High school baseball rankings: Parkview, JSerra Catholic headline way-too-early top 25 for 2023

1. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.), 30-8
After winning three straight 7A state championships (not counting the Covid year of 2020), the Panthers lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Woodstock. However, coach Chan Brown, who has led Parkview to three national championships by various media outlets, returns the bulk of a team that won 30 games and a fifth straight region championship. Of those 30 pitching wins, 27 return for 2023, including rising seniors Landon Stripling (9-2) and Garrett Lambert (8-3) and rising junior Ford Thompson. Lambert was the Region 4-7A player of the year while Thompson was the pitcher of the year. Five of the top offensive players also return, including Colin Houck (.412, 15 HR), and Cade Brown (.310). Houck, Ali Banks, Stripling, Lambert and Brown were all first-team all-state, and Thompson made the second team.

2. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), 25-11
The Lions had considerable turnover from a 2021 team that won the Southern California Division 1 championship, so it might not have been too surprising that they lost nine of their first 15 games. However, the Lions went 19-2 down the stretch and won the Southern Section Division 1 title for the second straight year. Among the returning players are five rising seniors who earned All-Orange County honors, including outfielder Andrew Lamb, pitcher J.J. Hollis, first baseman Dominic Smaldino and outfielder Ryusei Fujiwara and infielder Jonathan Mendez. Lamb and Hollis both made the MaxPreps Junior All-American team.

3. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 29-4
The Huskies took advantage of a second chance in the postseason to capture their eighth state championship. Hamilton lost to Queen Creek in the 6A playoffs, but the Huskies received a forfeit win after it was learned the Queen Creek pitcher threw too many pitches in the game. Hamilton went on to beat Chandler for the title. Hamilton returns Region Player of the Year Josh Tiedemann at pitcher and in the infield. He will be part of an infield that includes all-conference players Roch Cholowsky and Ryan Kucherak, along with nationally ranked first baseman Zach Wadas. Perfect Game has six players ranked among the top 17 players in Arizona along with Cholowsky and Wadas at 1-2.

4. West Monroe (La.), 33-4
The Rebels won their first state championship since 1999 and second in school history. That number could grow in 2023 thanks to a strong group of returning players from the 2022 team. West Monroe led all 5A teams with four players on the all-state team and all four return. They include Brennan Eager at pitcher (Class of 2023, 9-1), Trey Hawsey in the infield (2024, .407), outfielder John Pearson (2024, .370), and utility Hayden Federico (2024, .333).

5. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 23-2
The Ascenders only have about half a dozen lettermen returning from last year's team that finished No. 4 in the MaxPreps Top 25 national rankings, but they still figure to be one of the top teams in the nation. That's because two of the other IMG teams, IMG Black and IMG Gray, finished No. 15 and 16 in the MaxPreps computer rankings for Florida. Perfect Game ranks several IMG Gray players among the nation's top recruits, including Noah Franco (Class of 2025), Andre Modugno (2024) and Dean Moss (2025). Also back are returning starters Stone Russell at shortstop and TayShaun Walton in the outfield.

6. Huntington Beach (Calif.), 25-9
After losing in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, the Oilers made a successful run in the Southern California Division 1 playoffs and captured the title. A number of key players from that team return in 2023, including MaxPreps All-American Raffaele Velazquez at first base and All-Orange County pick Aidan Espinoza in the outfield. Although the Oilers will miss all-state pitcher Ben Jacobs, they lose only two seniors from the roster and return 15 lettermen.

7. Villa Park (Calif.), 28-6
One of the surprise teams of the 2022 season, the Spartans won the Boras Southern California Classic — one of the toughest tournaments in the nation — and had wins over Huntington Beach and JSerra Catholic, the two teams that won the Southern California and Southern Section Division 1 championships, respectively. MaxPreps All-American Gavin Grahovac (.376, 5 HR) returns along with All-Orange County picks AJ Krodel (7-2, 3.05 ERA) at pitcher, Geoff McArthur (.292) in the outfield and Zach Brown (5-2, 2.96) at utility. Villa Park returns all 28 wins from the pitching staff.

8. St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), 44-0
With 66 straight wins, the Eaglets begin the 2023 season in search of a fourth straight state championship and possible back-to-back national championships. The 66 consecutive wins ranks No. 7 on the all-time national list and is nine wins behind Michigan record holder Homer, which had 75 from 2004-05. The all-time national record is 89 by Portsmouth (N.H.) from 2008-12. While a number of All-American players have graduated, including MaxPreps National Player of the Year Brock Porter, the Eaglets still return five players with starting experience, including MaxPreps junior All-American Blake Grimmer (.343), Ryan McKay (.361), Jasen Oliver (.368), Ryan Mooney and Parker Brzustewicz (.355). Aidan Donovan, a rising junior, is the top returning pitcher (7-0, 0.92).

9. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.), 25-4-1
The Firebirds captured the Class 6A state championship with a roster that included only one senior with substantial playing time. The lineup returns 24 home runs and 22 pitching wins. Top returning players include all-county selections Keyler Gonzalez (6-0, 2.75 ERA), Frank Menendez (6-2, 1.91), Adrian Santana (.433, 4 HR), Michael Torres (.512, 4), and Daniel Restrepo (.375, 5).

10. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 25-5
While the Lancers lose five starters from the everyday lineup, they still return some of the top-rated players in the country. Outfielder Derek Curiel was a MaxPreps Sophomore All-American and is rated No. 1 in the nation for the Class of 2024 by Perfect Game. Rising senior Casey Borba, a MaxPreps All-American, also returns along with highly-rated rising junior Ben Reiland (.306). The pitching staff returns nine wins, led by Evan Miranda (5-0, 1.24).

11. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), 24-8
After struggling in midseason when it went 12-8, Jesuit rallied over the last third of the season to win the Class 5A state championship. The Tigers return their top pitcher in MaxPreps All-American Wes Mendes (10-1, 1.16), and their top hitter in Jake Kulikowski (.307, 6 HR). The Tigers return five players who started in the everyday lineup.

12. Etiwanda (Calif.), 27-9
The Southern Section Division 2 champions return 22 wins, including MaxPreps Junior All-American Dylan Goff with 12 and MaxPreps Freshman All-American Brady Ebel with 6. A total of six starters return in the offensive lineup, including Michael Harrison (.347, 3 HR), and Austen Roellig (.446, 2 HR).

13. Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.), 28-4
The Buccaneers fell just short of winning the Class 3A state championship, losing to North Broward Prep in the finals. Berkeley Prep returns several of the state's top players in MaxPreps All-American Cade Kurland (.468, 13 HR), All-813 Preps Hitter of the Year James Hankerson (.381, 7 HR) and rising sophomore Rivers Kurland (4-1, 1.79 ERA).

14. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 26-2
Pitching will be an issue for the Patriots as they return just two wins from the staff, but the offensive attack should be outstanding with seven of the top nine hitters returning. Gone from the pitching staff is first-round draft pick Brandon Barriera. The offense returns Mateo Serna (.349), Andrew Ortiz (.300) and Spencer Butt (.380).

15. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), 22-8-1
Annually one of the top teams in Southern California, the Cavaliers figure to be in the mix again with Los Angeles Daily News all-area players Bryce Rainer and Tommy Bridges . Rainer ranks as one of the top players in the nation by Perfect Game for the Class of 2024. The senior class returns Will Gasparino and Kai Caranto, both of whom are ranked among the top 200 players in the Class of 2025.

16. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), 36-4
Always among the nation's top teams, Barbe will look to move back to the top of the heap in Louisiana after losing in the quarterfinals in 2022. The Buccaneers have one of the state's top pitchers in MaxPreps Sophomore National Player of the Year Landon Victorian, who went 10-1 with a pair of no-hitters. Two other starters, J.C. Vanek and Donovan LaSalle, also return. A total of 18 lettermen return in 2023.

17. Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 34-8
The Dragons have to be included on any preseason rankings considering they have won three state championships in four seasons (not counting 2020). Shortstop Ethan Mendoza (.376) is the only all-district first team player returning for the Dragons, but Southlake Carroll has four other returning players ranked by Perfect Game, including outfielder Colin Robson, pitchers Tyler White and Jared White and third baseman Ben Tryon.

18. Johnson (San Antonio), 24-9
Johnson lost in the area playoffs to Lake Travis, however look for the Jaguars to go much further next year. With six all-district players returning, including all-area selections Kayson Cunningham in left field, pitcher Mason Bixby and infielder Ryne Farber.

19. Hartselle (Ala.), 39-4
Although Hartselle loses Class 6A state player of the year Elliott Bray to graduation, the Tigers return three other players who earned all-state honors. They include Class 6A hitter of the year Coleman Mizell in the outfield and rising juniors Jo Williamson in the infield and Peyton Steele at DH.

20. Basic (Henderson, Nev.), 31-10
The Southisene family is a big reason that Basic could repeat as state champion next year. Rising junior Ty Southisene (.374) earned all-state honors while rising sophomore Tate Southisene (.456) earned MaxPreps Freshman All-American honors. Tee Southisene, Ty's twin, also pitches on the team while Troy Southisene is ranked third in the state by Perfect Game for the Class of 2026. All-Southern Nevada picks Cooper Sheff (IF) and Ben Smith (P) also return.

21. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.), 30-2
Ranked No. 2 in the nation by MaxPreps and a Class 7A Florida state champion, the Eagles lose the top six hitters from the championship team, including MLB draft pick Roman Anthony. The Eagles still have one of the nation's top two-way players in P/OF Christian Rodriguez. Rising senior Jacob Gomberg also returns to the pitching staff while rising juniors Devin Fitz-gerald and Nicholas Benestad rank among the top 250 players in the country by Perfect Game.

22. Silo (Okla.), 30-0
Winners of 58 straight games and six spring state championships in Oklahoma, Silo looks poised to add to the streak in 2023. The Rebels return all but one player from last year's team, including every pitching win. Top returning players are MaxPreps Small Town All-American's Easton Ford and Kyler Proctor.

23. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 35-7
First round draft pick Justin Crawford is gone, but several other all-Southern Nevada selections return, including infielder Easton Shelton (.358), pitcher Kamdyn Perry (6-0), infielder Maddox Riske (.421), infielder Gunnar Myro (.377), outfielder Aiden Pollock (.439), and pitcher Kaden Soder.

24. Sinton (Texas), 36-1
With a record of 39-6 over the past two seasons with two trips to the Class 4A state championship game a state championship in 2022, Sinton should be favored again in 2023. MaxPreps All-American Blake Mitchell returns at catcher and pitcher along with 25 wins from the pitching staff and top hitters Marco Gonzales (.386), Braeden Brown (.363) and Jaquae Stewart (.414, 11 HR).

25. North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.), 23-9
The Eagles have won back-to-back state championships, 4A in 2021 and 3A in 2022. Although All-American Yoel Tejeda Jr. has graduated, five other offensive starters return along with All-Broward County pitcher Ryan McPherson (5-0, 1.80 ERA).