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NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION |
2005 Pre-Season BCA/Baseball America Top 50 Teams Rankings
A Look at the Pre-Season
Teams: TEXT BY ALAN MATTHEWS, Baseball America 1. Moody HS, Corpus Christi,
Texas (42-1). The Trojans capped a
storybook 2004 season with a No. 2 national ranking and their first Texas Class
5A title in school history, and have the personnel back to provide an exciting
sequel. Senior C/RHP Luis Flores went 14-0, 0.00 in 91 innings as a junior. 2. Monsignor Pace HS, Opa
Locka, Fla. (24-2). The Spartans' bid for
a national title was spoiled in the district playoffs last season and Miami
signees RHPs Thomas Mendoza (4-0, 1.31) and Anthony Perez (8-0, 0.49) figure to
lead Monsignor Pace back into the mix, not only in the state but nationally,
this season. 3. Flower Mound (Texas) HS
(37-8). The 5-A school opened in 1999 in
suburban Dallas-Fort Worth and boasts the nation's deepest pitching staff with
three righthanders who have 90 mph heat, including Texas Christian-bound Craig
Italiano (10-3, 2.96) to go along with Oklahoma State-bound LHP Kelly Gaviglio,
who is 18-1 in three years on the varsity. 4. Russell County HS, Seale,
Ala. (30-15). Head coach Tony Rasmus,
father of senior OF/LHP Colby (.490-18-56; 2-4, 1.91) and junior 3B/RHP Cory
(.450-11-44; 2-1, 1.80), can sit back and enjoy Alabama's top team, which also
features one the nation's top juniors in LHP Kasey Kiker (3-0, 0.60). 5. Key West (Fla.) HS (20-11). Traditional Florida power has the nation's best home
field advantage--resident Conchs pack upwards of 1,000 fans at festive home
games--to go along with a senior-laden pitching staff and sound defense up the
middle, led by Oklahoma State-bound C Ralphie Henriquez. 6. Rancho Bernardo HS, San
Diego (28-7). UCLA signee John Drennen
(.460-11-26) and Wake Forest signee Allan Dykstra (.281-4-12) offer thunder
from the left side of the plate for the Broncos, a traditional power that plays
in one of the nationÕs hotbeds. 7. Rancho Buena Vista HS, San
Diego (19-14). LHPs Tim Murphy, a senior
bound for UCLA, and Gavin Brooks, one of the nationÕs top juniors, headline an
experienced group in Leo Flete's first year as head coach. 8. Chaparral HS, Scottsdale, Ariz. (31-2). Remarkably, with a 63-6 record and back-to-back state 4-A
titles in the past two years, the Grand Canyon State might be treated to
Chaparral's best team yet in 2005. LHP-1B Ike Davis, son of ex-big leaguer Ron
Davis, is the teamÕs best talent. 9. T.C. Roberson HS, Asheville, N.C. (25-1). OF Cameron Maybin (.500-13-31), the nationÕs second-ranked
prep talent, hopes to lead North Carolina perennial power back to the state
finals following one of the nation's biggest upsets in 2004, when T.C. Roberson
suffered its first loss in the first round of the 3-A playoffs. 10. Gulliver Prep, Miami (27-6). Defending Florida Class 3-A champion will benefit from transfers
3B Chris Dominguez (.320-10-35) and SS Ryan Jackson. Jackson and fellow junior
2B Gabe Saade are arguably the nation's best prep double-play combo. 11. Chatsworth (Calif.) HS (35-0). The only back-to-back national champion in the history of the BA/NHSBCA poll enters the season with a 50-game winning streak. Jason Dominguez (.490-6-35) and Willie Cabrera (.545-11-51) will be missed, but Dominguez' little brother, 3B Matt (.461-8-65), is one of the nationÕs top sophomores. 12. Roswell (Ga.) HS (25-7). Four Division I signees include Alabama-bound LHP Miers Quigley (12-2, 1.30), the Georgia high school pitcher of the year in 2004, and Georgia-bound RHP/1B Brent Hallman (.440-10-35). 13. Farragut HS, Knoxville (46-2). After finishing third and second respectively in the nation in 2003 and 2004, the Admirals aim for No. 1 behind junior LHP Rob Catapano (13-0, 1.05) and slick-fielding, switch-hitting junior SS Tony Delmonico (.369-3-18). 14. Pioneer HS, Ann Arbor, Mich. (37-4). RHP/SS Zach Putnam (9-0, 0.53; .466-16-67) pleased hometown
fans when he committed to Michigan, and arguably the best two-way player in the
country could end his career with consecutive state Division I crowns, as well. 15. Cypress Bay HS, Weston,
Fla. (30-2). The Lightning won its first
Florida 6-A title last season and return three Central Florida signees,
including LHP/1B Mitch Houck (482-3-38), who threw a no-hitter in the state
final while going 4-1, 0.62 on the year. 16. Clovis (Calif.) West HS
(24-11). A trio of Division-I recruitsÑArizona-bound
RHP/1B Mike Colla (9-2, 1.60), Stanford-bound SS J.J. Jelmini (.423-4-22) and
Clemson-bound OF Jameson Smith (.298-4-20)--make the Eagles the best team in
northern California. 17. Brownsburg (Ind.) HS (27-7). Following consecutive years as the Indiana 4-A runner-up,
Brownsburg is poised at another run with nine starters returning from last
season's squad, including Mississippi-bound RHP/1B Lance Lynn (10-3, 1.26;
.507-14-46). 18. The Woodlands (Texas) HS (32-6). The Highlanders should contend with Houston's bevy of
strong teams behind Texas-bound LHP Kyle Walker (6-0, 2.83) and the country's
best junior, RHP/SS Kyle Drabek (5-0, 1.45; .444-4-14), the son of former Cy
Young award winner Doug Drabek. 19. Mills Godwin HS, Richmond, Va. (18-8). Virginia is for lovers as well as legitimate prep baseball
talent this spring, and Mills Godwin boasts AFLAC All-America SS/RHP Justin
Bristow (.452-7-18; 9-1, 0.80) to go along with a strong supporting cast. 20. Deering (Maine) HS (24-0). The Rams return eight starters, including Vanderbilt
signees SS Ryan Flaherty (.500-1-19) and C Andrew Giobbi (.456-5-32), from the
undefeated 2004 team that beat Brewers first-rounder Mark Rogers in the 2004
state championship game then won last summer's American Legion World Series. 21. Hudson's Bay HS, Vancouver, Wash. (23-3). Senior IF/RHP Tyson VanWinkle (.530-0-28; 6-1, 3.00) is
supported by a stellar underclassmen group that includes junior SS
Jackson Evans (.313-0-16), junior Jay Ponciano (.373-0-17) and standout sophomore
RHP/3B Greg Peavey (7-1, 2.13; .422-1-20). 22. Hamilton HS, Chandler,
Ariz. (30-8). Arizona's two-time defending
5-A champs are again favored to take the title in 2005, thanks to a deep
pitching staff and Arizona-bound 2B Travis Peep (.415-2-23) and his double play
partner Dylan Johnston (.474-4-30). 23. Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.)
HS (24-7). Senior-laden pitching staff,
headed by AFLAC All-America RHP Chris Volstad (8-2, 1.04), a Miami signee,
makes the Gators one of Florida's top teams in the stateÕs largest
classification. 24. Starr's Mill HS, Fayetteville, Ga. (26-7). Starr's Mill opened its doors just seven years ago but has
wasted little time in joining other suburban-Atlanta powers with talented teams
on the diamond. Georgia Southern-bound RHP Blake Nation (7-2, 2.26) is one of
three returning starters on the pitching staff. 25. Kingwood (Texas) HS
(32-11). Following a trip to the state 5-A
semifinals a year ago, the Mustangs have two lefthanders atop their rotation: a
fully healthy Blake Hancock and Austin Wood, a Texas signee. 26. Elk Grove (Calif.) HS (22-11). A veteran team with a potent lineup, centered around three seniors: SS/RHP Cody Allen (.337-4-28), a Hawaii recruit; OF Andy Lopez (.407-3-30), a Long Beach State recruit; and OF Mike Drake (.432-7-28). 27. Houston HS, Germantown,
Tenn. (28-13). Head coach Lane McCarter
says this year's team may be his best, and he's produced current top pro
prospects Matt Cain (Giants) and Stuart Pomeranz (Cardinals) in the past three
years. Mississippi State-bound RHP Matt Lea, who sat out last season while
transferring to Houston, is joined by three other Division I signees. 28. Destrehan (La.) HS (33-2). AFLAC All-America LHP Beau Jones (8-0, 2.13), a Louisiana
State signee, has led the Fighting Wildcats deep into the Louisiana playoffs
each of the past two seasons and figures to have them there again as a senior. 29. Tomball (Texas) HS (31-3). Texas' crop of outfield prospects is impressive and the
Cougars have two of the state's best in Kansas State-signee Byron Wiley and
Texas-bound Kyle Russell. 30. Winter Haven (Fla.) HS
(27-5). Clemson-bound
OF/LHP Jordan Schafer (.461-5-23; 10-2, 1.00) heads an experienced pitching staff capable of leading the
Blue Devils deep into the Florida 4-A playoffs. 31. Lockport (Ill.) HS (28-9). Most of the 2004 lineup, which hit .420, returns for the
Porters, led by Arizona State-bound C Nick Mitidero (.590-1-26) and Iowa-bound
OF Jake Christenson (.400-6-37). 32. Barron Collier HS, Naples,
Fla. (25-4). The Cougars bring back their
top four arms from last year's squad that dominated their region. Florida-bound
SS/RHP Clayton Pisani (.319-0-21; 9-0, 1.02) and Mississippi State-bound C Ryan
Duffy (.471-3-26) offer sound defensive skills and potent bats. 33. Esperanza HS, Anaheim.
(17-13). Traditionally-strong Esperanza
has one of its strongest teams ever, returning a lineup anchored by Texas-bound
OF Joe Dickerson and junior C Francis Larson. 34. Barbe HS, Lake Charles, La. (30-8). Louisiana 5-A state champs in 2000 and 2001 have reloaded
with talented pitching and top hitters such as SS Grant Derouen (.477-12-52)
and OF Eric Fry (.388-6-41) atop the lineup. 35.Nova HS, Davie, Fla. (30-3). RHP Anthony Swarzak was a second-round pick in last yearÕs draft and OF Warren McFadden is at Tulane, but Nova reloads with senior RHP Pablo Lopez, who is 25-2 as a starter in his career, and three Division I signees, including Louisiana State-bound C/RHP Robert Lara (.318-1-25). 36. La Quinta HS, Westminster, Calif. (28-2). Veteran coach Dave Demarest eyes another milestone as the traditionally-strong Aztecs are again loaded with good all-around players like SS/RHP Brandon Laird (.410-9-48; 9-1, 1.19). 37. Fallbrook HS, San Diego (30-5). Arizona-bound 1B David Plante (.520-15-45) takes aim at Eric Chavez' San Diego County record for career hits while junior RHP/2B Mike Leake transferred to Fallbrook to give the Warriors another outstanding arm. 38. Owasso (Okla.) HS (34-3). Owasso has finished in the top 12 nationally in each of
the last two seasons and returns junior LHP Chris Armstrong, who is 20-1, 1.99
in that period. 39. Lafayette HS, Lexington,
Kent. (34-7). Kentucky-bound RHP/SS Chaz Roe (7-1, 1.04; .383-6-44) is
the stateÕs top prospect and has plenty of support as the Generals return six
starters and their entire pitching staff from a year ago, when they finished
second in the state. C Zack Upton (.419-3-38) is the teamÕs top hitter. 40. Bryant (Ark.) HS (31-3). The Hornets return three key two-way players in 2B/RHP Todd Bryan (.291-0-13; 2-0, 0.96, 6 SV), RHP/SS Justin Wells (9-1, 1.29; .344-1-28) and LHP/OF Travis Wood (11-1, 1.21; .325-2-17), the stateÕs top prospect and an Arkansas signee. 41. Florida Christian HS, Miami (21-10). South Florida continues to rank as one of the country's
amateur hotbeds and head coach Ernie Padron's Patriots program is quickly
becoming one of the region's stalwarts. The reigning 2-A state champs return
Florida Atlantic-bound SS Danny Lima (.440-5-31) and Florida
International-bound OF J.C. Perez (.410-8-30). 42. Boerne (Texas) HS (32-5). Last season's Texas 4-A champs brings back their top two
pitchers in senior RHP/SS Brad Suttle (11-0, 1.21; .409-8-31) and junior RHP/3B
Russell Moldenhauer (13-3, 1.91; .500-13-55), who combined to go 24-3 while providing
plenty of offense. 43. Houston Christian HS (34-5). The talent in Houston spills over into the private
schools and Houston Christian has a number of Division I recruits, including
senior LHPs Scooter Hicks (9-0, 1.36), a Tulane signee, and Ryan Lollis (9-3,
2.68), a Missouri signee. 44. La Cueva HS, Albuquerque (28-0). A new era begins in Albuquerque as long-time bookends
James Parr and Jordan Pacheco graduated, leaving La Cueva with a new cast as it
enters the 2005 season with 58 consecutive winsÑeight shy of the national
record. C Zach Arnett (.500-5-40) is the teamÕs top returning talent. 45. Boone HS, Orlando (18-7). The one-time perennial central Florida power returns a
host of solid if unspectacular everyday players along with a quartet of talented
pitchers and should give Dr. Phillips High, Lake Brantley High and Winter Haven
High all it can handle in the battle for the heart of the Sunshine State. 46. Moeller HS, Cincinnati (28-3). Senior LHP Eric Surkamp doesn't have the powerful arm of current North Carolina State basketball star Andrew Brackman (7-0, 0.58), his rotation-mate a year ago, to lean on, but has shown he is capable of leading the Crusaders. He was 8-0, 0.44 with 81 strikeouts in 48 innings as a junior on last year's state championship team. 47. Niwot HS, Longmont, Colo. (25-1). The Cougars are the preseason favorite to claim their
fifth Colorado 4-A title since 1998 and second in a row. Stanford-bound LHP/OF
Sean Ratliff (10-0, 0.84; .622-14-53) is the stateÕs top prospect. 48. Mount St. Joeseph HS, Balimore (28-5). The Gaels have returned to the dominance they grew accustomed to in the 1990s, when Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira and top Phillies prospect Gavin Floyd led them to national recognition. The defending state private school champion welcomes back its entire pitching staff, led by RHP Brad Miller (4-2, 3.34) and LHP Kyle Timme (7-1, 1.95). 49. Cimarron-Memorial HS, Las Vegas (32-9). Santa Clara-bound RHP Mark Willinsky (5-4, 3.13) is Nevada's best prospect and will be followed in the rotation by Brigham Young-bound RHP Jordan Muir (6-2, 2.78). 50. New Palestine (Ind.) HS (30-4). Last yearÕs team won the Indiana 3-A champs with a sophomore-dominated lineup. The Dragons return their three best players, all juniors: 1B/LHP Andrew Clark (.424-10-41; 10-0, 0.22), RHP/1B Danny Collier (.474-1-31; 3-0, 1.40) and OF Chris Ulrey (.427-4-36). |
