Vote now: Who has the top returning high school baseball team in Florida?

We’ve compiled a list of the top returning baseball teams throughout state and we ask you the fan to vote on which club is the best heading into 2023

The winter season for high school sports is beginning to wind down and that means spring sports is right around the corner. Baseball is one of the top sports when it comes to the spring season and there’s plenty of good teams in the Sunshine State. 

Some of the best baseball talent around the country comes from down in Florida and we went ahead and compiled a list of who we think are the top returning teams. We ask you the fan to take a look at our list and give us your vote on who do you think the top returning baseball team in Florida is. 

Editor’s Note: Our corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. This poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other athlete that may not be mentioned in our poll. 

Clearwater Calvary Christian: This Warriors could be the best team in the country and that’s because of their MLB-type talent of a pitching staff. Liam Peterson is one of the state’s best pitchers after going 5-0 in 2022. 

Lake Brantley: The Patriots went an astounding 24-5 just a season ago and return a bevy of talent to their roster. Lake Brantley fell in the state semifinals of the Class 7A playoffs. 

Jesuit: When it comes to Tampa Bay Area baseball, it’s some of the best in the state. The Tigers are coming off winning the Class 5A state championship and they return one of top 2-way players in Ole Miss signee Wee Mendes. 

Tate: The 7-time state champion Aggies were 23-4 one year ago and return plenty to make another deep playoff run. Drew Reaves, a Pensacola State signee, provides strong pitching and infielding for the Aggies. 

Berkeley Prep: When you think of the top teams in the country, not only the state, the Buccaneers immediately come to mind. Florida State signee James Hankerson is one of the team’s top talents at first base and plays some outfield. 

Chiles: After going 20-8 a season ago, the Timberwolves bring in a new manager in Corey Pye to the helm. This program is always a perennial powerhouse in the Big Bend region. 

Western: Don’t be surprised if the Western Wildcats emerge in becoming the top club in all of South Florida. Western finished the 2022 campaign with a record of 22-6 and fell in the state playoffs last year. 

Stoneman Douglas: Armed with back-to-back state championships the last couple of years, the Eagles will be one of the top teams in the Sunshine State. Left-handed Jacob Gomberg returns as the team’s top pitcher. 

Plantation American Heritage: The Patriots were 26-2 a year ago and will be led by Dayton signee Daniel Gregory. Though American Heritage lost a lot of talent from last season, the Patriots will still be a force. 

Pace: Panhandle baseball has several solid teams, but the Pace Patriots standout along with Tate. The Patriots return several studs to the roster, including Brock Warner (13 hits, 11 RBIs in 2022) and Owen Walters (12 runs, 11 hits in 2022). 

Windermere: There’s so many strong teams out of Central Florida, but the Wolverines are up there with any team. Leading the team is outfielder Tyler Head, who is already committed to North Carolina State. Head batted .284, scoring 31 runs, 23 hits, 26 RBIs in 2022. 

Taravella: Who became the eventual kryptonite to the Trojans’ 2022 season was Stoneman Douglas, whom they went 1-2 against last year. The Trojans finished the season 21-6-1 and have the firepower to be one of the top programs again down in South Florida. 

St. Thomas Aquinas: The Raiders in 2022 finished the season in the Class 6A playoffs with a loss against Dwyer. Senior Ryan Wolf returns as one of the team’s top players as an outfielder and a left-handed pitcher. 

Doral Academy: Manager Ralph Suarez’s club is coming off a 25-4-1 campaign and his team is loaded going into this spring. The Firebirds have seven players signing on board to the next level. 

Bartram Trail: The Bears displayed all last season they are as talented as any team in the Sunshine State. They had narrow losses to Berkeley Prep and St. Johns Country Day by one run each. Both are state title contending clubs. 

Miami Christian: Of the three losses last season, two of them came to teams on our list. Miami Christian returns after winning the Class 2A state championship last year and the Victors are loaded across the board. 

Suwannee: Three times the Bulldogs have reached the state Final Four and Suwannee has a team capable of doing it again. Right-handed pitcher Brooks Logan will be one of the team’s top players this spring. 

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.