Baseball: Huntington Beach is No. 1 in The Times’ preseason rankings

Huntington Beach is ranked No. 1 in The Times’ preseason baseball rankings. The team returns virtually its entire lineup from a squad that eliminated No. 1 Santa Ana Mater Dei in last season’s Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.

The season officially begins on Saturday, though rain is expected and could push back games until Monday, March 3.

The rankings:

1. HUNTINGTON BEACH (SS-Division 1). Experience and talent throughout the lineup
2. HARVARD-WESTLAKE (SS-Division 1). Pitcher Jack Flaherty gives Wolverines a true ace
3. LOS ALAMITOS (SS-Division 1). Pitcher Jacob Nix leads talented staff
4. LOYOLA (SS-Division 1). Quality pitching depth and solid defense
5. ORANGE LUTHERAN (SS-Division 1). Shortstop Josh Morgan is as good as advertised
6. MATER DEI (SS-Division 1). Monarchs are determined after last season’s first-round playoff loss
7. TEMECULA VALLEY (SS-Division 2). All nine starters are back for DII finalist
8. JSERRA (SS-Division 1). Lots of D1 commits, but will they produce results?
9. HART (SS-Division 1). Showed during the summer they can be championship team
10. ALEMANY (SS-Division 1). Lots of outstanding juniors.
11. ALISO NIGUEL (SS-Division 2). With Kyle Molnar leading the way, beware
12. CYPRESS (SS-Division 2). The cupboard isn’t bare for defending D2 champs
13. FOUNTAIN VALLEY (SS-Division 1). This team can hit with the best
14. AGOURA (SS-Division 1). Chargers have talent at many positions
15. GREAT OAK (SS-Division 2). Pitchers are ready to come through
16. BISHOP AMAT (SS-Division 3). Tough schedule but Lancers like it that way
17. SANTA MARGARITA (SS-Division 1). Any team with Griffin Canning will be good
18. MISSION VIEJO (SS-Division 1). Beware of left-hander Patrick Sandoval
19. VISTA MURRIETA (SS-Division 2). Coltin Gerhart will ignite the offense
20. REDLANDS EAST VALLEY (SS-Division 2). Lots of returnees and good pitching
21. SAN FERNANDO (City-Division I). Pitcher Alonzo Garcia is better than ever.
22. CHINO HILLS (SS-Division 2). Another team loaded with college commitments
23. EL CAMINO REAL (City-Division I). Left-hander Jeremy Polon can be a standout
24. WARREN (SS--Division 3). Bears were beating lots of good teams in fall ball.
25. CHATSWORTH (City-Division I). Sophomore pitcher Josh Garcia is the real deal

Eric.sondheimer@latimes.com