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

Video: 2016 Shawnee Mission East Baseball
A look at last year's Kansas Class 6A state champions.


1. Lawrence Free State (Lawrence)
Head coach: Mike Hill
2016 record: 20-5

Lawrence Free State won the Class 6A state title in 2015 and reached the finals in 2016. Three all-state players return from last year, including pitcher Aaron Funk, who went 6-0 with 64 strikeouts. His catcher, Matt Hill, returns after committing zero errors in 25 games. Zion Bowlin is back at third base with a .364 average while Jacob Pavlyak returns in the outfielder after batting .339.

See last season's Kansas baseball computer rankings

2. East (Shawnee Mission)
Head coach: Jerrod Ryherd
2016 record: 21-4 East won the Class 6A state title last year and loses just one player from that squad. That one player, All-American and MLB draft pick Joey Wentz, will be difficult to replace, but East has at least three potential MLB prospects returning in pitcher Zeb Vermillion (5-0 record), outfielder Jake Randa (.381 batting average) and shortstop/pitcher Luke Anderson (4-2).

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3. Maize South (Wichita)
Head coach: Chad Christensen
2016 record: 20-3

The Mavericks lost in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs, but return six starters from that club. All-State designated hitter Jordan Maxson tops the list after batting .438 with 38 RBIs and eight triples. Bryce Sell leads the pitching staff, earning second team All-State honors and posting a 4-1 record with a 1.51 ERA.

See last season's MaxPreps Kansas baseball playoff brackets

4. Bishop Carroll (Wichita)
Head coach: Charles Ebright
2016 record: 17-5

The Golden Eagle were eliminated from the postseason by Maize South one game before the state tournament. Five of the team's top eight offensive players return along with the team's top pitcher in Jacob Ensz. As a junior, Ensz earned All-State second team honors and posted a 5-0 record with a 0.95 ERA. All-State second team pick Brayden Whitchurch also returns in the outfield after batting .412.

See last season's MaxPreps Kansas baseball stat leaders

5. Blue Valley (Stilwell)
Head coach: Tony Scardino
2016 record: 21-3

Blue Valley was the No. 1 seed for the Class 6A state tournament last year, but lost to Lawrence Free State in the semifinals. The state champions in 2014, Blue Valley lost three All-State players to graduation, but it returns all-state second team pick Daniel Hegarty at first base.