2016 Rhode Island Preseason Baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Bishop Hendricken (Warwick)
Head coach: Ed Holloway
2015 record: 27-3
Bishop Hendricken won the Division I state championship last year and returns three players who earned all-state honors.
Dante Baldelli, brother of former Major League Baseball player Rocco Baldelli, returns in the outfield while
Matthew Kennedy is the team's top returning pitcher and
John Willette is the team's shortstop.
See last season's Rhode Island baseball computer rankings
2. Mount St. Charles Academy (Woonsocket)
Head coach: Thomas Seaver
2015 record: 26-9
The Mounties defeated Tolman for the Division II state championship last year and they return three of the team's top pitchers from that team.
Alex Lataille returns for his senior year after winning the Cy Young Award in the Division II North. Meanwhile,
Eric Abruzzi and
John Montani, both of whom play in the outfield and on the mound, each return after earning all-conference honors.
See Rhode Island baseball pro photo galleries
3. North Kingstown
Head coach: Steve Breitbach
2015 record: 17-6
The Skippers went 1-2 in the state Division I tournament, but they return six of the top eight players from that squad.
Stephen Cirella leads the way with a .411 average while
Chad Mansolillo (junior) batted .338 and
Matt Boelter batted .321. The team's top pitcher,
Patrick Maybach, also returns after going 7-0 with a 0.17 ERA.
See last season's Rhode Island baseball playoff brackets
4. Burrillville (Harrisville)
Head coach: Peter Berthelette
2015 record: 16-7
The Broncos won the Division III state championship last year and return five of the top eight hitters from last year's squad. Topping the list is
Antwan Dearden, who batted .350 and earned second team all-state honors.
Greg Carlson also earned second team all-state honors and batted .250.
See last season's Rhode Island baseball stat leaders
5. Warwick Veterans
Head coach: Nolan Landy
2015 record: 20-4
The Hurricanes finished third in Division II and they return three key players who earned all-conference honors last year. Senior shortstop
Jarrod Houle batted .350 while junior center fielder
David Defusco batted .411 with 21 RBIs and five triples and also had a 3-0 pitching record.
David Simmons also returns on the mound for his senior year after going 3-1 last year.
