Today we release the beginning of our early season baseball top 25 rankings.

top 25 baseball teams in New Mexico - The countdown

Buzz: Cibola Head Baseball Coach Ramon Gonzales has what looks to be a sleeper squad heading into the 2013 season. District 1-5A is a powerful district in baseball no doubt and over the last few years Cibola has been an afterthought, however 2013 looks to be different. Drew Janis, Troy Mares, Jason Schoolcraft, Derek Martinez, and Ryan Dow will each contribute in big fashion. Cibola looks to be either a boom or bust type team entering the 2013 season.

Buzz: Valencia was just a few runs shy of reaching the 2012 4A State Title Game and while they lose some big guns to graduation, Valencia Head Coach Carlos Carrasco has laid a solid foundation for baseball success. Returning this year is Cade Garcia, Ryan Garcia, Garrett Garcia, and Tyler Klein. Big bats will be their key to success, but their bullpen is in question. It's obviously un-clear just how good this group is going to be and while they have maintained a high pre-season ranking, they'll have to start off very hot to keep any critics silenced. The Jaguars are going to be tough down the stretch, but an early season slow start would not be surprising.

Buzz: The Artesia Bulldogs lose some quality pitching, but return one of the top left handed pitchers in 2013 in Trevor Eulenbach who had a stellar sophomore season. The Bulldogs were upset in the second round of the 4A play-offs last year losing to Cinderella Miyamura 7-6. Along with Eulenbach, the Bulldogs return multi purpose player Zane Pittam who is also a Class of 2014 Graduate. New Head Baseball Coach for the Bulldogs will be Jerry Burleson who comes from Midland, Texas replacing Clay Foster who resigned after last season. This team is a bit of a question mark right now, but it's Artesia where winners emerge in all sports.

Buzz: The Los Lunas Tigers were defeated by Academy in the Class 4A First Round back in the 2012 Baseball State Tournament. This year, they return some very solid players including two top 100 prospects. Isaac Parra along with Greg Wortman each have made the NMPreps.com top 100 prospect listings and with contributors like Charles Holt, Justing Yalch, and Darron Gallegos there is no reason this team should be out of the District Championship Race later in the season. The Tigers have been floating with some serious baseball success over the last few years and it's time for their program to take that next step. Could be dangerous by the late season, maybe that 2013 sleeper.

Buzz: The Clovis Wildcats round out the top 25 spot in the spring 2012 NMPreps.com Top 25 Baseball Rankings. There is a good amount of talent on this team returning and as you know in all sports, Clovis usually rises to the occasion. Peyton Lott returns as does Joe Shelley. They have a lot of athletes, but it's not quite sure how this team is going to perform in 2012. Question marks loom regarding power hitters, but Clovis should some late season grit before the were eliminated in the 5A play offs losing to La Cueva. Surprise team of 2013? Probably not. Play-Off team in 2013, likely so.

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