Zach Featherstone

Ardrey Kell High School Charlotte NC

With the conclusion of the high school baseball season on Saturday, the Barbe

Buccaneers became the official national champions, based on the MaxPreps Xcellent 50

National Baseball Rankings.

Barbe has been ranked No. 1 in the nation since April 15 after starting the season at No.

6. Coach Glenn Cecchini felt early in the season that his team could finish the season at

the top.

In February, Cecchini liked his team's chance of finishing as the national champion,

saying, "This team has chemistry, experience, toughness, humility and a burning desire

to excel in everything."

Barbe did just that, winning its final 27 games and defeating a pair of Louisiana state

champions (St. Thomas More and Evangelical Christian) during the regular season.

The Buccaneers edge Lambert, the Georgia 6A state champion, and undefeated Puyallup,

the Washington 4A state champion, for the top spot.

MaxPreps Final Xcellent 50 National Baseball Rankings

1. (Last week 1) Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), 39-2

The Louisiana Class 5A state champions had four players earn first team all-state

honors, including state MVP Kennon Fontenot (.434, 52 RBI, 15 doubles, 6 HR). Also

earning all-state recognition were pitcher Gunner Leger (11-0, 65 K, 72 IP), catcher

Bryce Jordan (.481, 29 RBI, 10 doubles, 4 HR) and outfielder Beau Jordan (.396, 43 RBI,

12 doubles, 12 HR). Braden Comeaux (.354, 5 doubles, 2 HR), Braedon Barrett (.427, 31

RBI, 12 doubles, 2 HR) and Adam Goree (12-0, 63 K, 68.1 IP) were all-state honorable

mention. Comeaux, a junior, and Goree, a freshman, are the top returning players for the

Buccaneers.

2. Lambert (Suwanee, Ga.), 36-2

The Georgia 6A state champion likely starts the 2015 season as the preseason No. 1

team in the national rankings after finishing No. 2 in 2014. On offense, Lambert returns

11 of its top 14 hitters, including sophomore Seth Beer (.589, 21 doubles, 56 RBI, 10

HR), sophomore Tucker Maxwell (.404, 27 RBI, 7 doubles, 6 HR), junior Jd Dutka (11-1,

47 K, 72.0 IP, .361 average, 11 doubles, 5 HR, 34 RBI), junior Ian Kimbrell (.435, 29 RBI),

and sophomore Kyle McCann (.404, 31 RBI, 7 doubles, 3 HR). One senior Lambert will

definitely miss is Dylan Biumi, who went 11-1 on the mound.

3. Puyallup (Wash.), 28-0

The Washington 4A state champion will miss Quinn Rawson next season after a year in

which he batted .354 with seven home runs and earned player of the year honors from

the Seattle Times. However standout juniors Luke Heimlich (11-0, 4 shutouts, 106 K, 75

IP), who was the Gatorade State Player of the Year, and catcher Brendan Illies (.398, 26

RBI, six doubles) are back along with all-league second baseman Zach Featherstone

Needham. Others to earn all-league honors included third baseman Adam Stump (Sr),

shortstop Levi Jordan (Sr), outfielder Darian Clemens (Sr), outfielder Tyler Mcdowell

(Sr), and pitcher Lane Griffin (Sr).

4. Clovis (Calif.), 32-5

The Cougars were a senior-dominated team, led by the duo of McCarthy Tatum, the Tri-

River Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year with an 11-1 record, and Jacob Gatewood,

the TRAC Silver Slugger Award winner after batting .387 with 10 doubles and five home

runs. Gatewood was also drafted No. 41 overall while Tatum was drafted No. 590. The

Cougars also lose all-league players Cody Murray (.291), RJ Hartmann (.270), Evan

Steele (.292) and Alan Crowley (.282). Junior all-league players Preston Mott (9-1) and

Tevin Mitchell (.354) return.

5. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 30-3

The Arizona Division I state champion was led by all-state pick Austin Filiere (SS, .466,

18 doubles, 27 RBI, 6 HR), and Division I selections Kent Hasler (P, 8-1, 75 Ks, 66 IP,

1.59 ERA), Jake Boston (IF, .422, 29 RBI, 7 doubles, 5 HR) and Zach Featherstone

Pederson (P, Jr., 12-0, 35 K, 2.42 ERA, 63.2 IP).