Baltimore Sun Media Group reporter Brian Burden picks the top 15 baseball teams in the metro area.
1. Archbishop Spalding
Coach: Joe Palumbo
Last season: 24-4
Postseason: MIAA A Conference champion
Outlook: Preseason All-State picks Jordan Carr (UNC-Asheville) and Tyler Blohm (Maryland) lead a packed Cavaliers squad that is hungry to repeat. Kevin Heiss (Rhode Island), David Harding and Billy Godrick (Fordham) also return, as the Cavaliers have depth on the mound and in the field. Spalding won eight straight to close last season with its second MIAA A title in four seasons.
2. Reservoir
Coach: Adam Leader
Last season: 22-3
Postseason: Class 3A state champion
Outlook: The Gators are stacked with 13 seniors, including a fully intact rotation that posted a combined 1.45 ERA. Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and South Carolina commit Cody Morris leads the way for a team that outscored opponents 209-43 and won 11 straight to close the season. Jack Barry (Salisbury) and Joey Janush also return for Reservoir, which was the first Howard County school to win a state championship since Centennial in 2004.
3. Calvert Hall
Coach: Lou Eckerl
Last season: 23-7
Postseason: MIAA A Conference final
Outlook: As usual, the Cardinals lost professional-level talent (Troy Stokes, Manny Rodriguez, etc.), and as usual, they will replace it with returning stars (such as Nick Delp) and rising ones (such as sophomore Brandon Dorsey, who has committed to North Carolina). They have won seven of the past 10 A Conference titles, and are looking to make it three times in four years.
4. Archbishop Curley
Coach: Brooks Norris
Last season: 17-12
Postseason: MIAA A Conference semifinals
Outlook: Returning MIAA Triple Crown winner and Maryland commit Marty Costes teams with Jordan Menfee (Northern Kentucky) and AJ Korczynski (Salisbury) to lead the Friars. After finishing the regular season tied with Archbishop Spalding and Calvert Hall atop the conference standings at 12-4, Archbishop Curley is looking to take the next step.
5. St. Paul's
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Last season: 20-8
Postseason: MIAA A Conference quarterfinals
Outlook: Despite losing the core of its pitching staff, the Crusaders have six starters returning from a 20-win team. Spencer Horwitz and Jake Sebastian should be junior standouts. St. Paul's swept conference champ Archbishop Spalding in the regular season.
6. Arundel
Coach: Jason Lively
Last season: 18-3
Postseason: Class 4A East quarterfinals
Outlook: The Anne Arundel County regular-season champions are looking to win their first state title since 2006. Andrew Cassard, Brad Hagemann, Will O'Hara, AJ Robinson and Pallotti transfer Rob Colvin lead the way.
7. St. Mary's
Coach: John Poss
Last season: 27-1
Postseason: MIAA B Conference champion
Outlook: The Saints won 26 straight to close the season and won their first title since 2007. They begin their last season in the B Conference with high expectations. Ryan Davis (Fordham) and Elliot Zoellner are a potent 1-2 punch on the mound, and junior catcher Brady O'Neil provides a talented target for them to throw to.
8. Southern
Coach: Frank Hood
Last season: 16-9
Postseason: Class 2A state champion
Outlook: The defending 2A champs are considered deeper and more athletic this season. Maryland commit Truman Thomas (.403 batting average) is a preseason All-State pick. Transfer Billy Albaugh was a two-time All-Southern Maryland Athletic Conference selection at Northern-Calvert. Dillon Waters, Mitchell Johnson, Jon Artale and Chris Blair form a strong staff for the Bulldogs.
9. Mount Saint Joseph
Coach: Jody Harris
Last season: 13-14
Postseason: MIAA A Conference quarterfinals
Outlook: All-State picks Andre Brown and Clark Clatchey (Towson) will attempt to lead the Gaels back to the top perch of the A Conference. Mount Saint Joseph finished 8-8 in conference play and defeated St. Paul's in the playoffs.
10. Mount Hebron
Coach: Brian Culley
Last season: 14-9
Postseason: Class 3A East final
Outlook: A Vikings team that fell to eventual champ Reservoir in the playoffs is deep and talented and has All-State picks Mark Smith (Towson) and Jake Snyder to guide it. Sophomore outfielder Jack Schroeder (.380, 20 RBIs) might have the highest ceiling of them all.
11. South Carroll
Coach: Brian Zawacki
Last season: 13-4
Postseason: Class 2A West quarterfinals
Outlook: The defending Carroll County champions have one of the best keystones around in juniors Brad Haas (.500) and Calvert Hall transfer Joe Malagari. The Cavaliers expect to contend much deeper into the postseason.
12. North Harford
Coach: Tim Larrimore
Last season: 22-3
Postseason: Class 3A state final
Outlook: Despite losing top players such as Brian Shaffer (Maryland), the Hawks have a legitimate shot to go back to the state final for the third time in four years. Luke Johnson is one of the best catchers in the state while Sean Bowling returns from a broken leg after hitting .354 with eight doubles as a sophomore. Scott Angstadt (.324, 17 RBIs) combines with Bowling and Jake Knox on the mound.
13. Chesapeake-AA
Coach: Ken King
Last season: 23-2
Postseason: Class 4A state champion
Outlook: The Cougars lost Chris Ruszin and Drew Spinnenweber, who combined to go 17-1, among a cadre of talented seniors. Logan Ridgeway and a cast of new players will play to the same high expectations.
14. Dulaney
Coach: Ryan Wolfsheimer
Last season: 14-8
Postseason: Class 4A North semifinals
Outlook: Jake Sousa (Frostburg State, .500, 21 RBIs) leads a young Lions squad looking to move up.
15. Severna Park
Coach: Eric Milton
Last season: 12-10
Postseason: Class 4A East semifinals
Outlook: Seniors Griffin Wild (Lynchburg) and Ryan Yesner lead a Falcons team attempting to get back to the state tournament for the first time since 2011. A bevy of younger arms, led by sophomore Matt Glady, provide depth and might even challenge the upperclassmen as the season progresses.
Others considered: Atholton, C. Milton Wright, Fallston, Franklin, Havre de Grace, Marriotts Ridge, Northeast, Perry Hall, River Hill, South River, Sparrows Point, Westminster