MaxPreps 2015 Illinois preseason baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. St. Rita (Chicago)
2014 finish: 37-5
Head coach: Mike Zunica

According to coach Zunica, St. Rita could have its top starting lineup, top to bottom, in the last 20 years. St. Rita reached the Class 4A championship game last year, falling to Providence Catholic. Among the top returning players including four players headed to play college baseball. They include infielder/pitcher Tyler Halas (Tennessee), centerfielder Shane Peisker (Navy), shortstop Marty Bechina (Michigan State) and left-handed pitcher Matt Ryan (Butler).

View last season's Illinois baseball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

2. Joliet Catholic Academy
2014 finish: 28-8
Head coach: Jared Voss

Joliet Catholic might have the top pitching combo in the state in MaxPreps Junior All-American Nick Dalesandro and Sophomore All-American Drake Fellows. Dalesandro, who is also a top hitter with a .409 batting average, posted a 7-1 record last year while Fellows was 6-1. Dalesandro is headed to Purdue while Fellows, a junior, has already committed to Vanderbilt.

View last season's Illinois baseball playoff brackets

3. Chicago Mt. Carmel
2014 finish: 32-8
Head coach: Brian Hurry

The Caravan are just two years removed from winning a Class 4A state championship. They also have four players expected to play college baseball next year, led by Josh Stowers, an outfielder headed to Louisville, Ako Thomas, an infielder committed to Michigan, Malik Carpenter, a first baseman headed to Chicago State, and Jeremy Houston, a shortstop committed to Indiana.

View last season's Illinois baseball stat leaders

4. Providence Catholic (New Lenox)
2014 finish: 27-14
Head coach: Mark Smith

The defending Class 4A state champions lost one of the state's top players to graduation in pitcher Jake Godfrey, however he didn't even have the best record on the team last year. Pitchers Brent Villasenor (7-1) and Justin Hunniford (5-1) both return to anchor the pitching staff. Mike Madej, a junior, is the top returning hitter after batting .295 last season.

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5. Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield)
2014 finish: 38-4
Head coach: Mike Eck

The Cyclones had a senior-dominated team last year that reached the Class 3A finals. Two of the top players from that team, however, return in pitcher Ben McElwee and Cole Daily. McElwee posted a 9-1 pitching record with 81 strikeouts and a 0.77 ERA. Daily was one of the team's top hitters with a .382 batting average and 11 doubles. The shortstop ranks as the No. 8 senior in Illinois by Perfect Game.