Early look at the Top 10 high school baseball teams for 2019

With eight returning starters, including a number of All-State and all-area selections, back from a team that won 37 games in a row and finished the season with a state championship, Argyle is the clear-cut choice to begin the 2019 season at the top spot.

Argyle (Texas)
There is no debate over which team will start the 2019 season at No. 1. Argyle won 37 straight games and captured the Texas Class 4A state championship in fairly easy fashion. MaxPreps National Coach of the Year Ricky Griffin returns eight starters from that squad, including the entire infield and outfield. Over 20 pitching wins also return. All-American candidates Brendan Dixon at shortstop and Preston King at second base return, while Austin King is back at catcher. The outfield is strong with the return of MaxPreps All-American Hayden Clearman and Dillon Carter. The pitching staff also returns Dallas News All-Area pick Sean Bolin along with junior Tate Van Poppel, the son of former MLB pitcher Todd Van Poppel.

American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
The 2018 season had to be a disappointing one for the Patriots, who began ranked No. 1 in the nation and were eliminated from the postseason by Merritt Island in the regional playoffs. Despite losing two MLB draft picks in Tristan Casas and Cory Acton, American Heritage still figures to be one of the top teams in the country. The Patriots have a multitude of Division I-committed players, including junior outfielder Enrique Bradfield, junior first baseman Gavin Casas and sophomore pitcher Devin Futrell — all committed to Vanderbilt. Throw in pitcher Ryan Cabarcas, a rising senior headed to Florida, and the Patriots have another stellar cast ready to make a run at a Florida state championship and possible national title.

Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.)
Ranked among the top teams in the nation all season, the Titans fell to eventual state champion Jefferson in the Class 4A state semifinals. Blessed Trinity will be strong in the field, particularly up the middle, with MaxPreps Junior All-American CJ Abrams at shortstop and All-State pick Steele Chambers in the outfield. The pitching staff boasts one of the top sophomore pitchers in the nation in right-hander DJ Radtke.

Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, Texas)
The Panthers have averaged 36 wins over the past two seasons and continue to close in on a Texas Class 5A state title. This could be the year they get it as they return the No. 1 player in the nation and the possible No.  1 pick in the 2019 MLB draft in shortstop Bobby Witt. The squad should be extremely solid in the infield with returning starters Chandler Freeman and Mason Greer joining Witt, the son of a former Major Leaguer.

Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
The Eagles had an up-and-down season that began with a strong performance at the National High School Invitational, followed by the forfeiture of 11 games for transfer-rule violations and then ultimately a Florida Class 4A state championship that included a win that snapped the 60-game win streak of Calvary Christian (Clearwater). While draftee Raynel Delgado and All-American pitcher Christian Scott are gone, the Eagles still boast a strong young pitching staff that includes rising senior Skylar Gonzalez, sophomore Andrew Painter and sophomore transfer Irving Carter (formerly of Trinity Christian Academy).

Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
The Cavaliers were, perhaps, the top team in the Southern Section heading into the Division 1 playoffs in 2018. An upset loss to Valencia in the first round, however, brought an early end to an otherwise impressive season. The Wolverines went undefeated in a very tough Mission League and return one of the nation's top young pitchers in Sam Hliboki. Also back is junior outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, one of the top-rated players in the class of 2020.

IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Could this be the year that IMG Academy breaks through and makes a run at a national championship? The Ascenders have a number of their top players returning from 2018, including LSU-bound catcher Ray Torres, Vanderbilt commit Kendall Williams and Texas Tech commit Kyle Westfall. IMG Academy also reportedly has two talented transfers in highly regarded senior pitcher Brennan Malone (formerly of North Carolina's Porter Ridge) and junior infielder Jakob Gelof (formerly of Cape Henlopen and brother of 2018 Delaware State Player of the Year Zach Gelof).

Monsignor Pace (Miami)
The Spartans may be a year away from truly entering the "National No. 1" conversation, but they did win a Florida Class 5A state championship in 2018 and return the bulk of that lineup. Leading the way is MaxPreps All-American pitcher Yordani Carmona, a Miami commit. Monsignor Pace also has three other rising juniors ranked among the top 54 in the country by Perfect Game, including pitcher Victor Mederos, who is ranked No. 5 in the class of 2020.

Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
The transfer of Cole Winn from Colorado proved to be a boon for the Lancers, who rode the arm and bat of the MaxPreps All-American to win the National High School Invitational and the rugged Trinity League. The Lancers fell short in the postseason, losing in the Southern Section Division 1 semifinals to eventual champion Capistrano Valley. Orange Lutheran returns league co-MVP Max Rajcic at pitcher as well as all-league picks Christian Rodriguez and Caden Conner, and senior outfielder Jasiah Dixon, a Southern California commit.

Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.)
The Warriors finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation in the MaxPreps computer rankings. While top pitchers Patrick Wicklander and Kevin Pence have graduated, Valley Christian returns a strong group in the field, including the left side in sophomores Jonathan Cymrot and Trevor Haskins, along with outfielders Eddie Park and Coleman Brigman.