 1952 and finished as runner-up to Mansfield in 1954. Elder went on to win a state title in 1956 and 1958-60. No school in Ohio has won more baseball games than Elder.

1954 — Lanier (Montgomery, Ala.)
Record: 20-0
Coach: Neal Posey
Top Players: Bobby Ledford Jr., P (9-0 record, no-hitter in Alabama state finals); Phillip Hunt (.385).
Biggest Wins: Anniston, 9-0, in state finals. Pepperell (Ga.), 5-0 and 4--0 for two-state championship.
Competition: Mansfield (Ohio), 26-1, Ohio state champion. Central (Cape Girardeau, Mo.), 15-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Winners of five straight state championships, Lanier posted its best season in 1954 by going undefeated in-state and then defeating Pepperell, the state champion from Georgia, in a bi-state playoff.

1953 — Capitol Hill (Oklahoma City)
Record: 27-0
Coach: John Pryor
Top Players: Bob Burr, 1B (all-state, .433); Buzzy Cleveland, 3B (all-state .396); Jim Davis, SS; Smokey Davidson, 2B, Don Demeter, CF, all signed with Dodgers.
Biggest Wins: Tulsa Rogers, 12-4, for Class A championship.
Competition: Richmond Academy (Ga.), Southeastern Tournament champion for third straight year. Compton (Calif.), 23-2.
Reasons for No. 1: Bert Wells, a Brooklyn Dodger scout, told the Daily Oklahoman in May 1953 that Capitol Hill was the best prep team he had ever seen. "They don't have a single weak position." The Redskins had five of the top seven hitters in the conference, led by Cleveland, who batted .474 in 11 games. Capitol Hill went 30-1 in 1952 and won the Class A crown.

1952 — Redstone (Republic, Pa.)
Record: 15-0
Coach: George Zoretic
Top Players: Bobby Locke, P-OF, (played nine seasons in Major Leagues).
Biggest Wins: Har-Brack, 5-3, to win WPIAL championship, McKeesport, 1-0.
Competition: Richmond Academy (Ga.), 20-3. Richmond Academy won the Southeastern Interstate Tournament. Capitol Hill (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 30-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Redstone benefited from the pitching of Locke, who went 7-0 on the season with two no-hitters. He pitched, and won, all four state tournament games. He averaged 13 strikeouts per game and played in the 1952 USA All-Star Game at the Polo Grounds.

1951 — McClatchy (Sacramento, Calif.)
Record: 22-0-1
Coach: Cliff Perry
Top Players: Earl Rose (.521, 6 HR, 46 RBI); Dave Thomas (21 SB); Bob Jones, catcher (.456, 5 HR); Chris Christin, pitcher (8-0, 64 Ks); JC Masters, pitcher (6-0).
Biggest Wins: Sacramento, 6-5. Ended the season with the conference championship and an undefeated record. Also came from behind to beat Sacramento 6-3 earlier in the season.
Competition: Gastonia (N.C.), 22-2-1, the best of six straight state championship teams. Muskegon (Mich.), 13-1, led by future NFL QB Earl Morrall, ended Kalamazoo Central's 47-game win streak.
Reasons for No. 1: The Lions were the preseason favorite and didn't disappoint. The Lions hit .309 as a team and had six players make the Sacramento Bee's all-city team. The Lions went 18-1 in 1952 for a second conference title, stretching its unbeaten streak to 41 games.

1950 — Manual (Peoria, Ill.)
Record: 25-0
Coach: Ed Stonebock
Top Players: Bob Schmitt, pitcher, 13-0 for the season, including 17 strikeouts in championship game against La Grange. Had 33-3 record over three seasons.
Biggest Wins: Defeated La Grange, 6-0, for state championship.
Competition: Lanier, 22-1 and won Southeastern Tournament championship. Kalamazoo Central, Michigan mythical state champion, 11-0 season was part of 47-0 win streak over four seasons.
Reasons for No. 1: Manual was an Illinois powerhouse in the 1940s and 50s, reaching the state finals three times in the 1940s. Starting in 1949, Stonebock won 81 percent of his game, according to a 2016 story in the Peoria Journal Star, winning three state titles. In winning the 1950 state championship, Manual became the first undefeated team to do so in state history.

1949 — Hughes (Cincinnati)
Record: 30-1
Coach: Robert Ruess
Top Players: Larry Hoover, pitcher, 11-0; Al Janzen (.409).
Biggest Wins: Defeated Woodward, 29-0, on perfect game by Al Janzen. Defeated Lakewood, 14-0, for Class A championship (Rick Marrs hit two home runs in win).
Competition: Kalamazoo Central, 11-0 with mythical state championship in Michigan. Went on to win 47 straight games from 1948 to 1951. St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.), 23-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Hughes was ranked as the seventh greatest team in Cincinnati high school baseball history in a 2019 story in the Enquirer. Hughes beats out a San Diego team that went 29-3 to win the SCIF championship, however the Cavers lost three times to Tucson, which ended up losing in the Arizona state finals to North Phoenix. The Southeastern tournament champion, Johnson City, would normally be a contender for national honors, but the Science Hill squad did not win the state championship that year and only played in the tournament because it was the host team. Hughes, meanwhile, dominated in the Class A state finals against Lakewood, winning 14-0. Hughes also had a 22-game win streak during the season.

1948 — St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.)
Record: 19-0
Coach: Joe Kasberger
Top Players: Harry Durkin, SS (all-state, .411); Gene Smith, P (all-state); Leroy O'Neill, C, (all-state); Bob Deacon, 1B (all-state second team); Don McNally, 2B (all-state second team); John Thomas, OF (all-state second team); Vic Kowalec, OF (all-state second team); Jack Feehan, P (all-state second team).
Biggest Wins: St. Mary's, 5-1. Defeated Bill Kenely, who struck out 13, for 19th win of the season and 38th in a row over two seasons.
Competition: Ramsay (Birmingham, Ala.), won the first Southeastern Interstate tournament, which featured state champions from six Southern states.
Reasons for No. 1: The 19 wins during the 1948 season were part of a 64-game win streak that began in 1947 and ended in 1950. The streak was the second-longest in high school baseball history behind Waxahachie's 65-game streak in the 1920s. The Gray Bees placed eight players on the all-state first and second teams, led by shortstop Durkin.

1947 — Lynn Classical (Lynn, Mass.)
Record: 16-1
Coach: Bill Joyce
Top Players: Harry Agganis, 1B (future member of Boston Red Sox); George Bullard, shortstop. Both Agganis and Bullard were All-Scholastics with Agganis batting .333 and Bullard .355.
Biggest Wins: Ludlow, 14-2 in state championship game. Haverhill, 8-0, no-hitter by sophomore John Robinowski.
Competition: St. Benedict (Newark, N.J.), 19-0 (part of eventual 64-game win streak), Cleveland Heights (Ohio), 20-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Lynn Classical had an outstanding group of athletes in the late 1940s. Agganis was one of the top high school football players in the country, leading Lynn Classical to a state championship in 1946 and eventually leading the team to a mythical national championship in 1947, as retroactively chosen by National Sports News Service. Agganis was also chosen captain of the first Wigwam Wiseman All-America football team in the fall of 1947, and he played in the national high school all-star baseball game played at the Polo Grounds.

1946 — Jesuit (New Orleans)
Record: 13-0
Coach: Gernon Brown
Top Players: Hugh Oser, P; Harold "Tookie" Gilbert (MLB with Giants).
Biggest Wins: St. Aloysius for state champion.
Competition: Lincoln (Cleveland), 16-1; Bishop Fenger, 13-1; Tucson, 18-4-1.
Reasons for No. 1: The Blue Jays placed 10 players on the All-Prep team and boasted 17 home runs during a 13-game schedule. Later that summer, Jesuit won the American Legion World Series.

1945 — Mission (San Francisco)
Record: 10-0
Coach: Pop Elder
Top Players: Bill Healy, P; Gus Triandos, C (future MLB all-star)
Biggest Wins: Sacred Heart, 11-2.
Competition: Lee (Jacksonville, Fla.), 17-0
Reasons for No. 1: With several future MLB players in the starting lineup, Mission did not lose a game for two seasons, posting a 19-0 record over that period.

1944 — Burlington City (Burlington, N.J.)
Record: 7-1
Coach: Paul Vandermark
Top Players: Barney Schultz, P; Sam Calderone, C; Eddie Miksis; Gene Saragnese, P.
Biggest Wins: Bordentown, 1-0.
Competition: Male (Louisville, Ky.), 15-1; Mission (San Francisco), 9-0
Reasons for No. 1: One of the most talented lineups in state history, Burlington boasted three future Major Leaguers in Schultz, Calderone and Miksis who joined the Dodgers at the end of the high school season.

1943 — Fremont (Los Angeles)
Record: 13-1
Coach: Soapy Coffman
Top Players: Gene Mauch, SS (All-city, future MLB manager); Al Koerner, OF (All-city).
Biggest Wins: Bell, 2-0, for city championship.
Competition: Tucson (Ariz.), 16-8; Morton (Ill.), 12-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Cal-Hi Sports lists Fremont as the state's best team for 1943. The Pathfinders won the Dorsey Tournament, which crowned the city champion, for the third year in a row.

1942 — Muskegon (Mich.)
Record: 15-0
Coach: Harry Potter
Top Players: Paul Bard, P (0.11 ERA)
Biggest Wins: Grand Haven, 9-0
Competition: Hoover (San Diego), 13-0; Oak Park (Ill.), 18-2; Tilstonsville (Ohio), 18-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Muskegon was 26-0 over the 1941 and 1942 seasons behind the play of Bard, who was an all-state football and basketball player as well. Big Red eventually stretched the streak to 55 wins in a row.

1941 — Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.)
Record: 13-0
Coach: James Martin
Top Players: Pete Grzywny, P (all-city), Harry Kujawa, C (.510, all-city), Frank Kolodziejski, IF, (all-city); Stan Wilkins, IF (all-city); Tommy Groth, OF (All-city).
Biggest Wins: DeLaSalle, 21-6
Competition: Trinity (Pa.), 15-2; Tucson (Ariz.), 12-0; Grover Cleveland (New York), 22-1
Reasons for No. 1: With a Catholic League title in 1941, the Shamrocks, won six straight league titles and 47 of 48 games. Catholic Central, which was located in Detroit in the 1940s, outscored opponents 253-36 including a 37-0 win over St. Ambrose, 24-2 over St. Joseph and 24-2 and 25-2 over St. Ladislaus.

1940 — Trinity (Washington, Pa.)
Record: 15-0
Coach: Donald "Dudley" Moore
Top Players: Billy Sams, P (10-0, 15 Ks in title game).
Biggest Wins: Midland, 3-0, WPIAL title game.
Competition: Leon (Tallahassee, Fla.), 12-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Coming off a Section V championship in 1939, Trinity went undefeated in 1940 and won a second straight crown in 1941. Sams also pitched in the championship game in 1941.

1939 — Hondo (Texas)
Record: 19-0
Coach: J.G. Barry
Top Players: Clint Hartung, P (future MLB player).
Biggest Wins: Adamson, 3-2, in state semifinal. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, 15-2.
Competition: Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.), 8-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Led by future New York Giant Hartung, a 6-foot-5 junior who was known as the "Hondo Hurricane," the Owls finished undefeated with Hartung pitching both the semifinal and championship game.

1938 — Palm Beach Central (Wellington, Fla.)
Record: 20-1
Coach: Red Whittington
Top Players: Edwin Booth, 1B (tournament MVP, all-state); Tommy O'Rourke, P (all-state); Billy Burns, SS (all-state); Julian Sowell, 3B (all-state); Mizell Platt, OF (all-state).
Biggest Wins: Leon (Tallahassee), 7-0, in state semifinals; Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville), 11-2.
Competition: Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.), 8-0
Reasons for No. 1: Palm Beach won 18 straight games en route to the championship, including the dominating wins in the state tournament. A total of eight Palm Beach players made the first or second all-state team.

1937 — Mason City (Iowa)
Record: 18-0
Coach: Clayton "Chick" Sutherland
Top Players: Everett Fletcher, P; Jack Shire, P; Johnny Thompson, C.
Biggest Wins: Burlington, 6-4, state semifinal; Everly, 5-1
Competition: Jamaica (NY), 15-2, PSAL champion; Canton McKinley (Ohio), 18-2; Lynn English (Boston, Mass.), 13-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Mason City captured the 1935 state championship and picked up another state title in 1937 with an unbeaten team. Iowa currently plays baseball during the summer, but it played baseball in the spring in the 1930s.

1936 — Jesuit (New Orleans)
Record: 11-0
Coach: Gernon Brown
Top Players: Connie Ryan (MLB player); Charles Gilbert (MLB player); Fast D'Antonio, C (.444); Bill Hodges (.558).
Biggest Wins: Warren Easton, 11-0, state semifinals; Ouachita, 6-0, state championship game.
Competition: Long Beach Poly (Calif.), 23-2; Phoenix Union (Ariz.), 10-0; Norwood (Ohio), 15-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Jesuit won its fourth state championship in six seasons and boasted of a powerful lineup that placed eight players on the All-Prep team. Three players went on to play in the Major Leagues.

1935 — Textile (New York)
Record: 20-1
Coach: Coach Sullivan
Top Players: Ray Romersa, P; Bill Nicholas, P.
Biggest Wins: Brooklyn Tech, 4-0, PSAL semifinals; Newtown, 8-5, in PSAL title game.
Competition: Sacramento, 20-1
Reasons for No. 1: Textile dominated the PSAL in the early 1930s, reaching the city championship game four times in the five seasons and winning back-to-back titles in 1934 and 1935.

1934 — Withrow (Cincinnati)
Record: 21-3
Coach: Angus King
Top Players: Don Corken, P; Gordon Corken, LF
Biggest Wins: Warren Harding, 12-1 in state finals; Akron East,15-2, semifinals.
Competition: Mission (San Francisco), 7-0; Phoenix Union, 7-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Withrow had one of the most dominating performances in the state tournament in state history. It bashed 17 hits in the semifinals and defeated the defending state champion Warren Harding by 11 runs. The Cincinnati Enquirer ranks Withrow as the No. 6 greatest Cincinnati team of all-time.

1933 — Phoenix Union (Ariz.)
Record: 11-0
Coach: Jessie McComb
Top Players: Elwood Esmay, P; Lee Lowery; Ed Wilson.
Biggest Wins: Glendale, 7-6, Valley championship game.
Competition: Roosevelt (N.Y.), 20-2; Austin (Texas), 20-3
Reasons for No. 1: McComb led the Coyotes to eight state championships during his tenure and led Phoenix Union to 18 title games in 19 years. At one time, Phoenix Union was one of the largest schools in the country, but it closed in 1982 due to declining enrollment.

1932 — Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 14-2
Coach: Bill Doak
Top Players: Earl Evans, P (pitched both state semifinal and final game on same day and had 22 strikeouts in two games).
Biggest Wins: St. Augustine, 8-2, state championship game.
Competition: Lane Tech (Chicago), Chicago Public League champion.
Reasons for No. 1: Coming off a state championship in 1931, Bradenton was the favorite again in 1932. Bradenton placed four players on the all-state team, paced by pitcher Earl Evans. The first loss of the season was to the Cardinals - the St. Louis Cardinals - the 1931 World Series champion Cardinals who spent their spring training in Bradenton and played the locals in a practice game. Also lost to Plant in a three-game series for district championship that Bradenton ended up winning.

1931 — Easton (New Orleans)
Record: 12-0
Coach: Lawrence Lashley
Top Players: R.C. Mullins, 1B (.378, all-prep school), Roy Smith, 3B (.415, all-prep school), S. A. Gautreaux, C (all-prep school).
Biggest Wins: St. Aloysius, 9-8 (11 innings), Commercial (New Orleans), 10-4; Jesuit, 15-0.
Competition: Boston English (Mass.), 14-0
Reasons for No. 1: Easton had one of the best programs in Louisiana starting in 1910, winning nine straight state titles (five as Boys High School before being renamed). The 1931 championship was the first crown in 13 years. The state championship was actually held prior to the final games of the season as it beat St. Aloysius for the state championship at rally day and then topped Jesuit in the season finale.

1930 — San Diego (Calif.)
Record: 19-3
Coach: Mike Morrow
Top Players: Athos Sada (.611), Tony Galasso, pitcher (12 strikeouts in playoff wins over Huntington Beach and Cathedral).
Biggest Wins: Fullerton, 31-6; Colton, 9-1 (SCIF semifinals), Cathedral, 8-0 (SCIF championship game).
Competition: Martins Ferry (Ohio), 21-1; Tucson (Ariz.), 11-1.
Reasons for No. 1: The SCIF championship in 1930 was the third straight for San Diego, which lost just one game to a high school team during the season. According to Caver Conquest, scouts and newspapermen called the 1930 team one of the most powerful ever assembled and was stronger than the 1921 team.

1929 — San Diego (Calif.)
Record: 31-5
Coach: Mike Morrow
Top Players: Marshall Pierson, pitcher; Al McNeely (.439).
Biggest Wins: Fullerton, 4-1, SCIF championship.
Competition: Phoenix, 13-0, Arizona state champion; Columbus Central (Ohio), 15-1.
Reasons for No. 1: San Diego had won the SCIF championship in 1928 and had one of the winningest teams in the nation in 1929 with 19 wins coming against military teams. Only one of the losses was to a high school team while 23 of the games were against military teams. San Diego avenged its only high school loss by beating Fullerton for the SCIF championship.

1928 — Orlando (Fla.)
Record: 25-1
Coach: L.E. Davidson
Top Players: Paul Yochum, OF (all-state); Fred Yochum, 2b (all-state), Urban Yochum, P (all-state).
Biggest Wins: Defeated Miami, 3-2, in state finals.
Competition: Phoenix (Ariz.), 9-1; San Diego, 22-8-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Coming off a state championship in 1927, Orlando won a pair of close games in the state semifinals, beating Palatka and Miami for the title. The Tigers benefited from the play of the Yochum brothers, all of whom made the all-state team. Urban Yochum was the top pitcher in the state tournament, figuring in all three wins for Orlando. The school closed in 1952.

1927 — Fullerton (Calif.)
Record: 29-5-1
Coach: Shorty Smith
Top Players: Homer Hurst, P (reportedly had 26 pitching wins).
Biggest Wins: Defeated Alhambra, 9-0, for Southern California championship.
Competition: Waxahachie (Texas), 15-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Fullerton had eight lettermen returning from a team that won the Southern California championship in 1926. Fullerton won 68 games over a two-year period and appeared in the Southern California championship game three straight seasons and four of the previous six years.

1926 — Waxahachie (Texas)
Record: 21-0
Coach: A.A. Scott
Top Players: Paul Richards, IF (future MLB all-star and manager).
Biggest Wins: Bryan, 7-5; Austin, 9-5, 13-6.
Competition: Byrd, 16-0, Louisiana state champions; Alameda (Calif.), 22-1
Reasons for No. 1: Heading into the 1926 season, Waxahachie had won 29 straight games, including 24-0 in 1925, according to information compiled by C.L. Kennedy. Waxahachie posted nine shutouts and allowed one run in six other games. Waxahachie had claimed state championships in 1924 and 1925. In the two wins against Austin, Richards pitched both right- and left-handed during the series.

1925 — Lane Tech (Chicago)
Record: 30-1
Coach: Percy Moore
Top Players: Arf Thorp, P (14 Ks vs. Flushing, no-hitter vs. Lake View).
Biggest Wins: McKinley, 16-1, for Chicago Public League championship; Flushing (N.Y.), 3-1, for Chicago-New York Interstate championship (in front of 50,000 fans).
Competition: Waxahachie (Texas), 24-0, Texas state champion
Reasons for No. 1: Lane Tech had its best team to date under coach Moore. After winning Public League championships in 1920 and 1921, Lane lost only to a prep school in 1925 en route to beating Flushing in the Chicago-New York intercity series. The Public League title was the first of three straight and seven in the next nine seasons for Lane Tech.

1924 — Lafayette Jefferson (Lafayette, Ind.)
Record: 17-0
Coach: PJ Grosshans
Top Players: Bud Stewart (14 Ks vs. Lane Tech), Pete McConnell, Doc Mohlman, Harry Kemmer, John Hanna.
Biggest Wins: Lane Tech, 9-6.
Competition: Schurz (Chicago), 21-1-1.
Reasons for No. 1: Jefferson went undefeated against Indiana competition two straight seasons, but lost to Lane Tech (Chicago) in 1923. Jefferson avenged that loss in 1924 with a victory over Lane Tech, which had traditionally been one of the top teams in the Chicago Public League.

1923 — San Diego (Calif.)
Record: 15-4
Coach: John Perry
Top Players: Stubby Nemechek, pitcher; Ed Cabelleo; Cone Galindo; Dutch Buerkle.
Biggest Wins: Covina, 12-1 (SCIF championship), Norwalk, 3-1 (SCIF playoff).
Competition: George Washington (New York), winner of Chicago-New York intercity baseball series.
Reasons for No. 1: Besides going undefeated against high school competition, San Diego defeated a 9-0 Covina team for the SCIF crown. A proposed state championship game against Northern California champion Sacramento never occurred after the Dragons declined, according to Caver Conquest. The SCIF crown was the fifth for the Cavemen. San Diego was 14-0 against high school competition with all four losses coming against the Marines, alumni or USC freshman team. San Diego did not compete in the CIF in 1922 after being suspended for one year for playing in the national championship game in 1921.

1922 — Byrd (Shreveport, La.)
Record: 12-0
Coach: Alberson.
Top Players: Tuggles Armstrong, SS (captain); Toney Fulco, 1B.
Biggest Wins: Warren Easton, 4-2, 4-3 for state championship.
Competition: Mission (San Francisco), 6-1; Little Rock Central (Ark.), 24-3; Battin (N.J.), 19-2.
Reasons for No. 1: State champions in 1920, Byrd won five straight state championships from 1922 to 1926. The Shreveport team beat a Warren Easton squad that had won the 1921 state title and had dominated the previous decade with nine straight state titles.

1921 — San Diego (Calif.)
Record: 20-5-2
Coach: John Perry
Top Players: Earl "Red" Lehman, pitcher (threw no-hitter against Whittier), Willis Praul, pitcher (17 Ks vs. Long Beach Poly).
Biggest Wins: Chico, 10-4 (state playoff game); West Tech (Cleveland, Ohio), 10-0, 7-6 (national playoff).
Competition: West Tech (Cleveland, Ohio). Mission (San Francisco), 9-0.
Reasons for No. 1: San Diego was the defending SCIF and state champion, defeating Alameda, 5-3, for the state crown in 1920. The Hillers built on that success with the first-ever national championship in 1921. The Hillers were 15-1 against high school teams, losing only to Whittier. Other losses and ties came against naval teams, town teams and local all-star teams. San Diego advanced to a state championship game against Chico, which was 19-0 according to Caver Conquest, and then took on West Tech from Cleveland, Ohio, for a national championship game. West Tech had lost just once in three seasons and was unbeaten in 1921. The game was the first-ever national championship baseball game.

1920 — Commerce (Manhattan, N.Y.)
Record: 10-0
Coach: Harry Kane
Top Players: Lou Gehrig, 1B (future Hall of Famer with New York Yankees).
Biggest Wins: Def. Lane Tech (Chicago, Ill.), 12-6 in Chicago-New York intercity series.
Competition: San Diego, 13-1 (California state champion); Little Rock Central (Ark.), 34-1.
Reasons for No. 1: In the first Chicago-New York Intercity Series, PSAL champion Commerce traveled to play Lane Tech at Wrigley Field (called Cubs Park back then). Gehrig sparked Commerce to the win with a ninth-inning grand slam.

1919 — Oakland Tech (Oakland, Calif.)
Record: 8-0
Coach: CH Blesse
Top Players: Gus Bower, Johnny Gillespie
Biggest Wins: Oakland 3-2 for Oakland League championship.
Competition: Warren Easton (La.), Erasmus (Brooklyn, N.Y.); Waxahachie (Texas), 12-0, Little Rock Ark.), 14-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Tech won the Northern California championship and was scheduled to play the winner of the Southern California playoffs for the state championship, but Fullerton elected not to travel north to meet Tech. Standout track athlete Harold "Brick" Muller, who played on the 1917 San Diego baseball team, had moved to Oakland and was dominant on the Tech track team. He reportedly played baseball as well.

1918 — Brooklyn Prep (N.Y.)
Record: 12-2
Coach: McEntee and Brown.
Top Players: Jake Hehl, P.
Biggest Wins: St. John's, 3-1.
Competition: Brackendridge (San Antonio), 10-1.
Reasons for No. 1: With a 3-1 win over St. John's, Brooklyn Prep avenged an earlier loss and claimed the championship of New York. Hehl had one of the most peculiar professional careers in MLB history. Two weeks after his final game with Brooklyn Prep, Hehl was brought in by the Brooklyn Robins to pitch against the New York Giants. Hehl pitched one inning, faced four batters and got three outs while also plunking Jim Thorpe with a pitch. Hehl never pitched another professional game.

1917 — San Diego (Calif.)
Record: 12-1
Coach: NIbs Price
Top Players: Wes Sharp (.412); Clyde Randall (P)
Biggest Wins: USC Varsity, 9-1; Chaffey, 9-1 (playoff game); Whittier, 7-2 (playoff game); Norwalk, 12-2 (CIF championship game).
Competition: Little Rock Central (Ark.), 15-2.
Reasons for No. 1: It was a great season at San Diego High, which also went 12-0 in football and was retroactively selected as the national champion by the National Sports News Service. The Southern California Interscholastic Federation championship was the first of many to come for the Hillers. San Diego easily won its playoff game thanks to 12 errors by Norwalk.

1916 — Central (Little Rock, Ark.)
Record: 17-3
Coach: Earl Quigley
Top Players: Sloan (.368); Cockrill (.337); Powell (.302).
Biggest Wins: Pine Bluff, 14-3.
Competition: Brooklyn Prep, 7-0-1
Reasons for No. 1: Central did not lose to a high school team in 1916, losing three games to a military team and two college squads. Little Rock had a strong program under Quigley during the last half of the decade, playing as many as 50 games one season while other programs across the country were playing less than 10.

1915 — Phillips (Chicago)
Record: 15-1
Coach: Ray
Top Players: Stewart (no-hitter vs. Hyde Park, 11 Ks)
Biggest Wins: Harrison, 7-4, for Chicago Prep League championship.
Competition: Sacred Heart (San Francisco, Calif.), 5-0; Warren Easton (La.)
Reasons for No. 1: The Chicago Public League formed in 1914 and Phillips won the league championship in its second season. With a win over Oak Park, Phillips also claimed ownership of the championship of Cook County.

1914 — Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Record: 14-2
Coach: Wallace Welsh
Top Players: John Walsh, 2B (all-scholastic); William Sykes, P (all-scholastics, player of the year); Jimmy Olson, 3B (all-scholastics); Ty Halsted, LF (all-scholastics); Harry Sullivan, CF (all-scholastics).
Biggest Wins: Poly Prep, 15-1, 10-6
Competition: Lowell (San Francisco) 6-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Erasmus won the borough championship three straight seasons with the 1914 team being the best of the three. Behind the pitching of city player of the year Sykes, Erasmus beat every team in Brooklyn en route to the city championship. One of the losses was to the Princeton freshman team.

1913 — Everett (Mass.)
Record: 21-0
Coach: Cleo O'Donnell
Top Players: John Murray, P (All-Interscholastic); Fred Sweetland, C (All-Interscholastic); George Brickley, 2B (All-Interscholastic).
Biggest Wins: Melrose, 7-6;
Competition: Long Beach Poly (Calif.), 19-3-1
Reasons for No. 1: Everett had a tremendous group of athletes during the 1913 and 1914 seasons. Prior to the football team earning national championship recognition in 1914, the baseball team had similar success in 1913, going undefeated with three players earning All-Interscholastic honors.

1912 — Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
Record: 17-5
Coach: Gastrich
Top Players: Craig, SS (.360); Holloway, 2B (.437); Reagan, 3B (.371).
Biggest Wins: Los Angeles, 7-5, for Los Angeles County championship.
Competition: Tucson, 8-3.
Reasons for No. 1: Poly was undefeated against high school competition with all five losses coming against college teams during the preseason. The Jackrabbits also defeated Occidental College. After beating Los Angeles for the county championship, Long Beach Poly was scheduled to play Downey for the Southern California championship, however school officials decided not to play after it was determined that Downey's star pitcher had competed in professional games.

1911 — Newtown (Elmhurst, N.Y.)
Record: 13-2-1
Coach: John Kerrigan
Top Players: Damico, P (All-Scholastic); Payne, C (All-Scholastic).
Biggest Wins: Commercial, 8-1, for Greater New York PSAL championship.
Competition: Sacred Heart (San Francisco).
Reasons for No. 1: Newtown knocked off defending PSAL champion Commercial in the championship game. There were fewer candidates in 1911 due to "Sunday Baseball." Sacred Heart (San Francisco) and nearly every team in the Chicago Public League had to forfeit their seasons due to players competing professionally during Sunday games.

1910 — Commercial (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Record: 9-1
Coach: Shearer
Top Players: Pete Greene, pitcher (3-hitter against undefeated Richmond Hill, All-Scholastic).
Biggest Wins: Defeated Commerce (Manhattan, N.Y.) 8-2 for the P.S.A.L. championship.
Competition: Boys High (Warren Easton, La.); Sacred Heart (San Francisco), 8-0.
Reasons for No. 1: Commercial finished as the runner-up in the P.S.A.L. in 1909 and went one step further in 1910 with a borough and city championship.