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

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


1. De La Salle Collegiate (Warren)
Head coach: Matt Cook
2016 record: 28-13

The defending Division 1 champions return nearly every pitcher from last year's championship squad and have seven starters total returning. Leading the way is pitcher Easton Sikorski, a junior who went 8-2 and was the winning pitcher in the state championship game. Pitcher Nino Puckett is also seen as one of the state's top junior pitching prospects. All-County first baseman Bryce Bush, also a junior, returns after batting .321 He's a possible MLB Draft prospect in 2018. The top senior is shortstop Mike Karam, who has signed with Northwood University.

See last season's Michigan baseball computer rankings

2. Saline
Head coach: Scott Theisen
2016 record: 34-7

The Hornets reached the Division 1 state championship game, where they fell to De La Salle Collegiate. Saline has been one of the top programs in the state for the past few seasons and it returns three of the state's top players in outfielder Zach Schwartzenberger, pitcher Sean O'Keefe and shortstop Jacob Finkbeiner.

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3. Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills)
Head coach: Bob Riker
2016 record: 29-8

Brother Rice is always among the top programs in the state and 2017 should be no different. Brother Rice has a strong junior class that includes outfielder Caleb Jackson, who ranks as one of the state's top players in the Class of 2018. Junior Reese Trahey joins Jackson in the outfield while Mac Menard and Carlos Tumpkin are two of the top junior pitchers in the state.

See last season's MaxPreps Michigan baseball playoff brackets

4. University Liggett (Grosse Pointe Woods)
Head coach: Dan Cimini
2016 record: 32-4

The Division 4 champion last year and the winner of four state titles since 2011, University Liggett is moving up to Division 1 this year. The team returns four All-State players in shortstop Connor McCarron, junior centerfielder William Morrison, junior second baseman Noah Miller and pitcher Anthony George. McCarron also earned MaxPreps small schools All-American honors.

See last season's MaxPreps Michigan baseball stat leaders

5. Divine Child (Dearborn)
Head coach: Dan Deegan
2016 record: 22-14

Divine Child reached the Division 2 semifinals last year and has been one the state's top programs over the past decade with four state championships. Two key players return from last year's group, including catcher Scott Combs and left-handed pitcher Danny Bullard.