MaxPreps begins its coverage of the 2011 baseball season with its preseason Xcellent 25 rankings next week, but here's a preview of who to watch in each of the 50 states this spring.
The players listed are not necessarily the No. 1 recruits or top potential draft picks from each state, however they were all recognized for significant achievement on the diamond last year.
Alabama
Trevor Fitts, Pelham, Pitcher - Named the Metro Player of the Year by the Birmingham News, Fitts struck out a whopping 151 batters last year in 92 innings pitched and had a 14-0 record with a 0.91 ERA. He has already committed to play at Mississippi State.
Alaska
Cory Clevenger, Dimond (Anchorage), Infield - Helped lead Dimond to the state finals last year and was an all-conference selection.
Arizona
Scott Hoffman, Desert Ridge (Mesa), Pitcher - The returning State Player of the Year by the Arizona Republic and the East Valley Tribune, Hoffman was 13-0 on the mound with a 2.01 ERA and 76 strikeouts for the state champions. He also batted .457 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs.
Arkansas
Dillon Howard, Searcy, Pitcher - Signed to play at the University of Arkansas, Howard throws in the mid-90s and has an 18-8 record with 212 strikeouts in his three years on the varsity team at Searcy.
California
Henry Owens, Edison (Huntington Beach), Pitcher - Had a strong run with Team USA in the 18U World Championships and is a two-time all-Orange County selection. Last year Owens went 9-2 with a 1.67 ERA and 115 strikeouts for the Chargers.
Grant McCabe,
Cherry Creek
Photo by Patrick Miller
Grant McCabe, Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village), Outfield - Made the all-state team by the Denver Post last season after batting .598 for the Bruins with 43 runs scored, 23 RBIs, 11 doubles, six triples and a home run.
Connecticut
Mark Esposito, Amity Regional (Woodbridge), Third Base - Signed to play for Marshall, Esposito ranks as one of the nation's top third baseman candidates after batting. 390 for Amity.
Delaware
Jerrell Allen, Milford, Outfielder - An all-around athlete for Milford, Allen is a two-time all-state player in baseball and has also been an all-state receiver in football.
Florida
Dante Bichette Jr., Orangewood Christian (Maitland), Infield - Named the Player of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel, Bichette figures to be one of the top hitters in the nation. The son of the former major leaguer, Bichette batted .597 with nine home runs, 37 RBIs and 36 runs scored last season.
Georgia
Kyle Carter, Columbus, Outfield/Pitcher - Playing on perhaps the top team in Georgia this year, Carter is only a junior but already has big-time credentials. The Bi-City Player of the Year by the Columbus Ledger Enquirer as a sophomore, Carter batted .410 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs for the Georgia AAA state champs. He also had a 9-2 record and a 2.36 ERA as a pitcher.
Hawaii
Michael Suiter, Punahou (Honolulu), Outfielder - Named the Player of the Year in Hawaii by the Star-Bulletin, Suiter helped lead Punahou to its seventh straight state title. He batted .474 with 26 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.
Idaho
Porter Clayton, Bonneville (Idaho Falls), Pitcher - One of the top prospects in the northwest, Porter posted a 10-1 record with a 0.42 ERA for Bonneville while striking out 135 batters in just 66 innings. He will play at Oregon next season.
Illinois
Tim Barry, Oak Forest, Outfield - Barry should be one of the top home run hitters in the country this year after belting 17 as a junior. He enters his senior season with 41 career homers and 170 RBIs. Barry drove in 43 runs last year and was an all-state choice by the Chicago Tribune for the third straight season. He also batted .578 with 46 runs scored.
Indiana
Dillon Peters, Indianapolis Cathedral, Pitcher - The Player of the Year on the Indy Star Super Team, Peters led Cathedral with a 12-1 record, a 0.63 ERA and 154 strikeouts in just 89.1 innings pitched. He will play at the University of Texas next season.
Iowa
Ethan Westphal, Martensdale-St. Mary's, Pitcher - Westphal had an outstanding junior season, posting a 16-0- record while leading his team to a 43-0 record and the Iowa 1A state championship. Westphal had a 0.22 ERA with 187 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched.
Kansas
Bubba Starling, Gardner-Edgerton, Pitcher/Outfield - Already considered one of the all-time great athletes from the Kansas City area, Starling signed to play football at Nebraska but he is also considered the top baseball prospect in the country. Batted .509 with eight home runs last year and was a member of Team USA 18U.
Kentucky
Chandler Shepherd, Lawrence County (Louisa), Pitcher - Shepherd hasn't been on the mound since his sophomore year due to Tommy John surgery last year as a junior. However he still has impressive credentials. As a sophomore, Shepherd set a state record with 46 consecutive scoreless innings. He has 28 career wins with a 1.96 ERA. Last year he served as the team's designated hitter and batted .531 with 10 home runs.
Louisiana
Aaron Nola, Catholic (Baton Rouge), Pitcher - Already committed to LSU, Nola overcame a hernia injury to earn all-state honors and post a 7-0 record with 71 strikeouts and only seven walks in 56 innings pitched.
Maine
Tim Locke, Waterville, Pitcher - Not only is Locke one of the top pitchers in the state of Maine, but his two home runs helped Waterville defeat Cape Elizabeth for the Class B state title last year.
Maryland
Bobby Ruse, C. Milton Wright (Bel Air), Pitcher - Headed to University of Maryland next year, Ruse led Wright with an 8-0 record and a 0.92 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 53.2 innings pitched as a junior.
Massachusetts
Tyler Beede, Lawrence Academy (Groton), Pitcher - Considered a possible high first round draft pick in June, Beede transferred from Auburn to Lawrence Academy last season and went 6-1 with 87 strikeouts in 45.1 innings pitched. He also batted .429 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs.
Michigan
Joel Seddon, St. Clair, Pitcher - An all-state player in Michigan, Seddon posted a 10-1 record as a junior with a 0.77 ERA. He also struck out 109 batters in 72.2 innings pitched with only 28 hits allowed. As a shortstop, Seddon batted .417 with four home runs, 40 RBIs and 22 walks.
Minnesota
Austin Malinowski, Centennial (Circle Pines), Pitcher - Made the All-Metro team in Minnesota after posting a 7-0 record with a 0.85 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 41 innings. He also batted .516 on the year.
Mississippi
Luke Lowery, Sumrall, Pitcher - One of the standouts on Sumrall's state championship teams the past two seasons, Lowery is 21-1 over the past two years with 205 strikeouts. He was 11-1 last season with two shutouts, 102 strikeouts and a 1.13 ERA.
Missouri
Tate Matheny, Westminster Christian (St. Louis), Outfield - A junior, Matheny was an All-Metro pick by the St. Louis Dispatch. The son of former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny, Tate batted .551 with 59 hits, nine doubles, seven triples, five home runs and 45 RBIs.
Montana
Ben Roberts, Sentinel (Missoula), Outfield - Montana doesn't play high school baseball but Roberts has emerged as an outstanding all-around athlete in the state. He was an all-state receiver after grabbing 108 passes in the fall. Also a standout basketball player, Roberts will play State AA American Legion ball with the Missoula Mavericks. Last year he batted .425 with 16 home runs, 76 RBIs and 19 triples.
Nebraska
A.J. Ladwig, Millard West (Omaha), Pitcher - Named to the All-Metro team, Ladwig posted an 8-1 mound record last year with a 2.79 ERA.
Nevada
Joey Gallo, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Infield - An all-state player last year as a sophomore, Gallo helped Bishop Gorman to a state title by batting .474 with 16 doubles, 15 home runs and 62 RBIs.
New Hampshire
Joe Maher, Bedford, Pitcher - Named to the Division-I all-state team last year, the 6-5 Maher is one of the top pitchers in the northeast and has committed to play at Northeastern.
New Jersey
Brandon Downes, South Plainfield, Outfielder - Downes challenged the state home run record last year in New Jersey by belting 15 round-trippers. He also hit .484 with 47 RBIs and was named the Middlesex County Player of the Year.
New Mexico
Blake Swihart, Cleveland (Rio Rancho), Catcher - A two-time all-metro pick in the Albuquerque area, Swihart moved from first base to catcher last season and developed into one of the top prospects in the country. He was the leading hitter for Team USA 18U over the summer and also played well at the Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif.
New York
Elvin Soto, Xaverian (Brooklyn), Catcher - An all-state and all-borough player in New York City, Soto batted .358 with 12 home runs and was named to Team USA 18U this summer.
North Carolina
Mikal Hill, Mallard Creek (Charlotte), Shortstop - Committed to South Carolina as a sophomore, Hill earned player of the year honors from the Charlotte Observer last year after batting .566 with 39 RBIs, nine doubles and seven home runs.
North Dakota
David Ernst, Fargo South (Fargo), Pitcher - Won the Gatorade State Player of the Year honor as a junior after going 8-0 on the mound with a 0.69 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched. He also batted .437 with 28 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
Ohio
Mike Mancuso, Brecksville-Broadview Heights (Broadview Heights), Pitcher - A two time Southwestern Conference Pitcher of the Year, Mancuso is a 6-6 righthander who hasn't lost a game in two years. He was 6-0 as a junior with a 1.10 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 45.2 innings pitched. He also went 7-0 with 54 strikeouts in 44 innings as a sophomore. Also batted .468 with 27 RBIs last year.
Oklahoma
Dylan Bundy, Owasso, Pitcher - A two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year, Bundy is one of the more highly decorated players in the class of 2011. Transferred to Owasso last year and led the Rams to the 6A state championship game where they fell to Tulsa Union. Bundy had a huge year, going 11-1 with a 1.58 ERA and 164 strikeouts in 79.2 innings pitched. Also adept at the plate, Bundy batted .444 with 51 RBIs and seven home runs.
Oregon
Sam Johnson, Westview (Portland), Pitcher - A two-time all-state pitcher, Johnson has already committed to play at Oregon. He went 7-3 on the mound with 65 strikeouts in 65.1 innings pitched. He also batted .319 with 10 doubles and two home runs. He was the 2009 Metro League pitcher of the year as a sophomore.
Pennsylvania
Derek Fisher, Cedar Crest (Lebanon), Outfielder - Earned a spot on the all-state team last year after batting .440 with nine home runs.
Rhode Island
Harrison Barlow, South Kingstown (Wakefield), Shortstop - An all-state selection in Rhode Island, Barlow batted exactly .500 and was named the Outstanding Player in Division I-South. He also had 18 RBIs and 16 stolen bases while going 4-1 on the mound with a 1.99 ERA.
South Carolina
Hunter Cole, Dorman (Roebuck), Outfielder - Made the all-state team as a junior after batting .458 with 31 RBIs and nine home runs last season for Dorman.
South Dakota
Steve Stanage, Yankton, Pitcher - An all-state Class A pitcher last year, Stanage pitched 27 innings and struck out 33 batters while posting a 1.03 ERA.
Tennessee
Philip Pfeifer, Farragut (Knoxville), Pitcher - Destined to be one of the all-time greats to come out of the Volunteer State, Pfeifer has led Farragut to three straight state championships and has a 41-1 record over the past three seasons. He posted a 16-0 record last year with a 1.26 ERA. Struck out 165 and walked only 26 in 96 innings pitched. Pfeifer has 415 career strikeouts.
Texas
Toller Boardman, Bellaire, Pitcher - A force on the mound for the Cardinals since his freshman season, Boardman was the District 20-5A Player of the Year and finished the season with 12 wins on the mound. He performed well in the Area Code Games in August and has already committed to the University of Texas.
Utah
Kayden Porter, Spanish Fork, Pitcher - At 6-5 and more than 230 pounds, and just a junior, Porter figures to cast a big shadow over Utah baseball for the next few seasons. He belted 10 home runs last season and had a key mound win for Spanish Fork on its way to the 4A state championship.
Vermont
Ted Andrews, Essex (Essex Junction), Catcher - If Essex is to continue its dominance in Division I in the state of Vermont, Andrews, an all-Metro player, will likely be the one to lead the way.
Deshorn Lake,
Menchville
Photo by Kirt Winter
Deshorn Lake, Menchville (Newport News), Pitcher - Lake has risen to become one of the top pitching candidates in the country after seeing limited time on the mound for Menchville last season. He went 7-1 last season with a 2.13 ERA and has a fastball clocked in the 95 mph range.
Washington
Dylan Davis, Redmond, Pitcher - Excels at the plate and on the mound. He posted a 4-1 record with a 2.35 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched. At the plate, Davis batted .438 with 11 home runs and 37 RBIs.
West Virginia
Maverick Myers, North Marion (Farmington), Shortstop - One year after being named the Pitcher of the Year in the North Central Conference, Myers was named the Conference Player of the Year. Also an all-state player last season, Myers is headed to West Virginia next year.
Wisconsin
Cody Hanke, Marathon, Pitcher - A three-sport standout, Hanke was 13-0 last season with four shutouts and 106 strikeouts in 78.2 innings pitched. He also batted .412 with 32 RBIs and seven home runs while earning all-state honors.
Wyoming
Brandon Nimmo, East (Cheyenne), Outfielder - Wyoming doesn't have high school baseball, but Nimmo showed his talents at the Under Armour All-American Game this summer when he was named the league's MVP. Hones his skills playing American Legion baseball.
