High school baseball: Best team in every state heading into 2024 season

Defending champions Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.), Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), Flower Mound (Texas) and Lewisburg (Olive Branch, Miss.) highlight our look at the top high school baseball team in each state heading into the 2024 season.

Stoneman Douglas carries a 51-game win streak into the spring after finishing No. 2 in the MaxPreps Top 25 in 2023. Hamilton is seeking a three-peat in Arizona while Flower Mound and Lewisburg return major firepower from championship teams.

Alabama
Thompson (Alabaster), 37-8 (last season’s record)

The Warriors reached the semifinals of the Class 7A state playoffs before losing to Vestavia Hills. Thompson might have the state’s top outfield with the likes of Dmarion Terrell and Drake McBride. All-state shortstop Peryn Bland is back along with all-state DH Tucker Arrington.

Alaska
Service (Anchorage), 16-6

The Cougars lost by one run to South Anchorage in the state final but return the state’s top battery in catcher Coen Niclai and pitcher Jake Rafferty. The duo are the top two players in the state according to Perfect Game.

Arizona
Hamilton (Chandler), 26-5

Hard to pick against a team with back-to-back state championships. Transfer Drew Rogers, the MaxPreps Minnesota State Player of the Year in 2023, will take over behind the plate after hitting .400 with nine home runs.

Arkansas
Valley View (Jonesboro), 27-5

The Blazers have the top player in the state according to Perfect Game in outfielder Slade Caldwell as well as the Nos. 2 and 5 players in pitchers Lance Davis and Eli Crecelius. Valley View was the Class 5A runner-up last year.

California
Corona, 22-11

The Panthers pulled off a major upset in the Southern Section playoffs last year with a win over No. 1 seed Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks). Corona returns one of the state’s top pitchers in Ethan Schiefelbein (7-1, 94 Ks) along with one of the top sophomores in outfielder Austin Murphy (.342, 6 HR).

Colorado
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village), 18-7

The Bruins reached the Class 5A Region 4 final with a starting lineup that included three sophomores and two juniors. Cherry Creek has three of the top 12 players in the state in the Class of 2025, including first baseman Connor Larkin, pitcher Wyatt Rudden and infielder Ansley Mauldin.

Connecticut
Warde (Fairfield), 20-5

The Mustangs enter looking for the three-peat with the state’s No. 2 junior pitcher in Austin Howard to pair with returning senior pitcher Carson Swaim. Catcher Jimmy Dobbs is one of the top prospects in the state in the Class of 2026.

Delaware
Cape Henlopen (Lewes), 16-6-1

The reigning state champs feature three of the top juniors in the state according to Perfect Game, including No. 1-ranked Jase Mitchell at catcher. The outfield also looks strong with Brian Fleming and Gage Joseph.

Florida
Stoneman Douglas (Parkland), 29-0

Riding a 51-game win streak, the Eagles have won two straight state titles and finished No. 2 in the final MaxPreps Top 25 rankings behind IMG Academy. They return three MaxPreps All-Americans in Devin Fitz-Gerald (.410, 6 HR), Rylan Lujo (.416, 6 HR) and Jayden Dubanewicz (11-0, 1.17 ERA) making Stoneman Douglas the easy choice as the top team in Florida.

Georgia
Parkview (Lilburn), 32-8

Always in the mix at the state and national level, 2024 should be no different. Parkview has two of the state’s top pitchers in Thorpe Musci (10-1) and Ford Thompson, along with one of top returning home run hitters in the nation in third baseman Cade Brown (14 HR).

Hawaii
Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu), 16-6

Three all-state players return for the Division 1 champions, including junior pitchers in Greyson Osbun and Alakai Kiakona. Outfielder Jace Souza also was all-state and could be the top player on the island.

Idaho
Skyview (Nampa), 24-5

Class 4A state runners-up return eight of the top 10 offensive players from last year, including Grady Daniels (.494, 41 RBI), and Noah Palomares (.447) and junior Henry Downey (.436, 33 RBI). Gradyn Lucas (65 Ks), the team’s top pitcher, also returns.

Illinois
Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort), 31-9

Two of the top players in the state, pitcher Jack Bauer and shortstop Tyler Bell, return for the Griffins. Bauer is ranked by Perfect Game as the state’s top junior while Bell is ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2024.

Indiana
Mooresville, 23-5

The pitching staff returns all 23 wins from last year as well as eight of the top nine hitters from last year’s team. Catcher Hogan Denny is ranked among the top players in the state by Perfect Game.

Iowa
Johnston, 36-8

The Class 4A champions return three all-state players, including first-team outfielder Tyne Weeden, second-team second baseman Adam Kayko and utility Will Noss.

Kansas
Saint Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park), 21-4

The Saints finished third in Class 5A but return MaxPreps All-American and Kansas Player of the Year Blake O’Brien at pitcher along with all-state junior first baseman Cru Huenfield and second-team all-state sophomore infielder Brady Stewart.

Kentucky
Trinity (Louisville), 33-7

The Shamrocks fell to St. Xavier in the regional semifinals but return a pair of all-state players in Dane Morrow and Kyle Campbell, who batted .369 and .370, respectively.

Louisiana
West Monroe, 34-5

State champions in 2022 and runner-up to Barbe in 2023, West Monroe is again the favorite thanks to five returning all-state players. MaxPreps All-American John Pearson leads the way after batting .427 with seven home runs. Also back is Hayden Federico (.409, 3 HR) and Drew Ferguson (10-1).

Maine
Falmouth, 16-2

All-state picks Brennan Rumpf and Ethan Hendry are back for the Navigators. Rumpf was the SMAA Pitcher of the Year after going 7-0 with 66 strikeouts. Hendry is the state’s top catcher, batting .395 with 20 RBI.

Maryland
Archbishop Spalding (Severn), 22-6-1

The pitching staff is stacked, led by arguably the state’s best player in Jake Yeager and a trio of juniors, Nathan Wines, Brayden Robinson and Peyton Mamula, who rank among the state’s top 25.

Massachusetts
Franklin, 23-5

The Panthers lost to Taunton the Division 1 state final but return All-Scholastics pitcher Austin Campbell (9-0, 91 Ks) and honorable mention All-Scholastics shortstop Henry Digiorgio.

Michigan
Northville, 31-5

Upset early in the Division 1 state tournament by eventual champion Novi, Northville has two of the state’s top rated players in outfielder Dante Nori and pitcher Joseph Broughton. Four of the team’s top pitchers return from 2023.

Minnesota
East Ridge (Woodbury), 20-8

The defending Class AAAA state champions return the state’s top pitching duo in lefty Max Arlich and right-hander Jake Reigert. The pair rank Nos. 4 and 5 in the state by Perfect Game. Junior Luke Ryerse, ranked No. 9 in the state, gives East Ridge’s rotation a third strong arm.

Mississippi
Lewisburg (Olive Branch, Miss.), 29-8

Return a multitude of players from a Class 6A championship squad, including all-state pitchers Talon Haley (9-0, 1.99 ERA) and Cayden Baker (7-1, 1.56). The Patriots also have one of the nation’s top third basemen in Samuel Richardson (.301, 6 HR).

Missouri
Liberty North (Liberty), 34-7

MaxPreps State Player of the Year Tate McGuire graduated, but the Class 6 state champions return the state’s top infielder in Trey Snyder along with all-state catcher Bo Jonas and honorable mention utility player Cole Young.

Nebraska
Millard West (Omaha), 32-7

The Wildcats eye a return to the Class A state championship game after finishing second last year. Millard West has one of the nation’s top infielders in Tyson Lewis along with all-state third baseman Nick Venteicher.

Nevada
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 36-2

Chris Sheff returned as the head coach in 2023 and guided the Gaels to their first state title in eight years. Bishop Gorman fields a strong infield that includes Maddox Riske (.305), catcher Burke Mabeus (.453) and shortstop Colton Boardman (.354).

New Hampshire
Bedford, 13-8

The Bulldogs fell in the Division 1 quarterfinals but return the MaxPreps State Player of the Year Aiden O’Connell.

New Jersey
Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank), 24-8

The Caseys won the South Jersey Non-Public A championship but lost in the state playoffs to Don Bosco Prep. They return four players who earned All-Shore honors, including pitcher Declan Leary, infielder Sean Griggs, junior outfielder Dylan Passo and pitcher Steve Svenson.

New Mexico
La Cueva (Albuquerque), 23-5

Sandia upset the Bears in the quarterfinals but they return a strong junior class that features two of the state’s top players in Reid Jacobson and Braiden Reynolds. The infield is also solid with returning starters Ramon Martinez and Gehrig Pineda.

New York
Ketcham (Wappingers Falls), 28-2

The defending state champions feature two of the state’s best players in infielder Owen Paino and pitcher Riley Weatherwax. They were the player and pitcher of the year by the Poughkeepsie Journal last year. Outfielder Connor Durkin and pitcher Ryan Mealy joined them on the all-area team.

North Carolina
Combine Academy (Lincolnton), 31-11

The Goats do not compete in the state association and play an independent schedule but they do play high school teams from around the country. They have one of the nation’s top catchers in Ryan Schwartz and a standout outfielder in Jaden Knight.

North Dakota
Legacy (Bismarck), 16-12

Class A tournament consolation runners-up, the Sabers return the most all-state players with Marcus Butts, Jameson Johnson, Aaron Urlacher and Lucas Vasey.

Ohio
Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), 31-3

The Division 1 state champions lost almost every starter. However, Perfect Game lists pitcher Kellan Klostermn as the third-best senior player in the state, junior Zion Theophilus ranks No. 1 in Ohio for the Class of 2025 and shortstop Matt Ponatoski ranks No. 1 for the Class of 2026.

Oklahoma
Stillwater, 28-10

It was a first-round exit at the state tournament for the Pioneers but they feature the nation’s top player in the Class of 2025 in Ethan Holliday, son of former MLB player Matt Holliday.

Oregon
West Linn, 29-6

Winners of back-to-back state championships, West Linn has the state’s three top players according to Perfect Game in catcher Ryan Vandenbrink and pitchers Gabe Howard and Blake Crawford.

Pennsylvania
Cathedral Prep (Erie), 22-2

The Ramblers lost in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state playoffs but have the state’s top junior in third baseman Jackson Fultz. Brothers Luke and Andrew Costello also rank among the top players in the state by Perfect Game.

Rhode Island
Bishop Hendricken (Warwick), 23-4

Perfect Game ranks four Hawks among the top five players in the state, led by outfielder Griffin Crain. They also have three of the top four juniors and have won nine state championships since 2008.

South Carolina
Summerville, 23-9

The Green Wave boast the No. 1 player in the nation according to Perfect Game in outfielder P.J. Morlando, who is regarded as a first-round pick for the 2024 MLB Draft. Summerville also has the state’s top pitcher in Carson Messina. Both were named to the coaches association All-State team last year.

South Dakota
Harrisburg, 15-8

The Class A finalists return three all-state players from last year’s group, including first-team outfielder Teigen Munce and second-teamers Braxton Kussler in the outfield and Eli Kokenge in the infield.

Tennessee
Farragut (Knoxville), 36-8

The Admirals have won state three times since 2019 with back-to-back crowns in 2022 and 2023. Farragut has an All-American candidate in shortstop Lukas Buckner and one of the state’s top pitchers in Cade O’Leary.

Texas
Flower Mound, 37-10-2

Ranked No. 12 in the state entering the postseason, the Jaguars won the Class 6A state championship with Danny Wallace earning MaxPreps National Coach of the Year honors. Flower Mound returns six all-district players from last year’s team, including Utility Player of the Year Josh Glaser (.336, 5-1).

Utah
Riverton, 22-10

The Silverwolves finished one game short of a Class 6A state championship, losing to American Fork in the second game of the double elimination championship game. The returning lineup features three all-state players, including shortstop Zach Edwards (.402, 4-1 record), outfielder Carson Moody (.458) and pitcher Cooper Hansen (8-1, 64 Ks).

Vermont
Champlain Valley Union (Hinesburg), 17-3

Winners of three titles in four years, the Redhawks return conference Pitcher of the Year Stephen Rickert, who threw a one-hit shutout in the finals against Mount Anthony.

Virginia
Lake Braddock (Burke), 24-3

The Bruins were 24-1 at one point before losing their final two games last year. Lake Braddock returns a pair of all-state players in pitcher Jake Drumm and shortstop Jamie Laskofski.

Washington
Puyallup, 25-6

After losing in the Class 4A semifinals last year, the Vikings return the core of their lineup including catcher Kai Halstead (.395) and pitcher Michael LeJeune. Junior pitcher Mason Pike will also be bringing some heat with a 95 mph fastball. Puyallup is looking to win its 16th straight South Puget Sound League championship.

West Virginia
Cabell Midland (Ona), 31-10

The Class 3A state champs return all-state pitcher Kenyon Collins along with honorable mention all-state pick Ray Ray Williams in the infield.

Wisconsin
Oak Creek, 23-6

The Knights return several all-state players, including the Coaches Association Division 1 Player of the Year Payten Jibben. He went 8-0 and batted .481. He is joined by fellow all-state picks C.J. Trask (.453) in the infield and junior Nate Schopf (.439) in the outfield.