JSerra Catholic will look to celebrate more success this season.
Photo by Heston Quan
MaxPreps 2015 California Baseball Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
1. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)2014 finish: 22-8
Head coach: Brett Kay
The Lions won the Trinity League last year and finished 22-8 overall. JSerra, which reached the semifinals of the Division I playoffs last year, will play in the National High School Invitational in North Carolina in March. The Lions have seven all-league players returning this year, including league MVP
Brady Shockey (OF) and nationally ranked
Chase Strumpf (SS).
View last season's California baseball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard2. Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo)2014 finish: 23-10
Head coach: Craig Hanson
The Wolverines reached the Southern Section Division 2 championship game two of the past three seasons, losing to Temecula Valley last year by two runs. Aliso Niguel returns one of the nation's top combo players in
Kyle Molnar, who was 10-2 on the mound and also batted .320. He's joined by one of the nation's top juniors in catcher
Blake Sabol, who hit .330 last season.
View last season's California baseball playoff brackets3. De La Salle (Concord)2014 finish: 21-7
Head coach: David Jeans
The Spartans won the North Coast Section Division I championship last year and return six players with varsity experience. Topping the list is left-handed pitcher
Justin Hooper, who is ranked as the top lefty pitching prospect in the country. He is targeted as one of the top 10 picks in this year's Major League Baseball Draft. He went 6-3 last year and possesses a fastball that hits 97 mph. The Spartans figure to be tough up the middle with returning catcher
Andrew Schatz (.308), second baseman
Myles Coston (.278) and shortstop
Kevin Sandri (.281).
View last season's California baseball stat leaders4. College Park (Pleasant Hill)2014 finish: 27-3
Head coach: Andy Tarpley
The Falcons have won 20 games each of the past three seasons. It shouldn't be any surprise that those are also the three seasons All-American pitcher
Joe DeMers has been on the College Park varsity team. He's won 31 games in his career (31-4), including 12-2 last year when the Falcons won the North Coast Section Division II championship. DeMers is one of six returning starters. Another to watch is
Trevor Larnach, who batted .436 with 14 doubles. The pitching staff also returns
Chris Brown, who went 11-1 with a 0.78 ERA last season.
View the MaxPreps California baseball pro photo galleries5. Rancho Bernardo (San Diego)2014 finish: 30-5
Head coach: Sam Blalock
Although the Broncos lost one of the nation's top players to the Major League Baseball Draft last year, there is still plenty of talent left on the team, along with a very talented transfer joining the mix. Alex Jackson, one of the top high school players drafted last year, took his .400 batting average and 11 home runs to the next level. However coach Sam Blalock featured three freshmen in his lineup last year in
Tora Otsuka (.312),
Calvin Mitchell (.267) and
Adam Storch (.301). The Broncos also return one of the state's top pitchers in
Drew Finley (5-0) and welcome transfer
Kyle Dean from Poway. Dean is one of the top outfield prospects in the country.