MaxPreps 2017 New Hampshire 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. Bedford
Head coach: Billy Chapman
2016 record: 18-3

Bedford earned the No. 1 seed for the Division I playoffs last year and won four straight to capture the title, including a 22-4 win over Bishop Guertin in the finals. Bedford returns three All-State players, including junior Grant LaVigne, who ranks as one of the top players in the nation for the Class of 2018. Also back are Cooper Anibal and Manny Ray, each of whom were third team All-State picks last year.

See last season's New Hampshire baseball computer rankings

2. Souhegan (Amherst)
Head coach: Bill Dod
2016 record: 18-2 Souhegan won the Division II championship last year with a win over Portsmouth and coach Bill Dod earned State Coach of the Year honors. Souhegan is the clear favorite again with returning all-state player Bryce Reagan, who ranks as one of the nation's top juniors, fellow all-state selection Owen Batchelder, second team all-state pick Noah Hodges and third team all-state selection Alec Burns.

See the MaxPreps New Hampshire baseball pro photo galleries

3. Bishop Guertin (Nashua)
Head coach: Scott Painter
2016 record: 10-13

The Cardinals were the surprise team in the Division I tournament last year, earning the No. 15 seed but pulling off three straight upsets before falling 22-4 to top-seeded Bedford in the final. Bishop Guertin will have to overcome the loss of All-State first team selections T.J. Hart and Jake McMaster, each of whom have graduated.

See last season's MaxPreps New Hampshire baseball playoff brackets

4. Dover
Head coach: John Carver
2016 record: 14-9

Dover reached the semifinals of the Division I playoffs, but lost to Bedford 7-5 in the semifinals. Coach John Carver earned State Coach of the Year honors by the New Hampshire Baseball Coaches Association and he returns one of the state's top seniors in Griffin Young, and one of the top juniors in Ryan Coleman. Young was first team All-State while Coleman made third team.

See last season's MaxPreps New Hampshire baseball stat leaders

5. Portsmouth
Head coach: Tim Hopley
2016 record: 18-3

At one time, Portsmouth owned the record for the nation's longest baseball win streak at 89 games in a row. Last year, the Clippers reached the Division II state championship game before falling to Souhegan. Portsmouth returns a pair of first team All-State players in Kyle Maurice and Beau Arsenault. Maurice was named the State Player of the Year as a junior.