(In predicted order of finish)

Avocado League

1. La Costa Canyon (Coach Justin Machado. Last year: 22-13 overall, 6-9, tie fourth in Avocado League)

At a glance: When you win 22 games and have an off year, you have a good program. The Mavericks could win a lot more than 22 victories this season behind P/1B Garrett Hughes, who has signed to play at Stanford. C/RHP Will Swanner has signed with Pepperdine. Speedy CF Mitch Tybroski is a catalyst. RF Max McNabb and 3B Zach Gage are veterans. Kevin Hill is at 2B and sophomore Phil Bevans is the SS, giving the Mavericks solid defense up the middle.

2. Torrey Pines (Coach Matt Chess. Last year: 19-12 overall, 8-7, tied second in Avocado League)

At a glance: The Falcons return 12 players, six starters and 2B J.J. Reading, who was injured and missed last year. LHP/OF Joey DeNato is the leader along with SS Zach Taylor, OF Paul Ounjian, 1B/DH K.C. Rogers, OF Evan Mason and IF Shane Bingham. The Falcons have strong pitching and great middle defense.

3. Escondido (Coach Steve Afenir. Last year: 12-16 overall, 8-4, third in Valley League)

At a glance: After La Costa Canyon and Torrey Pines, the league is a toss up. Escondido returns seven lettermen -- five starters. SS Tim Zier is among the best players in the county. The Sisler brothers -- Joel and Jordan -- are back in the OF, 3B Audie Afenir is ready for a breakout season and RHP/U Zack Embrey will help. LHPs Richie Kerr and Aaron Garcia also return, giving the team solid pitching depth, although there isn't a dominant arm. The Cougars have speed and will play good defense.

4. Mission Hills (Coach Ken Putnam. Last year: 20-12 overall, 10-2, tie first in Valley League)

At a glance: Five starters return from a 20-win team, including LHP/OF Steven Packard (.473), one of the top players in the county. Also back are P/IF Jared Allen, P/IF Zack Ireland, P/OF Tyler Brown and SS River Stevens. The key for the Grizzlies will be pitching depth because the team figures to score runs and play good defense.

5. Fallbrook (Coach Jesse Schuveiller. Last year: 12-17 overall, 7-8, tie third in Avocado League)

At a glance: The Warriors graduated 12 seniors, but return SS Sam Murphy (.455), one of the top players in the county, P/OF Chase Johnson and OFs Tyler Wedeking and Jason Bardeen.

6. San Pasqual (Coach Tony Colantono. Last year: 12-17 overall, 6-6, fourth in Valley League)

At a glance: With six returning starters, the Eagles have the ability to jump three or four places. CF Nathan Baird (.459) is the team leader along with 2B/RHP Steve Carr (.377). Other returning starters include SS/RHP Jake Villalobos, OF Emilio Lemus, OF/RHP Jake Barkhimer, P Joey Stoddard and OF Travis Bates. The Eagles should score runs and the pitching will be fine, but they must play better defense to be competitive.

Palomar League

1. Poway (Coach Bob Parry. Last year: 31-6 overall, 13-2, first in Palomar League. CIF San Diego Section Division I champions)

At a glance: This team is scary good, returning 15 pitching wins from last year and 27 home runs. SS Steven Holcomb (eight HRs) has signed with Gonzaga and LHP Bennett Parry has signed with Cal State Northridge. Speedy OF Brett Thomas (.412) returns and will be joined in the OF by speedster John Jensen-Johnson. Trevin Lipe, last year's closer, will also play in the outfield. Slugger Dillon Dooney (eight HR, 28 RBI) is back at 3B and Josh Anderson returns at 1B. C Austin Wynns is also back. Keegan Yuhl (8-2), Joe Rosan, Austin Steussy, Lipe and Parry make up the bulk of the pitching staff.

2. Vista (Coach Rick Lepire. Last year: 22-12 overall, 10-5, second in Avocado League)

At a glance: Eight players return from a 22-win team, led by C/OF Larry East (31 RBIs), OF Jordan Alexander (.378, 34 RBIs) and SS Trevor Koons (30 RBIs). Eilert Meyers returns at 1B with John Davis, Nate Knapp and Sean Cope in the OF. Derek Irwin is the catcher. Tim Alvarez threw 50 innings last season while LHP Jeff Starkey is poised for a breakout season.

3. Rancho Bernardo (Coach Sam Blalock. Last year: 20-14 overall, 8-7, tied second in Palomar League)

At a glance: The Broncos return five position players and four pitchers. C Cody Ray (.296-6-23), SS Kyle Attl (.295-0-10) and OF Jimmy Dykstra (.280-6-25) are the key position players. Craig Griffin (2-1, 4.42 ERA) and Trevor Williams (3-3, 3.6) are the top pitchers. Five sluggers from the JV -- C/1B Brad Haynal, IF David Gabel, IF Andrew Daniel, OF/P Max Homick and DH Brandon Berry -- will help. JV pitchers Nick Troyer, Max Lai and Chris Nunez will be counted on heavily.

4. Rancho Buena Vista (Coach Leo Fletes. Last year: 41-15 overall, 5-10, fourth in Avocado League)

At a glance: SS Tony Wolters (.459) leads a group of nine returning lettermen. C/RHP Rich Montanez and RHP/IF Jose Rodriguez are also keys. The Longhorns have good pitching, speed and defense, but only two of the nine lettermen were starters last season.

5. El Camino (Coach Joe Gonzalez. Last year: 11-17 overall, 7-8, fourth in Avocado League)

At a glance: Picking the Wildcats fifth is insane, but this could be the best league in the state, if not the country. RHP Jon Hoffman (4-2), who has signed with Indiana, is among the best in the county. C/RHP Marty Bowen (.402) is a key. OF/P Matt Swilley, SS/RHP Ryan Davis, IF/RHP Jay Richards and C Joe Rash help form the backbone of the team.

6. Carlsbad (Coach Chris Greene. Last year: 8-20 overall, 5-10, sixth in Avocado League)

At a glance: The Lancers return seven starters and could easily jump to the top of the league. 2B/RHP Callan Dawson and C/RHP Justin Hepner are the keys. The Lancers, who started five sophomores last season, have pitching and depth. They lack power and speed.

Valley League

1. Oceanside (Coach Dave Barrett. Last year: 25-8 overall, 12-3, first in Avocado League)

At a glance: In a league that is wide open, the Pirates might have enough to win it. P/OF Aaron Siliga (.330) and P Steve Minor are the only returning starters. RHP Justin Vae'ena, who figured to anchor the staff, had knee surgery and is lost for the season. LHP Mike Robards, IF Richie Valverde, C/3B Jon Groschup and RHP/IF Albert Garcia all have varsity experience. Newcomers SS/Of King Holder and C/RHP Jake Fely should be major contributors.

2. Ramona (Coach Dean Welch. Last year: 24-8 overall, 10-2, tie first in Valley League)

At a glance: RHP/OF Alex Muren (.434), who has signed at Cal State Northridge, must have a big season for the Bulldogs to win the league. LHP Cody Willingham is poised for a big season. Alex Willeford and Braden Wilson will also help on the mound. P/1B James Nicholson has power potential and 3B Ian Hunt could be the team's best hitter.

3. Valley Center (Coach Bill Dunckel. Last year: 8-19 overall, 2-10, tie sixth in Valley League)

At a glance: The talent is there to contend. RHP/SS Tyler Bernard has signed with Arizona State. 3B Jeremy Dozier (.377) is among the best hitters in the league. CF Stanton Upson, OF/P Justin Lawrence are talented and experienced.

4. San Marcos (Coach Jeff Dufek. Last year: 9-19 overall, 2-10, tie sixth in Valley League)

At a glance: Dufek is building a solid program. P/OF Tim Berry, who has signed with Oregon State, is among the best players in the county and one of six returning starters. The others are P/OF Sebastian Vader, RHP/IF Steve Fisher, IF Ryan Bruce, C Nick Berkelo and P/OF William Munro. Pitching and defense could carry the Knights to the playoffs.

5. Westview (Coach Beau Champoux. Last year: 17-16 overall, 6-9, tie fourth in Palomar League)

At a glance: With 12 seniors gone, this could be a rebuilding year for the Wolverines. Still, there is some talent. P Kyle Shaver has signed with San Diego State and Angelo Cianfrocco has signed with Purdue. CF Scott Ruegsegger and 3B Reed Ressler are the other returnees. P Jake Brussemer and Carter Prows are both hard throwers. OF David Manning could be the top-of-the-lineup sparkplug.

6. Mt. Carmel (Coach Mike Giaime. Last year: 15-18 overall, 4-11, sixth in Palomar League)

At a glance: The Sundevils graduated 11 seniors, P/IF Jiordan Resolme, IF Wesley Wallace and OF Dennis Bowman are the top returnees. 3B/RHP Christoph Lidwig, OF Nick Ibanez and 1B/P Andrew McComb are the best of the newcomers.

7. Orange Glen (Coach Sam Kristensen. Last year: 8-19 overall, 4-8, fifth in Valley League)

At a glance: Sam Kristensen takes over as coach and hopes to build the program. His top returnees are IF/RHP Eric Cruz, OF/P Ryan Dever and IF/RHP Robert Quinonez.

Others

- Cathedral Catholic (Coach Gary Remiker. Last year: 27-8 overall, 7-5, fourth in Western League)

At a glance: The Dons have seven players who have signed with colleges -- CF Matt Moynihan (USD), P Jonathan Meyer (Clemson), P Ryan Wilkins (San Diego State), 1B/C Casey Husband (USC), SS Tommy Cheek (USD), 3B Brandon Healy (Oral Roberts) and RF Tyler Gaffney (Stanford). And 2B Parker Hipp was among the team's leading hitters last season. Add LF Casey Munoz, who started as a sophomore, LHP Daniel Camarena, who played for Team USA U-16 and C Geoff Rocha and this team is loaded.

- Maranatha Christian (Coach Phil Thompson. Last year: 9-7 overall, 6-3, second in Frontier League)

At a glance: Newcomer 1B/P Chris Acosta and returnee P/1B Eric Weatherford are the leaders of a team that should contend for the league title and be a factor in Division IV. Other returnees include OF Christian Harper, SS Cody White, 3B Kellen Mason, OF/C Grant Doig, 2B Nate Boreman and OF Zach Meziere.

- Calvary Christian (Coach Jonny Jones. Last year: 17-7 overall, 10-2, second in Citrus West League)

At a glance: After a great 2008 season, this could be a rebuilding year for the Eagles. C Brian Cimino and RHP/IF Hunter Bentley are the top returnees.

- Christian L.I.F.E. Academy (Coach Gus Garcia. Last year: 12-6 overall, 8-4, third in Citrus West League)

At a glance: RHP/SS Andrew Bryant, RHP/IF Luke Sullivan, RHP/C Justin Garcia and 3B Justin Maiolo figure to be the leaders.

- Canyon Crest Academy (Coach Bo Ginsberg. Last year: 11-12 overall, 5-4, tie second in Coastal South League)

At a glance: The Ravens return four starters, including P Ryan Sandler, P Patrick Montejano and 1B Patrick McCallister. Newcomers 3B Chris Haynes and P/IF Galen Morrison will help.

- San Dieguito Academy (Coach Dennis Koolhaas. Last year: 19-9 overall, 10-0, first in Coastal North League)

At a glance: RHP Dylan Bell, last year's No. 3, moves in as the No. 1 starter with Dylan Ankeney the No. 2 guy. CF Alex Scheiwe is the offensive catalyst. SS Johnny Cox returns and will hit in the middle of the lineup along with RF Max Hardman.

- Escondido Charter (Coach Myron Stockton. Last year: 6-20 overall, 0-10, sixth in Coastal North League)

At a glance: The White Tigers return six starters in what should be a take-off season. The returning players are 1B/P Nick Ontiveros, C/2B Cameron Williams, SS/P Andrew MacMahon, IF Andy Munoz, OF/C Alexander McIver and C/3B Nick Moffitt.

- Calvin Christian (Coach Frank Bons. Last year: 10-14 overall, 3-7, tie fourth in Coastal North League)

At a glance: Sophomore SS Jake Bons (.352), OF Chris Sara (.406), RHP/3B JT Nedin and freshman P/1B Brandon Medin are among the team's top players.

- Tri-City Christian (Coach Ken Bouchard. Last year: 22-8 overall, 6-4, third in Coastal North League)

At a glance: The Eagles are coming off a 22-win season and return seniors Greg Simon, Carson Colpean and Tyler Kinzie.

- Santa Fe Christian (Coach Don Mitchell. Last year: 14-13 overall, 8-2, second in Coastal North League)

At a glance: P/IF Ethan Ogden is the top returnee. He's joined by OF Trevyn Reese, CF Nelson Siu and P/IF Christian Efseaff. The Eagles are young with just three seniors and three juniors on the roster.

- San Pasqual Academy (Coach Tony Ricciardi. Last year: 2-9 overall as an independent)

At a glance: The Dragons have only three seniors on a roster that is loaded with six freshmen and three sophomores.