Eyes on the prize: Hamilton focused on winning another baseball title, not national rankings

After winning its eighth state high school baseball title last year, what does Chandler Hamilton do for an encore? Win another.

The Huskies are loaded again as they begin their quest for another state championship on Wednesday as part of the loaded First Look High School Showdown at Bell Bank Park's Legacy Sports Complex. They open against Hoover (Alabama) before seeing how great they can be on Thursday against 20th-ranked Orange Lutheran (California). Among the top Arizona teams in the four-day tournament are Scottsdale Chaparral, Gilbert Campo Verde, Oro Valley Canyon del Oro, Mesa Red Mountain, Waddell Canyon View, Tempe Corona del Sol and Scottsdale Saguaro.

Hamilton enters the 2023 baseball season ranked No. 5 nationally by MaxPreps.

"It's a veteran group," coach Mike Woods said.

Asked if more so than last year's team, Woods said, "Maybe more.

"The pitching staff is not as experienced, but we've got some good arms."

For subscribers: The Arizona Republic's preseason high school baseball rankings

Hamilton graduated its top two pitchers, but two-time 6A Premier Region Player of the Year Josh Tiedemann now becomes the ace of the pitching staff. He's been the ultimate utility guy the last two seasons, and, when the Huskies needed a big win last year, he delivered on the mound.

He hit .371 with eight home runs and went 7-0 on the mound last season for the Huskies.

Hamilton isn't just the Tiedemann show on the mound. Right-handers Carson Johnson (Arizona commit) and Will Shelor (Arizona) both have great stuff to get the best hitters out.

Hamilton's eight state titles (all under Mike Woods) began in 2003. It has won five championships since 2014. And, in 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the season, the Huskies were ranked No. 1 nationally.

Tiedemann embraces the Huskies' carrying the target, being the team that everybody else is trying to knock down.

"I always like being on top of the list," the TCU signee said. "We've been together since our sophomore year. We're pretty close. We've been playing forever. We just have great chemistry."

It's basically an all-Division I lineup, starting with Tiedemann, shortstop Roch Cholowsky (UCLA), first baseman Zach Wadas (TCU), catcher Liam Wilson (Harvard), second baseman Cooper Bass (New Mexico State), third baseman Ryan Kucherak (LSU), outfielders Jeter Mauzey (New Mexico State) and infielder/RHP A.J. Diaz (Arizona).

With that kind of talent comes pressure. But these Huskies aren't looking at the national rankings.

"We don't care about the national rankings," Cholowsky said. "All we really care about is getting on top again and winning another state championship."

For subscribers: The Republic's 2023 preseason All-Arizona HS baseball team

Cholowsky said he's not worried about the draft, looking at UCLA down the road. The expectation at Hamilton always is to win state.

"We got guys stepping up, doing their jobs," Cholowsky said. "And we've got guys stepping in to try to help the team. We're going to be reloaded and just as good as last year, I feel."

With power, speed, defense and pitching, Hamilton appears to have what's needed.

Woods takes the high national ranking with a grain of salt. It's always been about how the season ends.

"The national ranking has happened to us a lot the last few years," Woods said. "These guys are used to it. It doesn't take much for it to go away. But our goal is to win the state tournament."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hamilton focused on another baseball title, not national rankings