High School Baseball: Florida's Jesuit enters 2021 as top team in preseason MaxPreps Top 25 rankings

The coronavirus has affected high school sports for more than a year, but high school baseball first felt its effects when it brought an end to the season in mid-March. The cancellation left some teams with a season a little under half finished while other teams never took the field at all.


1. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.)
Coach: Miguel Menendez
2020 record: 9-0
2019 record: 27-5
Top Players: Cole Russo (C/3B .381); Alden Segui (RHP, 0-0, 7.00); Dominic Castellano (LHP, 2-0, 0.95); BJ Graham (OF, .296); Kris Sosnowski (RHP); Ryan Skelly (RHP); Jamie Arnold (LHP); Ryan Denison (RHP); AJ Nessler (3B); Nick Rodriguez (.385); Bradke Lohry.
Prognosis: The Tigers finished the 2020 season at 9-0 and had moved up to No. 2 in the nation in the MaxPreps Top 25 before COVID ended the season. Jesuit starts at No. 1 thanks to a deep returning pitching staff that allowed one run per game last year. Several of the top offensive players return from a team that averaged 11 runs per game. 2. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Coach: Kason Gabbard
2020 record: 8-2
2019 record: 26-1
Top Players: Tommy White (3B); James Wood (OF); Drew Gray (LHP/OF); Mason Albright (LHP); Stone Russell (SS); Sam Hunt (C ); Ben Fiedler (RHP); Elijah Green (OF); Jackson Ferris (LHP); Blaydon Plain (1B/RHP); Drake Varnado (SS/RHP); Davion Hickson (RHP); Brady Neal (C).
Prognosis: The Ascenders likely have the most talented lineup in the nation with players like Wood, ranked by Perfect Game as one of the top players in the Class of 2020, and Green, ranked as one of the top players in the Class of 2021. Green transferred from TNXL Academy while MaxPreps All-American White transferred from Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.). IMG Academy does not play in the state playoffs in Florida, but it will face some of the nation's top teams, including Texas teams Southlake Carroll and Flower Mound and preseason No. 1 Jesuit on April 20.

3. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Coach: Brett Kay
2020 record: 11-1
2019 record: 19-13
Top Players: Cody Schrier (SS); Eric Silva (RHP); Colin Blanchard (C ); Gage Jump (LHP);  Luke Jewett (RHP);  Gabe D'Arcy (OF); Joshua Phillips (OF); Anthony Aleman (C ); David Horn (RHP); Ricky Rodenberg (3B); Owen Fuller (2B); Matthew Champion (3B/RHP)
Prognosis: Two years ago, Kay noted in a season preview e-mail to MaxPreps that he felt his Class of 2021 was, perhaps, the best in the country. JSerra Catholic was 11-1 when the 2020 season ended with a loss to Birmingham (Lake Balboa). The Lions play in the Trinity League, arguably the toughest league in the nation, and a strong showing there should propel JSerra Catholic to the top of the rankings. Kay returns three of his top pitchers from last year along with nearly the entire infield.

4. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Coach: Mike Woods
2020 record: 8-0
2019 record: 26-7
Top Players: Brock Selvidge (LHP, 4 HR, 21 RBI); Prince Deboskie (OF); Luke Thiele (SS); Gavin Turley (OF); DJ Barrett (RHP); Logan Saloman (RHP, 5-1, 1.35 ERA); Roch Cholowsky (SS); Grant Degraffenried (1B); Kole Klecker (RHP); Josh Tiedermann (SS); Tre Spivey (SS); Will Shelor (OF); AJ Diaz (SS).
Prognosis: The Huskies pitching staff will be good with Selvidge and Saloman — two of the top pitchers in the nation in their respective classes — return along with junior Klecker. Hamilton ended the 2020 season as the No. 1 team in the nation by MaxPreps at 8-0. Hamilton has won seven state titles, including three of the past four seasons (not counting 2020).

5. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Coach: Gil Morales
2020 record: 2-5
2019 record: 25-5
Top Players: Andrew Painter (RHP); Irving Carter (RHP); Ty Hollandsworth (OF); Rene Lastres (C, Florida); Alex Ulloa (SS); Erik Blair (LHP); Kyle Tako (OF); Sean Ambrose (2B); Jonathan Xuereb (SS).
Prognosis: Two years after winning a state championship in 2018, the Eagles struggled in 2020 with a 2-5 record when the season ended. Those losses were against some tough teams, however, falling to Calvary Christian (Clearwater), Jesuit and Stoneman Douglas. The Eagles return two of the top pitchers in the country in Painter and Carter, both of whom could be taken on the first day of the MLB draft. Painter is a potential Top 15 pick, according to Jonathan Mayo.

6. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Coach: Greg Elie and Mike Kinney
2020 record: 1-0
2019 record: 27-6
Top Players: Cooper Kinney (2B); Daniel Corona (SS); Vito Valincius (1B); Jay Dill (3B); Nick Kurtz (1B); Henry Godbout (SS); Caleb Hampton (OF)
Prognosis: The Red Raiders might have the best infield in the nation as Prep Baseball Report ranks three players among the top eight in the state. First baseman Valincius is No. 3, shortstop Corona is No. 4 and second baseman Kinney comes in at No. 8. Baylor was coming off two straight Class AA Division 2 state championships in 2018 and 2019, but got one game played in 2020 before the season came to a halt. Baylor looms as the favorite again in Tennessee.

7. Buford (Ga.)
Coach: Stuart Chester
2020 record: 10-2
2019 record: 24-12
Top Players: Treyton Rank (RHP); Riley Stanford (OF); Brant Baughcum (SS); Jackson Gaspard (SS/RHP); Nathan Smith (C ); Connor Sampers (SS); Dylan Lesko (RHP); Stan Zagrodnik (OF); Cole Taylor (SS); Carson King (1B); Ethan Murray (SS).
Prognosis: Georgia Dugout Preview lists Buford as the top team in its Class 6A preseason rankings. The Wolves have as many as nine players set to play Division I baseball next year, including pitcher Lesko. One of the top-ranked pitchers in the Class of 2021, Lesko is headed to Vanderbilt. He is a former MaxPreps Underclass All-American. Buford was 9-2 when its season ended with losses to Mountain Brook and North Paulding. The pitching staff figures to be exceptional this year with Lesko, Rank and junior Gaspard grabbing the bulk of the innings.

8. St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)
Coach: Matt Petry
2020 record: 0-0
2019 record: 34-9-2
Top Players: Alex Mooney (SS); Brock Porter (RHP); Nolan Schubart (OF/RHP); John Essig (LHP); Steve Essig (C ); Ike Irish (C ); Jake Dresselhouse (2B); Thomas Allman (RHP); Coleson Titus (C ); Jack Crichton (3B); Ciaran Caughey (SS); Jake Keaser (RHP); Jasen Oliver (SS); Ryan Mooney (OF).
Prognosis: St. Mary Prep never took the field in 2020, but it has three of the nation's top players in Mooney, Porter and Schubart. All three are set to play at a Division I program and all three are ranked among the top players in Michigan by Perfect Game. The Eaglets were 5-9 at one point in 2019, but caught fire and didn't lose the rest of the season to win a state championship. St. Mary Prep has a 29-game unbeaten streak heading into the 2021 season.

9. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Coach: Glenn Cecchini
2020 record: 11-3
2019 record: 38-3
Top Players: Jack Walker (RHP); Kameron Edwards (OF); Kyle Debarge (SS, .388); Adam Guth (LHP, 5-0, 0.56 ERA, 44 Ks); Gavin Guidry (SS); Ethan Medlin (OF); Jon Cassidy Vanek (LHP); Donovan LaSalle (OF).
Prognosis: An outstanding outfield and two of the state's top pitchers lead one of the nation's top all-around programs. Walker returns after missing his junior season with an arm injury. He was all-state as a sophomore and has signed to play at Mississippi State. He'll join Guth, who was 5-0 as a sophomore in 2019.

10. Thousand Oaks (Calif.)
Coach: Jack Wilson
2020 record: 8-0
2019 record: 24-6
Top Players: Maxwell Muncy (SS); Roc Riggio (2B/OF); Charlie Saum (C ); Michael Welikala (1B); Josh Melnick (C/OF); Justin Abercrombie (MIF); Myles Weiss (RHP); Collin Adams (LHP); Easton Rulli (SS).
Prognosis: Thousand Oaks was off to a strong start in 2020, winning its first eight games of the season. ESPN's Jonathan Mayo ranks two of the Lancers, shortstop Muncy and second baseman Riggio, as Top 100 draft picks for 2021. Muncy and Riggio combine to form one of the top double play combinations in the nation.

11. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
Coach: Chan Brown
2020 record: 13-2
2019 record: 36-4
Top Players: Ryan Spikes (SS, .405), Landon Stripling (1B); Sam Smith (IF, .361); Jayden Talik (OF, Jr.); Dobbs Bowden (.400); Colin Houck (SS/P, So., 1-0, 0.00 ERA); Mason Brown (P, 3-0, 0.00 ERA).
Prognosis: The Panthers lost to North Gwinnett and Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) last year, but racked up 10 shutouts in its 13 wins last year. The pitching staff might not be as strong as last year when it featured all-state players like Xander Stephens and Miles Garrett. However, look for Brown, Spikes and Lowery to take over the bulk of the work on the mound. Parkview has averaged 30 wins a year over the past decade (not including 2020) and has won national championships in 2012, 2015 and 2018 and eight state championships since 1996.

12. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)
Coach: Greg Olsen
2020 record: 10-2
2019 record: 26-4
Top Players: Tyler Dietz (RHP); Jack Cebert (RHP); Ethan Phillips (RHP); Miles Curley (3B); Charles Stevens (OF/LHP); Matt Rose (SS); Landen Maroudis (RHP/IF)
Prognosis: Olsen has fielded one of the top programs in the nation the past five seasons, winning a state crown in 2019 and 2017 and winning 60 straight games at one point. While the team's top player from last year, Tommy White, has transferred to IMG Academy, Calvary Christian still returns several players from the 2019 championship team, including Stevens, Dietz and Cebert.

13. Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
Coach: Mike Rogers
2020 record: 14-2-1
2019 record: 37-5
Top Players: Alec Grossman (P); Ethan Roark (P)
Prognosis: The Cavaliers averaged over 30 wins a season since 2015 (not counting 2020) and came close to winning a state title, falling to Southlake Carroll in the semifinals in 2019. Rogers annually has one of the top teams in the country and the return of seven starters, including two all-district pitchers in Grossman and Roark, make the Cavaliers a team to contend with in Class 6A in Texas.

14. Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.)
Coach: John Diatte
2020 record: 5-3
2019 record: 29-4
Top Players: Jonathan Cymrot (1B/P); Trevor Haskins (SS); Griffin Allen (P/1B); Jaxon Wall (C ); Jacob Hudson (So.,P/OF)
Prognosis: The Central Coast Section champions in 2019, the Warriors stumbled out of the blocks in 2020 with losses to Foothill (Santa Ana), Orange Lutheran and Archbishop Mitty. However, Valley Christian has two of the top returning seniors in the state in Cymrot and Haskins. Both batted over .300 as sophomores with Cymrot also posting an 8-1 mound record.

15. Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.)
Coach: Brent Heavener
2020 record: 12-4
2019 record: 29-7
Top Players: Riley Maddox (SS); Mason Nichols (RHP);  Thaxton Berch (SS); Jeffrey Ince (SS); Trey Bridges (OF); Rives Reynolds (OF); Will Gibbs (RHP); Eli Berch (C )
Prognosis: Eight of the top nine leading hitters from last year's squad return, including an All-America candidate Maddox. The Patriots will miss three-year starter Kelly Crumpton, an All-America candidate who transferred to Oxford.

16. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Coach: Todd Fitz-Gerald
2020 record: 6-2
2019 record: 20-6
Top Players: Gavin Conticello (3B); Roman Anthony (OF); Santiago Ordonez (C ); Jake Clement (RHP); Chris Arroyo (OF); Christian Rodriguez (OF); Rolando Lujo (SS/RHP); Derek Rodriguez (OF/RHP)
Prognosis: Fitz-Gerald feels he has a good one this year with the Eagles. The outfield looks outstanding with Arroyo, Rodriguez and Anthony. Conticello, at third base, figures to be a possible draft pick for the Eagles.

17. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Coach: David Jeans
2020 record: 3-1
2019 record: 29-1
Top Players: Joey Donnelly (C/1B, .286); Zeke Berry (Jr., OF, .250); Blake Burke (P/OF, .395, 4 HR); Anthony Martinez (Jr., C/1B)
Prognosis: The Spartans have been one of the top programs in California, winning four straight North Coast Section from 2016 to 2019. They've annually had the top player in the Bay Area and they have another candidate this year in outfielder Burke, who earned MaxPreps Underclass All-American honors as a freshman.

18. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
Coach: Bruce Aven
2020 record: 10-0
2019 record: 19-6
Top Players: Devin Futrell (LHP); Juhlien Gonzalez (3B); Justin Quintana (OF); Justin Webster (RHP); Anthony Nelson (LHP); Brandon Barriera (LHP); Evan Dobias (RHP); Brandon Gonsalves (1B); Spencer Butt (SS); Mateo Serna (C)
Prognosis: The Patriots rose to No. 4 in 2020 with a 10-0 record. Pitching should be the key in 2021 as five Patriot hurlers figure to play at the Division I level. Leading the way is Futrell, who has been one of the Patriots' top players since his freshman year.

19. Prosper (Texas)
Coach: Shaun Stanton
2020 record: 11-2
2019 record: 32-8
Top Players: Easton Carmichael (Jr., C); Chase Pendley (SS)
Prognosis: Texas High School Baseball ranks Prosper at the top of the Class 6A rankings thanks to the return of 10 starters from last year. Leading the way is junior catcher Carmichael, who batted .487 last year, along with  Pendley, who batted .437.

20. Reagan (San Antonio)
Coach: Chans Chapman
2020 record: 13-2-1
2019 record: 33-8
Top Players: Cohen Feser (RHP); Stayton Ankrom (SS); Hogan Heller ( C); Ryan Beaird (RHP).
Prognosis: The Rattlers have been the top team out of San Antonio over the past half decade and are ranked fourth in Class 6A to start the season by Texas High School Baseball. A total of seven starters return, including TCU-bound pitcher Feser.

21. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Coach: Gino DiMaria
2020 record: 0-0
2019 record: 21-10
Top Players: Tyler Whitaker (3B); Justin Crawford (OF); Santino Panaro (OF); Gavin Mez (C);  Billy Ham (3B); Julian Molto-Herrera (2B); Demitri Diamant (3B/RHP); Tai Nguyen (1B); Tyler Avery (RHP); Raffael Chiarella (LHP); Easton Shelton (3B); Kamdyn Perry (RHP); Anthony Marnell IV (C); Aiden Pollock (OF)
Prognosis: After winning eight of 10 state championships, the Gaels haven't won a state title since 2015. That could change in 2020 as Bishop Gorman returns six players who have committed to play at the Division I level. As many as six players saw significant playing time as sophomores or freshmen two years ago when the Gaels last took the field. Included among those players are Avery (4-2 as a freshman pitcher) and catcher Mez (.366 as a sophomore).

22. Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City)
Coach: Jordan Semore
2020 record: 1-0
2019 record: 17-15
Top Players: Jackson Jobe; Gray Thomas (RHP).
Prognosis: The Chargers play at the 4A level, but have two of the state's top players in pitchers Jobe and Thomas. Job has committed to Ole Miss while Thomas will play at TCU. The tandem both throw around 95 mph and were selected to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic in September.

23. Ronald Reagan (Pfafftown, N.C.)
Coach: Gary Nail
2020 record: 3-0
2019 record: 21-7
Top Players: Carter Boyd (Jr., OF); Tommy Hawke (SS); Austin Hawke (SS); Josh Hartle (LHP); Jack Mullane (OF/RHP); Chase Humphrey (3B/RHP); Colby Welborn (C)
Prognosis: The Raiders figured to be a favorite to win the Class 4A state championship last year, but saw the season end after three games. Four players should play Division I baseball next year while Hartle, a left-handed pitcher, could go one the second day of the 2021 MLB draft.

24. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Coach: Matt Buckner
2020 record: 2-1
2019 record: 42-3
Top Players: Angus Pence (SS); Hunter Merrick (LHP/OF); Bryce Burkey (OF).
Prognosis: Two years after finishing with one of the highest win totals in the nation to go with a Tennessee state title, the Admirals could be in the running for another state crown in 2021. Hunter Merrick figures to lead the pitching staff and an outstanding outfield lineup. In Pence, the Admirals have one of the state's top shortstops.

25. Charlotte Christian (Charlotte, N.C.)
Coach: Greg Simmons
2020 record: 5-0
2019 record: 27-6
Top Players: Philip Abner (LHP); JD Suarez (SS); Will Farrell (3B); Calvert Clark (OF/RHP); Judd Utermark (3B); Everett Harris (RHP).
Prognosis: The Knights looked to be the state favorite last year with a mostly underclass lineup. That lineup went 5-0 last year and is now one of the top lineups in the nation. Five players have committed to play Division I next year while pitcher Abner is expected to go somewhere in the top five rounds of the 2021 MLB draft.