1. Archbishop McCarthy (11-0) - The Mavericks come into the March Madness Shootout as the top team in many polls, including the HSBN Broward and HSBN Florida Power Rankings. Archbishop will be trying to avoid their 2015 fate, when they were upset in the opening round by West Broward. This season, the Mavericks return seven of their nine starting lineup from last year, and thus far, the offensive depth has paid off. With five state titles, and a national title, the only undefeated team in the field looks to capture the one title that has so far eluded them.

2. Douglas (10-1) - The Eagles have been one of the most consistent teams in South Florida in the 2016 season. Led by Colton Welker's .533 batting average, and John McKenna's team-leading 16 RBIs, the Eagles offense has scored 71 runs in 11 games. The .326 team average will be put to the test with some of the top arms in the state standing between Douglas and a March Madness title run. Their road to the championship starts against Port St. Lucie, but the Eagles are no stranger to tough games, having already faced eight teams with winning records.

3. SLAM (9-3) - Last season, SLAM won the Silver Bracket of the March Madness Shootout, and this year the formerly young Titans will no longer fly under the radar. Jeter Downs and Jose Garcia have been a two-man wrecking crew for the offense. Downs is hitting .529, only bested on the team by Garcia, who's .559 average has him at seventh in the county. For SLAM to repeat as champions, they will have to start strong when they face Belen Jesuit on Saturday afternoon. The team currently sits atop 4A-7 with a 5-1 district record.

4. Boca Raton (8-3) - One of four Palm Beach teams in the Shootout, the Bobcats have turned their season around after struggling early. The team has played one of the toughest schedules in South Florida, and has escaped with an 8-3 record. Boca is led by their pitching staff, which has an ERA on the season of 1.91. Jagger McCoy has been the anchor of the rotation, striking out 32 batters in 24.2 innings, while only walking four. Offensively, Zach Zientarski leads the squad with 12 RBIs. Ricardo Gonzalez is tops in runs with nine. Boca opens up against Chaminade-Madonna.

5. St. Thomas (8-2) - The Raiders came into 2016 with a young team, and Manager Troy Cameron was unsure what to expect. After the first month of the season, St. Thomas has been a pleasant surprise. Earl Semper and Cameron Krzeminski have combined to get on base over sixty percent of the time. Semper also leads the team with 13 RBIs. The Raiders' only two losses came in the opening week of the season in the Falcon Challenge. St. Thomas will square off with the TERRA Institute, out of Miami.

6. Monsignor Pace (8-4) - The Spartans have a strength of schedule rivaled only by top-seeded McCarthy and second-seeded Douglas. Pace has been up and down against the top competition, but comes into the tournament having won four straight and seven of their last nine. The Spartans lead 5A-15, a district that boasts the most teams in the Gold Bracket, with Pace, LaSalle, and Mater Lakes Academy all making the cut. Westland Hialeah will be first up for the Spartans at 7PM on Saturday night.

7. Goleman (11-1) - The Gators come into the March Madness Shootout with perhaps the biggest chip on their shoulders. The team feels they have not received the recognition they deserve as a top team in the county, and this tourney will be their chance to show they belong near the top. Goleman has one of the best records in the tourney, at 11-1, but to-date Goleman has only beaten two teams with winning records. Brandon Paez is second in the county with 20 RBIs, and also is tied for the lead in doubles with two. The pitching staff has six pitchers that have thrown over eight innings on the year.

8. Killian (7-3) - Freddy Zamora's .452 average is tops on a Cougars team that is hitting .323 on the year. Despite having faced some of the top arms in the county, Killian has come through a tough early season schedule with a 7-3 record. One thing that should help the Cougars in a field this strong, is their own district. Even as one of the top teams in the county, Killian sits in only third in 9A-16, behind South Dade and Palmetto. Andrew Schreiber leads the pitching staff with an ERA of 0.84. Schreiber has 42 strikeouts in just 25 innings of work. Killian draws a tough first round matchup with Mater Lakes Academy.

9. Mater Lakes Academy (7-4) - Rene Arauz has been one of the best pitchers in Miami in 2016, compiling a 0.49 ERA in almost 30 innings of work. Cristian Santana has also contributed 18 innings of work, allowing only three earned runs. The offense has been a tough spot for the Bears, who as a team are hitting .255. Robert Montesinos leads the team with 12 hits. Mater Academy's draw of Killian in the first round assures that the game featuring two top Miami programs will be one of the most watched of the first round.

10. LaSalle (9-3) - Manager Hernan Adames has a long history of taking teams flying under the radar and turning them into state contenders. This season's Lions team is the latest work of Adames, who started the season 2-2, but have since went 7-1. The mound work has been left to Joshua Leon, Jacob Perea, and Gabriel Partridge. The trio has combined to throw 69.1 of the teams 78 innings. Offensively, Santos Grande leads the way with a .500 average. Grande's 17 runs is good enough for fourth in the county.

11. Westland Hialeah (8-3) - The Wildcats are another team that come into the Shootout with something to prove. After a big first half of the season that saw Westland win eight of their 11 games, the schedule now stiffening. If the Wildcats can put together a championship run, it would be a testament that they have arrived as a state contender. Helping the Wildcats to a perfect district record are David Vazquez and Bryan Lavastida, with 15 hits each. As a team Westland is hitting .361, and getting on base over forty-five percent of the time. The pitching staff has only given up 17 runs.

12. TERRA Institute (7-5) - The Wolves were in a trasition this off-season when Manager Ernie Padron took the pitching coach job over at ASA College. Jesse Fernandez has stepped in, and after starting the season 3-5, the team has started to respond, winning four in a row to take themselves off the bubble and safely into the Gold Bracket. Another team that plays a tough schedule, TERRA will have to navigate perfectly a bracket that includes the top teams in South Florida. Pitching has been the strength of the Wolves. Andres Perez and Joe Sanchez both have ERA's under 1.25, and have combined for 46 strikeouts.

13. Chaminade-Madonna (7-4) - As we head towards the bottom of the Gold Bracket, we get to the teams that were on the bubble. The Lions were a bubble team that may have found themselves in the Silver bracket had they not gone and defeated the third-seeded SLAM on Saturday. It has been an inconsistent season for the Lions, with big wins over Westminster Academy twice, Highlands Christian, and SLAM. On the flip side, the low point of the year was a 12-2 loss to University. Rolando Petit paces the offense with a .467 average, while Michael Callari and Michael Blanco have four of the teams seven wins.

14. Belen Jesuit (6-5) - The Wolverines come into the Shootout in need of a spark in what has been an uneven season so far. Belen started the season with back to back shutouts, and have also been on the receiving end of a few blowout losses. It is tough to tell which direction they are going from day to day. To win the bracket, they will have to get strong pitching from Albert Maury and Gabe Gonzalez. Christian del Castillo leads the offense with a .485 average and 11 runs.

15. Port St. Lucie (7-2) - The Jaguars have been one of the most-balanced teams in the area in 2016. They have an ERA under 1.55, and an offense that hits to the tune of .335. Zach Taglieri leads the offense with 11 hits, 13 RBIs, and a .423 average. Whether or not the Jaguars can upset the Eagles in the first round is unknown. At times, Port St. Lucie have looked like a world-beater, and at other times there have been inexplicable losses. The Jags are sitting pretty in 6A-14, having beatn both Suncoast and Fort Pierce Westwood.

16. Mater Academy (5-4) - The Lions find themselves in an unfamiliar position coming into the Shootout. They have been to two straight state appearances, winning it all in 2014, and they finished a runner-up in the March Madness Shootout last year to Coral Gables. This season, however, the play has been uneven, as is expected from a young team. The team is hitting .367, led by Alex Rodriguez at .500. Pitching has been the area where Mater has struggled, and that may not bode well in a first round match-up with heavy-hitting McCarthy. 1. Cypress Bay (8-5) - A four-game win streak helped propel the Lightning into the top spot of the bracket. Cypress Bay has the pitching to carry it through, led by starters Devin Ramirez and Greyson Fletcher, who have combined for 48 strikeouts in just under 40 combined innings. The Lightning pulled off an opening-round upset over TERRA in last year's shootout opener, and as the highest seed they now have to avoid suffering the same fate themselves against Mourning.

2. Western (6-4) - The Wildcats have their deepest roster in years this season and that depth could pay major dividends during the shootout. The club has a strong four-man pitching rotation that should be well-rested heading into action, led by senior right-hander Richard Medina and his team-leading 1.94 ERA. With an offense hitting .326, Western has a strong balance that makes them a legitimate threat. The lineup has a great mix of speed and power, with Zachary Urso leading the club with seven of its 18 stolen bases and Ryan Smith providing much of the power to lead in nearly every hitting category.

3. Palm Beach Central (5-6-1) - Spring Break is typically where Scott Benedicts Broncos turn the corner and start playing their best baseball. Palm Beach Central has gone 11-4 over the past four seasons playing in Spring Break tournaments, and the Broncos have proven they can beat the best of the best through many of those victories. Pitching depth gives the Broncos plenty of options, as junior Cameron Lauer leads a five-man rotation on a staff that is ten men deep. If the offense can find some holes to put runners on for their two power hitters in brothers Brendan and Connor Power it could make all the difference.

4. Coral Springs (6-4) - Pitching has been the major difference for the Colts this season, which has included posting shutouts in half of their victories so far this year. Junior Max Lazar has led the way, posting an incredible 0.88 ERA and a team-best 36 strikeouts in 24 innings. Senior Phil Quinn provides a strong number two, and reliever Matt LeConte has yet to allow an earned run in 12 innings of work. The Colts have not hit for a ton of power but are still managing to average 4.5 runs per game, with senior Tyler Hall and junior Sean Baran tied for the team-lead with eight runs each.

5. Coral Park (7-4) - The Rams have performed well against a tough slate of teams over the first half of the year. The club is hitting for tons of power, with 25 extra-base hits and a .430 slugging percentage. Junior shortstop Erwing Hernandez leads the way with a club-high 15 hits and a .500 batting average. Meanwhile the pitching staff has a trio of dangerous hurlers in ace Edislandy Agusti, senior veteran Anthony Vazquez and junior Michael Ordonez. This depth on the mound could help propel the Rams through a corner of the bracket that could be largely dictated by its pitching.

6. Westminster Academy (7-5) - A young Lions club has rounded together well in winning six of its last eight contests. Westminster had a strong showing in the 2015 March Madness Shootout and has shown it can compete well against tough competition. The Lions are a fiery bunch that play with passion and a big bat. They are led on offense by sophomore Cory Acton, who has a team-best 12 RBIs and is tied with fellow sophomore Christian Sosa for the team-lead in hits with 13 each.

7. The Master's Academy (8-5) - The Eagles got off to a strong start in winning their first five games, including the Eagle Invitational championship. That tournament experience could be valuable. Manager Matt Cleveland has always gotten the most out of his guys, and that trend is best exemplified by a deep pitching staff that has seen nine hurlers combine for a 2.04 team ERA. Junior Andrew Kaminsky and freshman Ben Chestnutt provide a solid one-two punch to the starting rotation, while Kaminsky and senior catcher Cole Iturrioz are powering the offense to lead in every offensive category.

8. Charlotte Christian (4-3) - The Knights bring a championship pedigree and a nice history in previous trips for Spring Break tournaments in South Florida, having won the Hall of Fame Classic in 2014 and also going 2-1 in the same tournament a season ago. The Knights have won three in a row and will look to make it a five-game winning streak to carry onto the plane with them, with two game slated this week.

9. Georgetown Prep (0-2) - The Little Hoyas have only just begun their 2016 season in their hometown of North Bethesda, Maryland. After dropping a doubleheader with Archbishop Spaulding the start the season, Georgetown Prep will have two more chances to pick up its first win of the season with a pair of game this week before traveling down to South Florida for the March Madness Shootout.

10. Pompano Beach (6-5) - Tornadoes manager Joe Giummule excels at moving his pieces around like on a chess board and Pompano Beach does not rely on any one player and is truly the sum of its parts. Eight different pitchers have toed the rubber this season, and they a proven closer in sophomore Trevor Kniskern, who boasts an 0.58 ERA, two saves and a team-best 19 strikeouts over 12 innings and five appearances. Kniskern and senior Nick Marcantonio are tied for the team lead in hits, with Marcantonio supplying much of the power with an .808 slugging percentage.

11. Braddock (6-5) - The Bulldogs have alternated wins and losses over much of the season and will be looking to use the tournament to build some consistency for the stretch run. Long known for its offensive prowess, Braddock is getting great pitching to lead the way this year. Senior Nelson Alvarez has 35 strikeouts in 21 innings and a 1.64 ERA to lead the way, while senior Osvaldo Fernandez is 2-0 with a 1.87 ERA. The offense continues to thrive with power, connecting for 18 extra-base hits.

12. Pine Crest (5-5) - After a 3-0 start the Panthers have struggled of late and could use a nice boost from a strong spring showing. Senior ace Garret Rukes's recent return to action has added more fuel to a pitching staff that boasts a collective 1.94 ERA. Junior Jordan Schulefand and senior veteran Sam Wurth help provide the club with the type of depth that could lead to a deep run in the bracket.

13. Suncoast (5-4) - The Chargers are putting things together at just the right time under first-year manager Louie Siciliano, having won four of their last five contests. Having already wrapped up its district play to earn the second seed in 6A-14, Suncoast will look to keep the fire burning by putting in a strong run in the bracket. The club has a solid pitching rotation that is led by Tyler Lavery's team-low 1.18 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. The offense seems to operate best going station to station, with senior Alec Guerricabeitia and sophomore Jack Virden tied for the team lead with 14 hits each.

14. Hialeah (6-4) - The Thoroughbreds hitters are getting on base with a .420 on base percentage and nine different runners have combined for 16 total steals to put runners into scoring position. Senior Adrian Negrin has been the most productive at driving guys in, leading Hialeah with 13 RBIs. They will be looking to score an upset over a manager that knows their squad well, as Palm Beach Central manager Scott Benedict has history with the program that dates back to when his Wellington team lost against the Thoroughbreds in the 2001 state championship.

15. Miami Brito (6-4) - The Panthers have won the Class 2A state title each of the past two seasons and have proven they have what it takes to make a run when it counts the most. Brito has struggled of late in dropping its last two contests in key district losses to Westwood Christian and Miami Christian, and a strong tournament run could be just what the doctor ordered. The Panthers play three games this week heading into the shootout, which could either help them come in on a groove and clicking but could also challenge their endurance for a four-game stretch over the six days of the tournament.

16. Alonzo Mourning (5-6) - The Sharks have won their past three, including a big 1-0 shutout over Southridge in last week's Miami-Dade Game of the Week. Senior Marcel Guardarrama tossed a complete-game shutout in Friday's big win while increasing his team-leading strikeout total to 37. A small-ball approach is helping the club average over five runs a game despite a low slugging percentage, as it has swiped 19 bases in 22 attempts to make the most of its scoring chances. Nearly every member of the club has gotten in on the action on the bases, with junior Max Liff leading the way with four steals.

1. Coral Glades (4-6) - Don't let the 4-6 record fool you. The Jaguars have lost all but three games by two runs or less. They're battle-tested after facing teams such as Cardinal Gibbons, Coral Springs, Taravella and Cypress Bay, not to mention their own district foes Atlantic and Spanish River. The Jaguars are 2-0 vs. Spanish River but 0-2 against Atlantic. Steven Godoy (.412), Preston Vegotsky (.400) and Alex Lara (.385) lead the offense. Vegotsky also has 20 strikeouts and a 1.52 ERA in 23 innings.

2. Miami Sunset (4-6) - Like the Jaguars, the Knights have lost four games by two runs or less and have played competitive ball this season against some top teams in Miami-Dade. For example, they lost by just a run to an 11-1 Goleman team. Erick Orbeta leads the offense, batting .364 with six runs and four RBIs. Kenneth Centeno is hitting .300 and Pablo Cabrera .278. PJ Kanakis has struck out 19 and has a 2.71 ERA in 19.1 innings. Cristhian Alba has 13 strikeouts and a 1.71 ERA in 12.1 innings.

3. American (4-9) - The Patriots also are a team whose record is deceptive. They've had five games where they've lost by two runs or less. They were just a run short against Monsignor Pace and also played Gulliver, Hialeah Gardens, Gulliver, Pine Crest and Taravella tough, so the Patriots have definitely seen their fare share of powerful opponents this season. Jose Chavez is hitting .500 with seven runs to lead the offense. Mike Montes is hitting .400 with six runs and Robert Menendez .370 with seven runs.

4. i-Mater (4-4) - In its second year of existence and first with a full schedule, the Knights are off to a solid 5-4 start. They've shown competitiveness by losing by just a run against Miami Lakes, Brito and Doral Academy. Top hitters include Michael Bell (.387, six runs, six RBIs), Joseph Vence (.364, nine runs) and Darwin Rodas (.273). James Montoya is 2-1 with 35 strikeouts and a 0.95 ERA in 22 innings. Rodas (2-2) has struck out 26 in 25.2 innings.

5. Ferguson (3-6) - The Falcons started the year off well with wins over Doral Academy and Killian, but they've had trouble maintaining that fire this season. However, they've shown they can play competitively with some of their district foes, such as Braddock and Varela. They're coming off their first district win, 8-7 against Varela, so that might spark some more wins. Jonathan Fernandez (.417), Kevin Tucker (.333) and Daniel Irissari (.250) lead the offense.

6. Coral Reef (3-7) - The Barracudas are yet another team in this bracket who has played a tough schedule and is battle-tested coming into this tournament. They're in a district that includes South Dade, Palmetto, Southridge and Killian, and the Barracudas have shown they can hang with those teams, losing by small margins, including by just a run against South Dade and Killian. They started the season 2-0 by beating Champagnat and Miami Jackson.

7. Reagan (4-7) - After going 1-6 to open the season, the Bison righted the ship by going 3-1. A 19-9 win over Miami Central sparked the turnaround. Reagan is coming off a 5-4 loss to Coral Park, however, and will be looking to get back in the win column Monday at Westland Hialeah in an 8A-16 clash. Benjamin Meza leads the offense, hitting .455. Robert Pena has driven a team-leading 10 runs. Pena also is leading in strikeouts with 23 in 18 innings.

8. Keys Gate Charter (5-7) The Knights are stuck in a district with heavy hitters Gulliver Prep and Key West and have done their best to hang with those powerhouses. They've also played competitively with South Dade and Doral Academy. Wins have come against Everglades Prep, Homestead, St. Brendan, Coral Reef and Somerset South. Ricardo Grajales is hitting .400 seven runs, and Alan Quezada (.278, 10 runs, seven RBIs) and Osmany Haya (.273, 10 RBIs, eight runs) also are leading the offense.

9. Miami Senior (3-8) - After a promising start with wins over Miami Jackson and Miami Beach, the Stingarees are slogging through their season with flashes of competitiveness as they battle through a tough schedule that has included teams such as South Dade, Palmetto, Goleman, St. Brendan and Coral Park. Gustavo Miranda (.400, six RBIs), Manny Garcia (.389, eight runs, seven RBIs) and Yiovanni Matias (.387, eight runs) lead the offense. Javier Alvarez has struck out 19 and Jose Barrios has fanned 17.

10. Coral Springs Charter (2-6) - The Panthers can't be judged by their record. Just one look at their loaded schedule -- their district alone, mind you -- and you'll see they're not playing creampuffs. After an 0-6 start, they've won two in a row, so it appears the ship has been righted. Shane Magrann leads the offense, hitting .458 with six runs and five RBIs. Robert Robinson (.385, six RBIs), James Doherty (.333) and Zach Weber (.333) are other top hitters. Doherty is 2-2 with 18 strikeouts in 11.2 innings.

11. Dr. Krop (3-5) - It's been an up-and-down season for the Lightning, who started the season 1-3 and have gone 2-2 since then. Wins have come against North Miami Beach, Miami Central and North Miami. A bright spot for the Lightning has been the pitching of Wesley Foster, who has struck out 41 in 27.2 innings. Nicholas Dimartino (.400, six RBIs) heads the offense. Other top hitters include Jason Girardi (.353, six runs), Jordan Landman (.333, seven RBIs) and Joss Gitlin (.333) are other top hitters.

12. Hialeah Educational Academy (3-8) - One look at the Bulldogs' schedule and you would understand why they've won just three games. The record doesn't reflect, however, the tenacity the Bulldogs have, especially against one of the toughest district slates in the state. Hialeah Education finally broke through for a big win over University School in its last game, so momentum is there. Marcial Hernandez (.400, seven RBIs), Ricky Jimenez (.364, eight runs), Raymond Mendez (.333) head the offense.

13. South Miami (3-9) - Although they're 3-9, the Cobras have played competitively with several teams they've faced, so don't count them out. They played Coral Park tough, losing just 1-0. Aaron Cox leads the offense, hitting .308 with five runs. Leandro Lopez follows at .250 with six RBIs, and Yonay Moreno is hitting .233. Deivis Jacomino has been a force on the mound, striking out 31 in 30.2 innings with a 0.23 ERA. Julio Romero has struck out 20 in 20 innings.

14. South Plantation (3-6) - With teams such as St. Thomas, Piper and Fort Lauderdale in their district, the Paladins have worked hard to hold their own against this tough schedule. The Paladins especially played well against Piper, losing just 1-0. Pitching has been a bright spot for South Plantation with Rhys Friedman and Zachary Birchall. Friedman is 1-2 with 25 strikeouts and a 1.40 ERA in 20 innings. Birchall is 1-2 and has 11 strikeouts in 13 innings.

15. Coconut Creek (3-8) - It's been a while since Coconut Creek has been among the powerhouses in Broward County. Although the Cougars still are not in that class, it doesn't mean this team isn't working hard every day, especially against tough district competition such as American Heritage and Archbishop McCarthy. The Cougars also have welcomed strong competition from outside their district, playing teams such as Western and West Broward.

16. Boynton Beach (1-9) - The wins are eluding Boynton Beach this season, but everyday the Tigers are showing up, suiting up and giving it their all against some of the best teams in the county. They played their hearts out in a 14-3 win over Cardinal Newman on March 2. Jack Agnese and Bryan Ariza each had two hits, and Erik Dietrick, who is hitting .304, scored three runs. Luis Tavarez, Sean Ouellette and Kaelin Dunn each scored twice in that game.