MaxPreps 2015 South Carolina Baseball Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
1. Wando (Mt. Pleasant)2014 finish: 19-11
Head coach: Jeff Blankenship
Wando fields the top player in the state, according to Perfect Game, in outfielder
Kep Brown. Ranked No. 20 in the nation, Brown is headed to the University of Miami. The Warriors also return catcher
Noah Locascio, first baseman
Tyler Ackard and right-handed pitcher
Harrison Smith, all of whom are ranked among the top 25 players in the state by Perfect Game.
View last season's South Carolina baseball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard2. Flora (Columbia)2014 finish: 25-4
Head coach: Andy Hallett
No South Carolina 3A team had ever won three straight state championships until Flora accomplished the feat last year. Although many of the top players on those teams have graduated, Flora still has some talent returning in senior infielders
Donald Gillespie and
Will Taks. Gillespie, a shortstop, is in his fifth year as a starter for the Falcons. Flora also has one of the state's top junior catchers in
Josh Hernandez.
View last season's South Carolina baseball playoff brackets3. Sumter2014 finish: 28-2-1
Head coach: Brooks Schumake
The defending Class 4A state champions were senior-dominated on offense last year, but it returns several key players from last year's squad, including
Chris Crawford and
Jordan Holladay. The Gamecocks have become one of the top programs in South Carolina, winning state titles in 2006, 2011 and 2014.
View last season's South Carolina baseball stat leaders4. Wren (Piedmont)2014 finish: 25-6
Head coach: Randy Thompson
Wren reached the Class 3A Upper State championship game before being eliminated by Flora. Wren has one of the state's top juniors in catcher/first baseman
Chase McCroskey along with senior left-handed pitcher
Doug Gressly and senior catcher
Chase Barbary. Wren will be without All-American candidate L.T. Tolbert, who has transferred to IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).
View the MaxPreps South Carolina baseball pro photo galleries5. Northwestern (Rock Hill)2014 finish: 19-5
Head coach: Mitch Walters
The Trojans advanced to the Class 4A state championship, but they lost to perennial champion Sumter. Northwestern loses four players who earned all-area honors last season, but they return the top player in the Rock Hill area in shortstop
Dupree Hart. A standout on the football field as well, the College of Charleston commit batted .469 with 40 runs scored last year.