Lake Orion — The last two seasons at Lake Orion are remarkably similar to the two seasons that led to the championship season of 2007.

Lake Orion had the talent to win in 2005 and '06, but lacked experience. It reached the Division 1 quarterfinals in '06, then lost to U-D Jesuit, 8-5.

Lake Orion coach Andy Schramek has been molding yet another young and talented team the past two seasons — and he said its time for his club to take another step forward.

"It's one of our better teams on paper," Schramek said. "With the senior leadership and pitching, this team has the same characteristics of the ('07 team). We have more (pitching) depth this year. The thing about that team was they were close. This team gets along well but we haven't played much yet."

Lake Orion was 30-9 last season, losing in the regional final to Hartland.

It is this season's top team in The Detroit News' preseason list.

Schramek returns seven starters, his top three pitchers and has the luxury of choosing between two experienced catchers, Roman Kuster (OF) and Connor Grant (OF).

Right-hander Nick Deeg, whose brother Josh was one of the top pitchers on the '07 team, is the team's top player. Deeg (OF) was 10-1 last season and bats third in the lineup.

"We should be a lot better," Deeg said. "We lost just three players. We all hang out together and all played on the Orion Chargers (U-16 team). Us seniors made the team as sophomores and worked our way in as starters."

Two juniors follow Deeg in the rotation. Brad Schaenzer was 9-3 last season and Josh Bays has been offered a scholarship by Western Michigan.

The three are fine athletes who will play in the outfield when they're not pitching.

Defensively, Lake Orion has a dependable double play combination in Ryan Lambrecht (2B/SS), who signed with Madonna, and Nick Vogelmeier (SS/2B), who has drawn interest from Division I and II schools.

"This is our year to go all the way," Schaenzer said. "We played well last year as young as we were. The arms in the outfielder are really good. Pitching is our strength."

Rest of the The News' top 15 area teams

2. Birmingham Brother Rice (33-8), Division 1: Brother Rice reached the regional final and returns four seniors and arguably the best junior class in the state. Add to this group Josh Smith, a sophomore left-hander who committed to Kentucky. Junior Ty Kiafoulis (OF/DH) committed to Michigan and junior right-hander Matt Ruppenthal to Vanderbilt. Senior Dalton Greyerbriehl (OF/RHP), juniors Bobby Cross (3B/P) and Randy Righter (RHP), and freshman Karl Kauffmann (RHP) are in the rotation. Junior Sammy Stevens returns behind the plate.

3. Grosse Pointe South (25-11), D-1 : South lost a handful of starters, but returns its top four pitchers. Carmen Benedetti (1B/OF/LHP) is one of the state's top players. Right-hander Jack Doyle, 8-2 last season, is expected to be the ace. Eddie Champain and Richie Kish also are in the rotation. George Fishback (C) is a three-year starter, and the middle infielders, Jimmy Menchl and Colden Gosselin, both are juniors.

4. Madison Heights Bishop Foley (40-3), D-3: Bishop Foley won its second consecutive state title, and though it lost a few top-notch players it'll be the favorite again. Garrett Schilling (SS/P) was 15-0 and the staff will be enhanced by Michael Reid (3B/P), a transfer from U-D Jesuit, and Chad Gravlin (LHP/1B), a transfer from Riverview Gabriel Richard. Sophomore Nate Grys (OF) committed to Western Michigan. Junior right-handers Mike Murley and Austin Lukachewski also will start in the outfield.

5. Macomb Dakota (27-8), D-1: Coach Matt Carley returns 10 players, including right-hander Alex Lewandowski (3-3), who signed with Northwood. Carley said his ace has gained consistency. Left-hander Travis Berkola (OF/1B) follows in the rotation and he signed with Lee University in Tennessee. Chad Roskelly (1B/3B) will share time behind the plate with junior Andrew Manduzzi (3B/1B). Bill Karvounis (CF) won a starting position midway through last year.

6. Orchard Lake St. Mary's (17-18), D-2: St. Mary's finished strong, losing in extra innings in the regionals, and it return six starters, two of its top three pitchers, plus welcomes junior right-hander Conor Bowers, a transfer from Birmingham Seaholm. Michael Hodgins (3B) hit .396 and is one of two seniors. Senior Marshal Scott (RHP) and Bowers are 1-2 in the rotation. Will Salter (C) committed to Michigan State, and Devin Rose (CF), who bats leadoff, is drawing interest from Division I schools.

7. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North (26-7), D-1: North won the MAC White the last two seasons and has moved up to the Red. Pitching and team speed are the keys to success. Nick Ivone (CF) signed with Saginaw Valley State, and left-hander Shane Healy, 4-0 in relief last season, will be the ace. Junior Danny Kerr (C) batted .378 and Mike Michalski, No. 2 in the rotation, also will move from third to shortstop. Alec Duffiney (3B/1B/RHP) is a three-year player.

8. Canton (20-13), D-1: Mike Stafford, a three-year starter, is as good a left-hander as there is in the area and he's the only senior starter returning. Five sophomores started last season and the top one could be another left-hander, Brent Mattson (1B), who has drawn some Division I interest. Right-hander Jake Miller signed with Henry Ford Community College and he's No. 4 in the rotation. Left-hander Nick Hazergian (1B/OF) was named team MVP last season as a sophomore. Jake Boucher will move from second base to outfield, and James Hall is back at shortstop.

9. U-D Jesuit (23-14), D-1: U-D returns four starters, led by Michigan recruits Harrison Wenson (C) and TJ Shook (RHP/OF). Conrad Kovalcik (C/1B) signed with North Carolina Central and Liam Teevens (OF/RHP) signed with Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill. Gordon Fisher, a starter last year at second base, will switch to shortstop. With just six seniors, inexperience could be an issue.

10. Sterling Heights Stevenson (21-9), D-1: Stevenson won the MAC Red title and six position players are back. Junior left-hander Brandon Hughes (CF) committed to Michigan, but beyond Hughes there's little experience on the mound. Still, coach Joe Emanuele said the talent is there. Bobby Griffin (C) is back and the infield is sound with the return of Andrew Papevales, Riley McCauley and Emanuele's son, Dean.

11. Detroit Western (26-11), D-1: Western, which has won five consecutive league and district titles, returns eight seniors, including Hector Gutierrez (SS/RHP), who signed with Michigan. Jose Ramon (SS/2B/RHP) and Adrian Morales (C) both signed with Jackson Community College. Junior right-hander Luis Chapa was the winning pitcher in the PSL title game. "This should be my best team," coach Juan Sanchez said.

12. Trenton (25-9), D-2: The top three pitchers return from a team that won the Downriver League and district titles. J.T. Conti (LHP/1B) is a four-year starter who signed with Wayne State. Wes Sorenson (3B/RHP) throws in the mid-80s, Garret Vandenberg (RHP) signed with Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Nate Donovan (SS) signed with Kalamazoo College. Coach Todd Szalka said this is the fastest team he's coached.

13. Warren DeLaSalle (20-23), D-1: Seven starters return from a team that reached the state final. One of three seniors, Cole Clifton (LF), batted .375 and has signed with Wayne State. David Crudder (LHP/1B) is another top senior. Dominic DiPuma (2B) is a three-year starter and Joe Rydzewski (SS) again will bat leadoff. Alex Fultz is solid behind the plate. Brent Morris (RHP) and Sam Badalamenti (CF) bring a toughness they displayed on the football field.

14. Farmington (16-20), D-1: Six seniors return and the junior class is more than complimentary. Michigan State signee Connor Mohr (CF/LHP) is outstanding and Tyler Tompson (RHP), 5-3 last season, signed with Wayne State. Ross Williams (SS) is No. 3 in the rotation and Jon Perry (C) is a three-year starter. Troy Mitchell (OF) and Drew Ludwick (OF) also will share time at first base.

15. Southgate Anderson (23-12), D-1: Eight seniors return from a team that won a third consecutive district title. Shane Frietag hit .375 and will move to first base from the outfield. Tyler Shumake (C) is a three-year starter who hit .387. Tyler Hall has great range at shortstop and Paul Sullivan (CF) is back after suffering a knee injury during the football season. Right-handers Bobby Bellon and Josh Lockwood are 1-2 in the rotation.

tom.markowski@detroitnews.com