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Arizona Republic's high school baseball preseason Super 10 rankings for 2024

richard obert, arizona republic
·3 min read

The Arizona high school baseball season starts Wednesday, so it's time to put out the Top 10 teams in each conference. Let's start with The Arizona Republic's preseason Super 10 — the best teams from any conference entering the season. Here's a breakdown:

The Republic's Super 10

1. Queen Creek Casteel Colts

They won the 5A championship last year but most coaches believe they are the best in Arizona in any conference. This would be the one year an Open would be great for baseball. But coach Matt Denny realizes how tough it is to repeat as state champs and knows 5A is loaded with competition.

Casteel baseball head coach Matt Denny works with his team during practice at Casteel HS baseball field in Queen Creek on Feb. 12, 2024.
Casteel baseball head coach Matt Denny works with his team during practice at Casteel HS baseball field in Queen Creek on Feb. 12, 2024.

2. Chandler Hamilton Huskies

They're the 6A dynasty in Arizona and will remain that way until somebody knocks them off their perch at state. Coach Mike Woods graduated a lot of great players, including Arizona high school baseball Player of the Year for 2023, shortstop Roch Cholowsky, who is now at UCLA. But a few talented move-ins mixed in with top returning players, including fourth-year starting catcher Liam Wilson, will keep the Huskies as the best in 6A.

Hamilton catcher Liam Wilson (10) celebrates a home run against Sandra Day O’Connor during a 6A State Semifinal game on May 12, 2023, at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa.
Hamilton catcher Liam Wilson (10) celebrates a home run against Sandra Day O’Connor during a 6A State Semifinal game on May 12, 2023, at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa.

3. Glendale Mountain Ridge Lions

A combination of great pitching and hitting will have these guys knocking at the 6A championship door. This school last won a state baseball title in 2018. Right-hander Smith Bailey is one of the top pitchers in the state.

4. Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor Eagles

Oregon State signee Hustyn Wheeler is the spark to this engine, a team filled with talent from top to bottom, including Jake Sanko and Ky McGary. All of them made The Republic's Fab 50.

5. Scottsdale Notre Dame Saints

Coach Bryan Fischer has four pitchers who could start for almost any team in the state. Chase Wagner, a pitcher and first baseman who signed with Arizona State, is the catalyst for a deep, experienced team that will contend with Casteel for the 5A title.

6. Phoenix Brophy Prep Broncos

This might be the year coach Josh Garcia breaks through and wins the 6A title. He's got 10 college commits, including six returning starters. Four pitchers — LHP Johnny Casale (Loyola Marymount), RHP Jack Lafflam (Arizona), RHP Jack Ohman (Yale) and RHP Carson Borges (Regis) — are back to lead maybe the state's deepest rotation.

7. Tempe Corona del Sol Aztecs

This top 6A team returns five starters and welcomed three big-time transfers. Don't be surprised if they get to the state final. The Boras Classic that they host in the spring will be telling.

8. Scottsdale Saguaro Sabercats

This looks like the team to beat in 4A, not just because they have one of the top players in the country in two-way player Cam Caminiti (ranked No. 1 by The Republic in the Fab 50), but because of their front-line pitching that includes left-hander/outfielder Cade Shumard (New Mexico State) and right-hander/third baseman Billy Gregory. Outfielder/right-hander Christopher Margarella can impact on the mound, as well. Sophomore infielder Zander Bratspis had an excellent freshman season. And Cam Schmidt is back at first. This team is hungry after falling short to Canyon del Oro in the state final.

More high school: Vote for The Arizona Republic's High School Athletes of the Week, Feb. 19

9. Oro Valley Canyon del Oro Dorados

The defending 4A champions return six players who hit better than .300 last season. They lost 11-game winner Lucas Casey to graduation but they always have great young arms coming up to take over on the mound.

10. Tucson Salpointe Catholic Lancers

They won 23 games last year, before losing to Canyon del Oro in the 4A semifinals. They captured state two years ago. They return seven starters, including five Division I college commits.

On the bubble

Scottsdale Chaparral, Scottsdale Horizon, Nogales, Tucson, Chandler Basha, Tucson Catalina Foothills, Mountain Pointe, Phoenix Thunderbird.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Republic's high school baseball preseason Super 10 rankings