MaxPreps 2016 Vermont preseason high school baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Rice Memorial (South Burlington)
Head coach: Jamie Merchant
2015 record: 18-2

The Green Knights upset top-seeded Champlain Valley Union 5-2 to capture the Division I state championship last year. Rice Memorial returns one of the state's top players in pitcher Will Hesslink, who earned all-state honors last year after leading the Metro Conference in strikeouts with 68.

See last season's baseball computer rankings

2. Champlain Valley Union (Hinesburg)
Head coach: Tim Albertson
2015 record: 18-2

The Red Hawks entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in Division I, but they lost to Rice Memorial in the championship game. Champlain Valley Union will miss infielder Rayne Supple, who was the Gatorade State Player of the Year last season. The team's top returning player is pitcher Sam Mikell, who earned second team all-conference honors as a junior.

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3. Colchester
Head coach: Tom Perry
2015 record: 16-3

The Lakers lost in the Division I semifinals to eventual champion Rice Memorial. Colchester has one of the state's top returning pitchers in Derek Sanderson, who earned second team all-state honors last year. Last year's squad made a big improvement over 2014 when the Lakers went just 4-12 and failed to make the playoffs.

See last season's Vermont baseball playoff brackets

4. South Burlington
Head coach: Luke Goyette
2015 record: 14-5

The Rebels reached the state finals in 2014, losing to Rice Memorial, and made the state semifinals last season, falling to Champlain Valley Union. South Burlington will have to replace a number of seniors from last year's squad, including all-conference outfielder Connor Bradley.

See last season's Vermont baseball stat leaders

5. Bellows Free Academy (Fairfax)
Head coach: Mike Brown
2015 record: 19-1

The Bullets shot straight to the top of the Division III playoffs, defeating Williamstown 13-3 in the championship game. Pitcher/centerfielder Evan McGregor is the top returning player for Bellows Free Academy after earning all-state first team honors last year.