Top 10 high school baseball teams to watch for 2016

Video: Austin Biggar's highlights vs. Brookwood
See the Parkview High catcher in action during the 2015 season.

Oxford finished the 2015 season ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps National Computer Baseball Rankings and it could start in the top spot in the Xcellent 25 National Baseball Rankings to begin the 2016 season.

With a number of all-state players returning and the MaxPreps National Junior Player of the Year in Jason Barber back as well, the Chargers appear primed for a repeat as state champs.

While the Chargers are favored to start at No. 1 in the Xcellent 25 next season, there are a number of teams that appear capable of challenging for that spot. Here are 10 teams that could be in the hunt for a preseason No. 1 national ranking in 2016.


Oxford (Miss.), 35-1
The Charges lost just one game in 2015 (35-1) en route to winning the Mississippi Class 5A state championship and finishing No. 1 in the MaxPreps National Computer Baseball Rankings. Besides MaxPreps National Junior of the Year Jason Barber (.337 batting average, eight home runs, 12-0 pitching record, 0.00 ERA), the Chargers also return all-state pitcher Houston Roth (9-1, 95 strikeouts, 1.26 ERA) and all-state infielder Grae Kessinger (.354, 36 RBIs, 13 doubles). The Chargers also return second-team all-state sophomore catcher Ben Bianco (.356, three home runs). Oxford could start the 2016 season at No. 1.

Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.), 34-2
The unanimous No. 1 team in the nation, Parkview will be in a good spot to repeat as the national champion in 2016. MaxPreps National Coach of the Year Chan Brown has earned a pair of national championships in his tenure with the Panthers and he returns two of the team's top players from last year in MaxPreps Junior All-Americans Austin Biggar (catcher, .370, 11 home runs) and Will Ethridge (pitcher, 13-0).

JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), 27-5-1
Although the Lions fell short of their ultimate goal of winning a Southern Section Division I championship, coach Brett Kay has a talented group returning next year to make another run at a title. Outfielder Brady Shockey and shortstop Chase Strumpf will be two of the top senior players in the state next season and infielder Royce Lewis proved to be one of the top sophomores in the country in 2015. JSerra also figures to have a strong pitching staff, led by rising junior Jack Owen and senior Collin Quinn.

Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), 29-5
The top team in Northern California, and possibly the entire state, Saint Francis returns its top player in Jeremy Ydens, a MaxPreps All-American, and five other players with at least 70 at-bats last year. Among those players are all-league honorees Andrew Martinez (infield) and Johnny Mendoza (catcher).

Venice (Fla.), 29-3
The Indians won the Class 6A state championship and return six players who saw significant playing time under coach Craig Faulkner, who was the Florida Dairy Farmers State Coach of the Year. Among the top returning players include Shane Shifflet, an all-area shortstop as a sophomore, and Scott Dubrule (.429), Tyler Gardner (.329) and Jake Grubbs (.315). Venice will miss MaxPreps All-American pitcher Cole Kragel, who won 13 games in 2015.

Huntington Beach (Calif.), 25-8
The Southern Section Division I champions peaked at the right time, as the Oilers overcame a 4-6 start to win 21 of their final 23 games. Besides Sunset League Pitcher of the Year Hagen Danner (sophomore), the Oilers return all-leaguers Landon Silver (OF), Logan Pouelsen (IF) and Dominic Abbadessa (2B).

Greenbrier (Evans, Ga.), 29-4
The Class 5A state champions in Georgia return 10 players who earned some type of all-region honors in 2015. Leading the way are first-team selections Garrett Marchmen (3B, .400), Ty Snipes (SS, .426, three home runs), Braz Staples (OF, .359) and Connor Hogan (P, 6-1 pitching record).

Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 29-4
Two of the Huskies' top hitters from last year were sophomores, including MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Nick Brueser (.447, nine home runs). Sophomore Drew Swift (.330) also returns along with junior Logan Boyer (.299, four home runs). Zane Strand, who led the team in wins and strikeouts, also returns to lead the pitching staff.

Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 26-7
If not in 2016, Rancho Bernardo will definitely be the team to watch in 2017, as the San Diego Section Open Division champions featured five sophomores in the starting lineup and had a freshman pitcher, Joey Magrisi, win eight games. Top returning players include rising juniors Calvin Mitchell (.333, six home runs), Lenard Jones (.275, three home runs), Adam Storch (.321), Alika Williams (.402) and Tora Otsuka (.294).

Coppell (Texas), 25-6
The Cowboys could be the top team in Texas in 2016, as 13 of the team's top 14 hitters return from last year's squad. Leading the way are all-district players Hayden Kettler (.279, three home runs), Myles Paschall (.273) and Austin Gross (.273) as well as Newcomer of the Year Jacob Nesbit (.340).