2016 Idaho Preseason Baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Timberline (Boise)
Head coach: Larry Price
2015 record: 26-4
Timberline captured the Class 5A state championship with a 5-3, come-from-behind win over Lewiston. Timberline returns the leader on that team, Gatorade State Player of the Year
Parker Price, who batted .427 and posted a 13-2 record on the mound. He's also joined by all-conference picks
Trey Steffler (3B, .349) and
Ryan Kim (OF, .337).
See last season's Idaho baseball computer rankings2. Lewiston
Head coach: Golden Steele
2015 record: 23-6
Lewiston has a rich tradition that includes 11 state championships. The Bengals nearly won a 12th but they fell to Timberline in the state finals. Tom Grunenfelder was let go following last season after 22 years and over 450 wins. He's replaced by Golden Steele, who returns one of the state's top outfielders in
Jake Munoz.
See Idaho baseball pro photo galleries3. Rocky Mountain (Meridian)
Head coach: Jake Taylor
2015 record: 27-2
The Grizzlies were undefeated heading into the postseason, but lost twice in the state playoffs to Hillcrest and Meridian. Rocky Mountain will miss league MVP JT Strickler, who has graduated, but it returns one of the state's top juniors in outfielder
Ryan Hansen.
See last season's Idaho baseball playoff brackets4. Highland (Pocatello)
Head coach: Mike Green
2015 record: 20-10
Highland reached the state tournament last year but lost in the first two rounds to eventual champion Timberline and Hillcrest. Highland returns one of the state's top outfielders in
Cal Norby, who earned second team all-state honors as a junior.
See last season's Idaho baseball stat leaders5. Eagle
Head coach: Frank Wright
2015 record: 16-9
Eagle returns two of the top players in the Southern Idaho Conference in pitcher
Eli Schubert and infielder
Kole Lane. Both earned second team all-conference honors last year. Eagle last won a state championship in 2011.
