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

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


1. Burr & Burton (Manchester)
Head coach: Edward Lewicki
2016 record: 16-4

In only its fourth season at the Division 1 level, Burr & Burton will try and go one step farther from last year when it finished as runner-up to St. Johnsbury Academy. The Bulldogs have possibly the state's top all-around athlete in Griffin Stalcup. The Gatorade State Player of the Year in football, Stalcup is possibly the top baseball prospect as an infielder and pitcher. He earned All-State honors last year.

See last season's Vermont baseball computer rankings

2. Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)
Head coach: Geoff Murray
2016 record: 15-2

The No. 1 seed in the Division 1 playoffs last year, the Bobwhites fell to Burr & Burton in the semifinals. Bellows Free Academy was in the midst of its best season in school history before falling in the semifinals. The Bobwhites, who have an 0-3 record in state championship games, will be looking for their first state title in school history.

See the MaxPreps national baseball pro photo galleries

3. Essex (Essex Junction)
Head coach: Steve Ferreira
2016 record: 10-7 Essex made an early exit from the Division 1 state playoffs, but it has won two state titles since the 2008 season. Essex has one of the state's top junior pitchers in Maverick King, who earned All-State second team honors as a sophomore.

See last season's MaxPreps Vermont baseball playoff brackets

4. Colchester
Head coach: Tom Perry
2016 record: 14-4

Colchester is still looking for its first state title in school history after falling in the quarterfinals to Hartford. While All-State pitcher Derek Sanderson has graduated, Colchester does return junior outfielder Tom Vesosky, who earned All-State first team honors as a sophomore.

See last season's MaxPreps Vermont baseball stat leaders

5. St. Johnsbury Academy
Head coach: Marc Choinierre
2016 record: 17-3

The Hilltoppers captured the Division 1 state championship last year with a win over Burr & Burton and had the State Player of the Year in Eamonn McCabe. He has graduated, but St. Johnsbury Academy's No. 2 pitcher Patrick Greenan returns for his senior season.