MaxPreps Northern California Preseason Top 25 high school baseball rankings

The weather turned nice and look what happened. Baseball season started. High school baseball in Northern California expects another collection of top teams, terrific talents, challenging and ambitious nonleague early scheduling and a playoff scramble that will be a fight to the finish come May and early June.

Here's a closer look at the MaxPreps Northern California preseason Top 25 rankings, with last year's record:

MaxPreps Northern California Preseason Top 25 Baseball Rankings

1. Campolindo (Moraga) 23-4-1
With three consecutive North Coast Section Division II championships and a remarkable 15 returning key players, the Cougars find out just how great they are with a taxing early schedule against other NorCal ranked foes in St. Francis (Mountain View), Serra (San Mateo), De La Salle, Casa Grande (Petaluma), Elk Grove and Granite Bay. A host of players are headed to the college ranks, and perhaps some to the draft some day, in left-handed pitchers Trent Shelton (Oregon State) and Matt Ladrech (Cal), infielders Robbie Tenerowicz (Cal) and Denis Karas (Cal) and outfielder Brett Stephens (UCLA). Shelton, Stephens and Tenerowicz are four-year varsity performers. Campolindo was the first East Bay team to win three successive North Coast Section titles.

2. St. Francis (Mountain View) 26-5-1
The Lancers are loaded and loom as perhaps the early favorite to win the ever-formidable West Catholic Athletic League that also includes Valley Christian (San Jose), Serra (San Mateo) and Mitty (San Jose). Lefty John Gavin is back along with Michael Strem, a Boston College commit who also plays third base, and Richard Boe (Arizona State). Outifielders Hunter Simmons (Utah) and Kort Peterson (UCLA), shortstop Chris Baker (Washington) and catcher Tim Susnara (Oregon) make for a terrific lineup. Gavin went 7-1 with an 0.93 ERA.

3. Valley Christian (San Jose) 25-8
The defending Central Coast Section D-I champions return a strong infield of Bryson and Keenan Brigman and Theron Kay, and there are arms in Kay (8-2, 57 strikeouts), Chris Manderson (5-2, 44 strikeouts), Chase Chadband (2-2) and Mark Quinby (1-0). The Warriors play host to Elk Grove and Jesuit (Sacramento) early in gauge contests. The West Coast Athletic League, a power conference in football and basketball, is the same in this sport, with members such as St. Francis (Mountain View) and Serra (San Mateo).

4. Elk Grove 20-9
The top-ranked team heading into the season out of the Sac-Joaquin Section, the D-I Thundering Herd is fueled by a power lineup headed by slugging first baseman and MaxPreps preseason All-American Ryan Tellez (USC), infielders Dom Nunez (UCLA), Nick Madrigal and Carlos Moseley and outfielder Derek Hill (.451). David Smith, a 6-foot-4 ace, had a no-hitter in the 2012 playoffs in going 6-0; 6-3 Micheal Wright also had some good outings. Tellez, a high-round draft prospect, hit .568 with 7 homers and 47 RBIs in earning Sacramento Bee Player of the Year honors. Nunez hit .429 with 29 RBI. The Herd won three successive section titles from 2005-07 and have won 20 or more games in four successive seasons. Early games for Elk Grove include Valley Christian (San Jose), St. Mary's (Stockton), Campolindo and Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills). Elk Grove tied Davis for the Delta Valley Conference title last season, a game ahead of Franklin (Elk Grove), which went on to the Section finals, falling to St. Mary's (Stockton). The league will be every bit as challenging this season.

5. Serra (San Mateo) 19-13
The Padres started slow last season and finished in fourth place in the packed West Catholic Athletic League behind St. Francis (Mountain View), St. Ignatius (San Francisco) and Valley Christian). Lefties Blake Peters and Orlando Razo are UC Davis commits, flanked by catcher Michael Tinsley (Kansas), infielders Paul Murray (Western Kentucky) and Mickey McDonald (Illinois-Chicago), infielder/pitcher Matt Gorgolinski (Loyola Marymount) and outfielder Jordan Paroubeck (Fresno State). Early games include De La Salle (Concord) and St. Mary's (Stockton).

6. De La Salle (Concord) 20-7
The Spartans are hardly just a football and basketball school. This is a sporting power across the board. De La Salle is the defending North Coast Section D-I champions with a lot back, headed by pitcher Andrew Buckley (Cal) and A.J. Puckett (Pepperdine). A rising arm in talent and height is 6-6 sophomore lefty Justin Hooper. Outfielders Austin Lonestar, Justin Flatt (UC San Diego) Hunter Mercado-Hood (San Diego) and catcher Ray Bartolomucci (Valparaiso) are all experienced. De La Salle's early schedule includes Serra (San Mateo), St. Francis (Mountain View), Campolindo (Moraga) and St. Mary's (Stockton).

7. St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 23-8-1
The defending Central Coast Section D-II champions feature lefty Matt Krook (Oregon) and fellow arm Jack Klein (Stanford). Football star Jack Stinn mans the outfield and Nico Giarratano the infield. SI hails from the mighty WCAL.

8. St. Mary's (Stockton) 27-6
The Rams are three-time defending Sac-Joaquin Section D-I champions and would normally debut a lot higher in these rankings, but they graduated nine of their top 10 hitters. The lone returner is Joey Caffese (.322). He also went 6-1 on the hill with a 1.01 ERA.

9. Franklin (Elk Grove) 23-12
The Wildcats stormed to the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I North finals, beating Delta Valley Conference rival Davis, before falling to St. Mary's in the D-I section finals. Franklin eliminated rival Elk Grove in the playoffs, and that DVC is even better this spring. Pitcher/1B Tyler Blake (Sacramento State) heads a veteran group that includes infielders Kyle Zanzi, Ryan Sarginson and Hank LoForte. Other arms include Cameron Keup and Connor Adams. Early games include Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), Granite Bay and Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills).

10. Davis (24-8)
The Blue Devils hail from one of the most brutal leagues in all of NorCal in the Delta Valley Conference, which includes Elk Grove, Franklin and Grant (Sacramento), and Davis powered its way to the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I North finals, falling to Franklin. Davis is strong in the infield with Bobby Young, John Ariola, Joey Murray, and behind the plate with Hayden Duer. Matt Trask (UCLA) is the staff ace. Early games include Rocklin and Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove).

11. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (22-6)
The Eagles are a relative new school that have come on fast and strong under coach Rob Rinaldi, who guided Woodland to championship success in the 1990s, coaching Red Sox infielder guru Dustin Pedroia. Josh Adams returns after missing last season with a knee injury, and he's a slugger and the staff ace. Matt Stafford and Dalton Gomez round out a good staff to work with catcher Nico Toni. Early games include Franklin (Elk Grove), Bullard (Fresno, Granite Bay and Davis.

12. Casa Grande (Petaluma) 20-7
The Gauchos are a slugging lot with catcher Francis Christy (Oregon), outfielder Iggy Llorence and aces Anthony Bender and Kevin George (Santa Clara). Bender went 6-1. Early showdown is against Campolindo.

13. Woodcreek (Roseville) 24-7
The Timberwolves won the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II title last season and return a wealth of talent as it now will join the D-I playoff mix. Ace Stephen Nogosek (Oregon) is perhaps the hardest thrower in the region (he went 8-0 with 100 strikeouts in 75 innings), and he can hit. Other top arms include Tyler Milani, Blake Robinson and Austin Blatnick.

14. Jesuit (Carmichael) 20-8
Graduation cleared out four scholarship talents, but a host return for coach Joe Potulney. There are hitters galore in catcher Jordan Hanlin (.362), Josh Falco (.349), Julian Barron, Andre Gregory and Lorenzo Arcuri. Barron is the ace.

15. Granite Bay 23-9
The loss of team leader Aaron Knapp (Cal) to injury stings, but this is still a very deep and talented group, one that will compete with Woodcreek and Rocklin for the Sierra Foothill League title (GB lost to Woodcreek in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II finals last season). Other hitters back include Ryan Rosa (.453), Vinny Esposito (.373), Devin Lehman (.364) and Brett Bautista. Travis Magness is the ace (5-2).

16. Pioneer (Woodland) 16-13
A year after injuries hammered the team, the new-ish school in Yolo County aims to soar in these rankings. Pioneer beat Jesuit (Sacramento) early last season and will take on the Marauders again. Few teams in the North have this kind of staff: Thomas Galart (Nevada), Robert Daugherty (Washington) and Zack Aukes (Oregon).

17. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 17-13
The Monarchs are from the West Catholic Athletic League that also includes Valley Christian, Serra and St. Ignatius. Arms Tommy Hudson, Davis Messer and Brett Foley (6-1) make for a formidable staff.

18. Granada (Livermore) 17-10
The Matadors return a lot of experience in the form of seven starters, headed by the outfield of Casey Soltis (Oregon), Ryan Kirby (San Diego) and Vince Fernandez (UC Riverside).

19. Logan (Union City) 15-10
The Colts have top arms in Ulysses Ramos and Alex Martinez (Cal), also a fine hitter. Catcher Jason Childs (San Francisco State) makes for a strong up-the-middle team. Logan won the North Coast Section D-I title in 2011.

20. Enochs (Modesto) 17-11-1
A newer school in the Central Valley and members of the Sac-Joaquin Section, the Eagles return a ton of talent, including arms Kyle Dunnegan (7-2), Jackson Berumen (5-1) and Scott Pellegrino (3-0) and hitter Nikko Delgado (.420).

21. San Benito (Hollister) 23-7
In last season's Central Coast Section D-I playoff run, the Haybalers knocked off WCAL heavies Mitty (San Jose) and St. Francis (Mountain View) before falling to another WCAL heavy in Valley Christian (San Jose) 3-1 in the finals. Returning bats include Andrew Breen (.312) and Josh George (.370).

22. Rocklin 18-12
The Thunder of Placer County expects to compete with Woodcreek (Roseville) for the Sierra Foothill League title and will move up in level to the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I playoff scramble. Leading arms are Austin Dick (5-2) and Ryan Smith (4-4) and top hitters are Christian Bennett (.352) and Taylour Reidt (.362).

23. Oakdale 27-5
Ace Logan Handzlik is back after going 12-2 last season, along with Eddie Machado (3-1), Drake Judd and Sean Harrity for the Sac-Joaquin Section D-III champions.

24. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 20-9
The Trojans hail from the Delta River League within the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I field, a conference that includes Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) and Jesuit. Shortstop Alec de Watteville (San Jose State) anchors the infield and ace Austin Root (7-2) the staff. Early games include Franklin (Elk Grove) and Elk Grove.

25. Tracy 24-6
A threat in the Sac-Joaquin Section with lefty Jonah Wesely (UCLA) and righty John Jaeger (Pacific). The Bulldogs will be tested with a nonleague schedule that includes the Dougherty Valley Tournament.