17. Alfred M. Barbe Buccaneers (La.)
2020 Record: 11-3
Notable Standout(s): RHP Jack Walker (Mississippi State), SS Kyle Debarge (Louisiana Lafayette), LHP Adam Guth (Louisiana Lafayette), OF Ethan Medlin (East Mississippi CC), OF Kameron Edwards, (Eastern Kentucky) SS Gavin Guidry (Louisiana State), LHP Jon Cassidy Vanek (Louisiana State), OF Donovan LaSalle (Louisiana Lafayette)

The Bucs find themselves in the Preeason Top 25 for the fifth consecutive year, this year checking in at No. 17. Barbe may have lost a lot in senior talent from last year but you would never know by looking at this roster. Senior Jack Walker, a Mississippi State commit, returns and figures to be one of the leaders on the mound as well as left-hander and Louisiana Lafayette commit Adam Guth. Jon Cassidy Vanek, an LSU commit, will give the staff a good balance as he is able to pound the zone with his whole arsenal having struck out 14 in 2020 and walked just four at PG events. Primary shortstop and LSU commit Gavin Guidry could have his fair share of innings as well. He is capable of running his fastball into the low-90s but it will be up to the coaching staff if they want to take his glove away from short. Joining him on the infield will be ULL commit Kyle Debarge. Debarge is coming off a summer where he hit .304 at PG events and had an OPS of .945. In the outfield East Mississippi commit Ethan Medlin looks to be joined by Eastern Kentucky commit Kameron Edwards as well as ULL commit Donovan LaSalle. These three in the outfield all bring tremendous speed to the game and will look to use that to their advantage on both sides of the ball.

18. Jackson Prep Patriots (Miss.)
2020 Record: 12-4
Notable Standout(s): SS Kelly Crumpton (Mississippi), RHP Mason Nichols (Mississippi), SS Riley Maddox (Mississippi), SS Jeffrey Ince (Mississippi State), 1B Connor Westfall, SS Thaxton Berch (Louisiana Tech), RHP Will Gibbs (Mississippi State), OF Thad Bridges, OF Rives Reynolds (Mississippi State), C Elijah (Eli) Berch

The Partiots come in at 18th in this year’s rankings and the second ranked team from the state of Mississippi. This year’s squad will be led by their three senior Ole Miss commits and three Mississippi State commits. On the mound Riley Maddox, Mason Nichols, Kelly Crumpton, and Will Gibbs will be tough to top as far as high school arms go in the state of Mississippi. Each is capable of running their fastball into the low-90s. Maddox led the team in innings a year ago and recorded 17 strike outs in 12 2/3 innings. On the infield this year’s group appears to be as sure-handed as any with three Division-I shortstops on the roster in previously-mentioned Crumpton, Jeffrey Ince, and Thaxton Berch. Maddox will also play the infield as a primary third baseman leaving the Patriots coaching staff with plenty of options as guys go to the mound. Rives Reynolds and Thad Bridges will hold down two of the outfield spots as they each are capable of bringing some pop to the lineup. Behind the plate, Eli Berch could be next in line as the sophomore looks to step in for Reed Kellum. Look for this year’s squad to get off to a hot start behind the leadership of their solid senior class.

19. American Heritage Patriots (Fla.)
2020 Record: 10-0
Notable Standout(s): LHP Devin Futrell (Vanderbilt), 3B Juhlien Gonzalez (Florida International), OF Justin Quintana (Army), RHP Justin Webster (Kansas State), LHP Anthony Nelson (Army), LHP Brandon Barriera (Vanderbilt), RHP Evan Dobias (Virginia), 1B Brandon Gonsalves (UCF), SS Spencer Butt (Florida State), C Mateo Serna

The Patriots start the season inside the Top 25 for the fifth-straight year. This is a group that was off to a hot start in 2020, outscoring their opponents 72-23 though 10 games before the shutdown. The arms on this year’s team will look to continue that pace as many of them are back with another year’s experience. Vanderbilt commits Devin Futrell and Brandon Barriera return with the most innings from last year’s squad and are both capable of running their fastballs into the low-90s and both have advanced feel for their changeup. After them, Anthony Nelson had totaled six innings last year and allowed just one baserunner via the walk while striking out eight. The arms on this team truly are an embarrassment of riches as they still have talented arms after those three with Justin Webster and Evan Dobias. At the plate they will be looking to replace some talented seniors as they lose their top three batting average leaders from a year ago. Juhlien Gonzalez and Justin Quintana will be seniors that the club looks to to step up as well as younger guys like Brandon Gonsalves and Spencer Butt who saw limited time last year and sophomore Mateo Serna who will join the varsity team for the first time in 2021.

20. Santa Margarita Catholic Eagles (Calif.)
2020 Record: 3-7
Notable Standout(s): OF Colby Wallace (Washington), LHP Ethan Flanagan (UCLA), C Jack Collins (Cal State Northridge), RHP Matthew Porchas (Texas), SS Ryan Nopper, SS Trent Caraway (Oregon State), OF Jackson Kemmerer, C Luke Lavin (Stanford), 1B Spencer Shannon

The Eagles are preparing for what should be another ultra-competitive year in the Trinity League. This year’s group is as talented on the mound and at the plate as any Santa Margarita Catholic team in resent years. On the mound, senior Ethan Flanagan will lead the way as the UCLA commit prepares for his fourth year on the mound for the Eagles. He will be joined in the rotation by Texas commit Matthew Porchas. Porchas brings a quick arm and easy velocity as he is capable of running his fastball into the low-90s and pairs it with a quality breaking ball. Both Flanagan and Porchas should find themselves in the lineup as well. Same could be said for sophomore Trent Caraway, an Oregon State commit who has been into the low-90s off the bump as well and has good feel for the barrel at the plate. Senior outfielder and Washington commit Colby Wallace brings even more versatility to the lineup as his left-handed bat will provide some pop and he is capable of giving the Eagles some innings on the mound. Jack Collins, a Cal State Northridge commit, will add depth to the lineup and should find himself behind the plate. Ryan Nopper brings versatility as one of his top skill sets as the switch-hitting middle infielder could fill a multitude of roles. Luke Lavin, a Stanford commit, should also factor in as a offensive impact player as well as outfielder Jackson Kemmerer and Spencer Shannon.