Baseball: Which team is going to finish No. 1?

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It’s pure guesswork choosing a No. 1 team for the preseason baseball rankings. Last year, Huntington Beach Edison started No. 1 and quickly faltered, unable to produce when Henry Owens wasn’t on the mound.

According to baseball questionnaires sent back by coaches, these are the teams that have a shot at finishing No. 1 in the Southland by June: Mission Viejo, El Toro, Mater Dei, Long Beach Wilson, Lakewood, Corona Santiago, El Dorado, Palm Desert, Edison, Chaminade and Alemany.

Each school has at least one top pitcher, plus some veteran players to provide leadership when the pressure-filled games come about.

Then there’s another group that could surprise and break into the upper echelon: Bishop Amat, Orange Lutheran, Moorpark, Cypress, Chatsworth, Riverside Poly, St. John Bosco, Servite, Woodbridge, Harvard-Westlake, Valencia, South Hills, Dana Hills, JSerra, West Ranch and Van Nuys Montclair Prep. That means they have some deficiencies, such as inexperience in key positions, but have the talent and ability to rise up.

That’s my early analysis with the season starting in two weeks.

-- Eric Sondheimer