Preseason Small Town Top 25 high school baseball rankings

Sumrall (Miss.) begins the 2025 season at No. 1 in the Small Town Top 25 high school baseball rankings, the same spot it ended the 2024 campaign in.

The Wildcats have been one of the top programs in Mississippi for the better part of the 21st century, winning national championships in 2009 and 2010. Last year, Sumrall rode the arms of Leo Odom and Drew Davis to claim the Class 4A state championship and finish just ahead of Greene Central (Snow Hill, N.C.) at No. 1 in the final Small Town Top 25.

Odom and Davis, who combined for 17 wins last year, are both back. Odom went 9-0 and earned all-state honors while Davis went 8-3 and was the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year.

Checking in at No. 2, Eaton (Colo.) has the nation's longest active win streak at 69 wins in a row. The Reds have a chance to break the national record of 89 straight wins by Portsmouth (N.H.).

The Small Town Top 25 includes schools with an enrollment of under 1,000 students in towns with a population of under 10,000. Preseason rankings were based on last year's postseason finish, program history and returning starters. Preseason Small Town Top 25

1. Sumrall (Miss.), 34-5
The Wildcats finished the 2024 season as the Class 4A state champions and were ranked No. 1 in the final MaxPreps Small Town Top 25. The top four offensive players return from last year along with 29 pitching wins. Sophomore Drew Davis returns for his third season on the varsity.

2. Eaton (Colo.), 28-0
The Reds have won 69 straight games and four straight Class 3A state championships. Eaton had a senior-dominated roster in 2024 but return one of the top pitchers from last year in Gunnar Garrison.

3. Wall (Texas), 29-4
The Hawks were an area finalist last year and went undefeated in district play at 14-0. Six all-district players return, including THSBCA Super Elite team member Luke Kemp and THSBCA Slugger of the Year Gunnar Dillard.

4. Greene Central (Snow Hill, N.C.), 29-1
The Class 2A state champions lost six seniors from last year but return two of the state's top juniors in the brother combo of Will Radford at catcher and Riley Radford at pitcher.

5. Silo (Okla.), 25-9
Silo saw its streak of six consecutive Class 2A spring state titles come to an end in 2024 but is the favorite to get back on top in 2025 after winning the state championship in the fall.

6. Franklin (Texas), 35-5
The Class 3A state champions last year, Franklin returns three all-district players from last year including Noah Tart.

7. China Spring (Texas), 32-8
A regional finalist last year, the Cougars have seven all-district players back from last season, including district offensive MVP Dean Hannah at first base.

8. Lanier County (Lakeland, Ga.), 33-10
Eight of the top offensive players from last year's state championship team return, including all-state players Ashton Cook (P), Grant Gano (IF) and Stone Carey (IF).

9. Eagleville (Tenn.), 35-5
The Eagles have averaged 35 wins a year for the past four seasons.

10. Gunter (Texas), 36-2
The Tigers reached the Class 3A state semifinals last year and return three all-state players in shortstop Brock Boddie, pitcher Jarrett Waggoner and pitcher Jake Ivey.

11. Rappahannock (Warsaw, Va.), 22-3
The Class 1A state champions return four all-state players in Brayden Hayes (P), Carter Sullivan (2B), Chase Self (C ) and Landon Schefflein (3B).

12. Purvis (Miss.), 25-9
The Tornadoes finished just behind Sumrall and Ripley in Class 4A last year and they return two of the nation's top players in brothers Jacob Parker (OF) and JoJo Parker (UT).

13. Fort Cobb-Broxton (Fort Cobb, Okla.), 23-7
The defending Class B state champion in Oklahoma, Fort Cobb-Broxton features one of the nation's top recruits in shortstop Eli Willits, who is expected to be drafted in the first round of the MLB Draft.

14. Hawley (Texas), 24-11
Multiple starters return for the Bearcats, who were a state finalist in Class 1A last year. They began the season ranked No. 1 by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association.

15. Hiland (Berlin, Ohio), 27-5
The Division IV state champions return one of the state's top outfielders in all-state pick Cole Coblentz.

16. East Union (Blue Springs, Miss.), 25-7
The Urchins return the Class 2A state player of the year in pitcher Landon Harmon. Runner-up in the Class 2A playoffs, East Union also returns all-state players Drew Hollimon and Tristian Baldwyn.

17. Barr-Reeve (Montgomery, Ind.), 28-6
The Vikings were runners-up in 2023 and Class 1A champions in 2024. Barr-Reeve returns all 26 pitching wins from last year, led by Seth Wagler (8-1).

18. Ropes (Ropesville, Texas), 24-8
Texas High School Baseball ranks Ropes as the top team in Class 1A to start the season. Seven all-district players return including all-state picks Bode Franklin at pitcher and Kade Franklin at third base.

19. Burns (Lawndale, N.C.), 31-3
Runners-up to Green Central, Burns has a pair of returning all-state players in two-way player Colby Putnam and first baseman Marshall McGowan.

20. Rock Creek (St. George, Kan.), 28-1
Winners of the Class 4A state championship in Kansas, Rock Creek returns a pair of all-state players in pitcher Cooper Sieben and catcher Drew Becker.

21. Oak Grove (La.), 21-10
The Division IV Non-Select state champions return a pair of all-state picks in pitcher Seth Ray (10-2) and infielder Jackson Bradley (.444).

22. Norway (Mich.), 28-4-1
Runner-up to Beal City last year in Division IV, Norway has a chance to return to the state final behind the play of all-state players Col Biaj (P), Cameron Varda (OF) and Landon Amundson (C )

23. Tri-Valley (Hegins, Pa.), 21-5
Runner-up to Bald Eagle Area, Tri-Valley has six returning starters on defense along with ace pitcher Braeden Doyle (7-0).

24. Wright City (Okla.), 23-5
Winners of just one spring baseball championship in school history (2019), Wright City could add a second this spring after winning the Class A state championship in the fall.

25. Jay (Fla.), 19-10
The Class 1A state champions return six of the top seven offensive performers from last year along with top pitcher Landon Golden.