Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 25 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

1B Triston Casas

Team: American Heritage
Preseason Rank: 6
2017 Record: 20-7
FHSAA Class: 6A
Head Coach: Bruce Aven
Playoff Run: Lost in Regional Quarter-Final
Returning Starters: 8

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Triston Casas, 1B, 2018 (Miami)
Cory Acton, MIF, 2018 (Florida)
Bailey Mantilla, LHP, 2018 (Miami)
Julio Cortez, C, 2018 (USF)
Ryan Cabarcas, LHP, 2019 (Florida)
Jordan Carrion, MIF/RHP, 2020 (Florida)
Enrique Bradfield, OF, 2020 (Vanderbilt)
Gavin Casas, 1B, 2020 (Vanderbilt)

X-FACTOR
Cory Acton. After posting a .458 batting average with 26 RBIs and 25 runs scored last season, the Florida recruit will look to be one of the main contributors in the middle of the lineup.

KEY PLAYERS LOST
SS Mark Vientos (New York Mets)
OF Justin Connell (Washington Nationals)
RHP Christian Santana (Florida International)
3B/RHP Anthony Boix (Broward JC)
3B/OF Travis Holt (High Point)

OUTLOOK
With the return of eight starters from last year, the expectations are to compete and win a state championship. On offense, Heritage should be able to score plenty of runs with T. Casas and Acton in the middle of the line-up. To go along with their high powered offense, they will look to lefties Mantilla and Cabarcas to lead their pitching staff. They have a tough regular season schedule, but the Patriots are a talented and deep group up and down the roster, and come in at No. 6 in the Preseason Power25.

Make sure to follow @pbrflorida on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the season.

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