1. Horizon (Scottsdale)
2014 finish: 27-7
Head coach: Eric Kibler

Horizon lost to eventual Division I state runner-up Mesquite in the consolation bracket of the state playoffs, but the Huskies begin the season ranked No. 1 in the state. Horizon won the Horizon National Invitation Tournament last year and returns a number of players crucial to that success, including Matt Kroon, Chris Isbell, junior Josh Bristyan and Ben Lewis. Kroon and Isbell made the all-tournament team while Lewis was the tournament MVP. Bristyan earned Golden Glove honors for the event. The Huskies will get a true test this year when they head to North Carolina to play in the National High School Invitational.

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2. Mesquite (Gilbert)
2014 finish: 23-12
Head coach: Jeff Holland

The Wildcats finished second in the state in Division I, falling to Hamilton in the championship game. Mesquite had a young team last year and it returns five of the top offensive players along with two of the team's pitchers. Outfielders Nick Daley and Cole Valletta led the team in hitting with Daley batting .326 with 12 doubles and 20 RBIs while Valletta batted .325 with 11 doubles and eight home runs. Parker Holland, an infielder, returns for his junior season after batting .308.

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3. Hamilton (Chandler)
2014 finish: 30-3
Head coach: Mike Woods

The Huskies added the fourth state championship in the school's 16-year history and won 30 games for the second time ever. The roster was senior-heavy last year, but coach Mike Woods hasn't won less than 20 games in a season since 2001. Helping the cause are pitchers Zach Pederson, who went 12-0 as a junior, and Zane Strand, who was 6-0 as a sophomore. The offense has fewer returning starters with Chandler Reynard (.355) and Cameron Cruz (.303) the top returning hitters.

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4. Liberty (Peoria)
2014 finish: 22-11
Head coach: John Freitas

The Lions return 17 victories from last year's pitching staff, including six each from Tyler Wyatt and Spiro Valasakos. Wyatt is also the top returning offensive player with a .472 batting average, 40 RBIs and 21 doubles. Infielder Rudy Karre returns with a .370 batting average and 12 doubles while sophomore outfielder Nick Hamilton also returns with a .313 batting average.

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5. Greenway (Phoenix)
2014 finish: 29-4
Head coach: Matt Denny

The Division II state champions have averaged 30 wins for the past two seasons for coach Matt Denny. Although all-state player Tyler Frost has graduated, Greenway has Zach McLeod back on the mound after going 5-1 with a 0.74 ERA, and Alejo Lopez back in the field at shortstop after batting .430 with six home runs as a junior. Other players to watch include Cody Fisher (.300), Kona Quiggle (.321) and Bryce Mackey (.389).