Early look at the 2012 Baseball Top 10

The 2012 baseball season is still more than six months away, but here's an early look at a possible preseason Top 10:

1. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 35-4
The Gaels return at least nine players with starting experience and have more than 60 home runs returning along with close to 20 wins from the pitching staff. Bishop Gorman finished seventh in the 2011 MaxPreps Xcellent 50 and lose some talented players, including pitcher T.J. White and catcher Eric Van Meetren. However, All-American candidate Joey Gallo returns after hitting 25 home runs last season. He's joined by Louisville Slugger All-American Cody Roper and talented infielder Johnny Sewald. The Gaels also will play in the USA Baseball National Invitational in late March. A win there could solidify the Gaels' hold on the top spot for the remainder of the season.

2. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), 27-7
Jesuit fell just short of winning the Florida 4A state championship, falling to two-time champion Archbishop McCarthy in the championship game. However the Tigers return one of the nation's top pitching prospects in Lance McCullers, the Tampa area player of the year, along with six other players with starting experience. Tops among those is rising junior Peter Alonso, a third baseman who hit .495 with 53 RBIs last year.

3. Carroll (Corpus Christi, Texas), 34-7
The Tigers slumped early during the 2011 season, but rallied to reach the state tournament for the second straight season only to fall in the semifinals. Carroll will once again be the top-ranked team to start the season in Texas (the Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the country to start the 2011 season by both MaxPreps and Baseball America) thanks to a strong pitching staff that includes all-state picks Courtney Hawkins and O'Shea Dumes. Rising sophomore pitcher Michael Cantu gives Carroll a strong third starter and the team returns eight players who received all-district honors.

4. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 24-6
The Monarchs return possibly the state's best senior next year in Ty Moore, who was the Orange County Register Player of the Year over the likes of All-American Henry Owens of Edison (Hungtington Beach). Moore gives Mater Dei plenty of power at the plate and might on the mound, much like Cory Hahn did two years ago in leading the Monarchs to the section championship. The Monarchs also have one of the state's top young catchers in Jeremy Martinez, who is a member of Team USA 18U. Add in four other starters who batted better than .315 for the season and you have a strong contender for the Southern Section Division I championship.

5. Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 28-3
It's quite possible that two of the top five teams in the country next year will play in the same state enrollment division. Archbishop McCarthy defeated Jesuit (ranked No. 2 in this poll) for the Florida 4A championship and will certainly be a contender for a third straight championship. The Mavericks lose several key players from last year, including MLB draft picks Alex Fernandez and Jose Brizuela, but eight players who earned All-Broward County honors return, including 10-win pitcher Andre Martinez, all-county second-team player Nick Basto and all-county third teamer Nick Travieso.

6. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 25-1
The Ironmen had an eye on the national No. 1 ranking in 2011 until an unexpected loss to Bergen Catholic in the first round of the playoffs derailed an unbeaten season. Nevertheless, Don Bosco Prep will make another run at it next year with seven players with starting experience returning. Tops among them are Tom Burns and Mike Gomez, each of whom was undefeated on the mound last season. Burns was 9-0 overall while Gomez was just behind at 7-0. Matt Dacey, who batted .461 with eight home runs, returns at first base to lead the offense.

7. Spanish Fork (Utah), 29-3
The defending 4A state champions have arguably the two best pitchers in Utah next year in Kayden Porter, the MaxPreps National Junior Player of the Year, and all-state pick Hayden Nielsen. Porter was 9-1 last year while Nielsen was 11-1. The twosome will make Spanish Fork the team to beat in Utah once again this season, however it will also have to play well in out-of-state tournaments to gain a high ranking, much like it did in 2011 when it beat Bishop Gorman in a tournament in Arizona.

8. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 37-8
The Admirals suffered through several key injuries last season, most notably an arm injury to the state's all-time winningest pitcher, Phillip Pfeifer, who was limited to just six decisions on the season. That meant plenty of playing time for the young group of players on the team. Expect Farragut to contend for a fifth straight state championship in 2012. A.J. Simcox leads the offensive attack next year while Xander Taylor returns to lead the pitching staff. The Admirals return seven players with notable playing time to go with 18 wins from the returning pitchers.

9. Washington (New York City), 45-2
The Trojans won the PSAL championship in 2011 without longtime coach Steve Mandl, who was serving a year's suspension for alleged recruiting violations. Nick Carbone filled in admirably, winning All-City Coach of the Year honors by the New York Post and the Daily News. Who will coach the Trojans in 2012 remains to be seen (most likely Mandl), but whoever does lead Washington will have a talented group, led by All-America candidates Nelson Rodriguez at catcher and Fernelys Sanchez in the outfield.

10. Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas), 39-6
The Wildcats lost in the Texas 4A state championship game to Rider, but the perennial 4A contenders appear to be the favorite for 2012. Six players with starting experience return, including all-state pitcher/shortstop Wyatt Mathisen, who seems to have played at Calallen forever, and rising junior Preston Dorsey, who made the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American team.