Arkansas high school softball preview: Preseason Super 7 rankings

Each week during the 2022 softball season, SBLive will break down the top teams around the state in our Super 7 rankings. Preseason rankings are based on returning players, last year’s success, and historical results. These rankings will change each week, so check back after the season begins to see how the rankings shake out. We will also have a Top 20 overall that will debut in March. 

6A

1. Bentonville

2. Conway

3. Bryant

4. Cabot

5. Northside

6. Bentonville West

7. Rogers

-It all starts with Bentonville who has won four of the past six Class 6A state titles and are loaded once again with University of Arkansas commit Kasey Wood, other college signees Tallulah Passcucci and Alleyna Rushing, and many more.

-Conway fell to Bentonville 3-0 in the state championship last year but have the pieces to make another deep run. Junior third-baseman Katelyn Conrad and senior pitcher Katlyn Erickson, who pitched a one-hitter in the semifinals against Cabot, lead the Lady Wampus Cats.

-Bryant’s key losses were Alissa Suarez and Bella Herring but return catcher Regan Dillon (team leader in doubles and home runs), pitcher Christine Mefford, infielder Abby Gentry, and outfielder Macy Hoskins who is their patient player at the plate.

-Cabot won it all in 2019, did not get a chance to defend the title in 2020, and then fell to Conway 9-1 in the semifinals last year. The Lady Panthers lost catcher Savannah Snow who signed with Arkansas Tech, and you can expect Williams Baptist signee Brooklyn Walker to shoulder a lot of that load.

-Northside lost an ace pitcher in Cailin Massey who signed with Prairie View A&M but return its entire infield from a team that reached the quarterfinals. Freshman catcher Addison Foster and sophomore pitcher Mallory Craig are two to keep an eye on.

-Bentonville West’s team leader from 2021, outfielder Carlee Durham, has moved onto college but the Lady Wolverines still have seniors Laynee Tapp, Marybeth Dyson, and Cierra Cravens.

-Rogers cracks the Top 7 hoping to bounce back following a rough ending to the 2021 season losing their final three games including a 4-3 state tournament quarterfinal exit at the hands of Conway.

5A

1. Benton

2. Marion

3. Greenwood

4. Mountain Home

5. Lakeside

6. White Hall

7. Greene County Tech

Analysis:

-Benton is the unquestioned top team in Class 5A entering this season-and one could argue the state overall-as winners of three of the previous six state titles. Junior Alyssa Houston is an elite player and the Lady Panthers should get plenty of production from Shelby Samples, Aubree Goodnight, Elana Scott, Gracie Redmon, and Riley Gilmore.

-With eight of nine starters returning, Marion fully expects to build on last year’s quarterfinals finish especially with one of the state’s top players back in West Georgia signee Emerson Miller. Pitcher Anna Murphy, second baseman Kelsey Baker, along with outfielders McKenzie Shinabery and Kelsey Eppes are others to keep an eye on.

-After a runner-up finish last year, Greenwood could experience early growing pains, but the return of senior leadoff hitter Macey Cutsinger along with juniors Mady Cartwright and Charlie Taylor should help. Greenwood will also rely heavily upon sophomores Tori Howard and Haley McAdams in the circle.

-Mountain Home took some lumps in the past month of the regular season but were able to regroup by the state tournament earning wins over Sheridan and Beebe before falling to Greenwood 7-5 in the semifinals. Juniors Olivia Crabb and Mallorie Drewry are two players worth mentioning who bring experience.

-Lakeside is under new leadership with new Coach Megan “Roo” Johnson following long-time coach Gary Cooper’s retirement.

-University of Texas at San Antonio signee utility player Lily Hood and pitcher Sophie Weaver are the heart and soul of White Hall’s squad and lead a young, but experienced, team into 2022 where they hope to build on last year’s quarterfinal appearance.

-After an inconsistent regular season, Greene County Tech got rolling on offense in the first two state tournament games before running into the Benton buzzsaw, but hope to use what they started last year for a deeper tournament run.

 4A

1. Morrilton

2. Farmington

3. Nashville

4. Brookland

5. Malvern

6. Pea Ridge

7. Stuttgart

Analysis:

-Morrilton looks primed to win back-to-back state championships in year four under Jennifer Binnie-Poteete. The Lady Devil Dogs return six starters and expect underclassmen Trinity Everette and Sophia Wahrmund, who missed last year with a broken arm, to contribute heavily.

-The Lady Cardinals did not lose against Class 4A competition in the regular season last year, and they plan to take it a little further in 2022. College signees Remi Adams and Grace Boatright are the team’s lone seniors while Farmington will also rely on a corps of talented underclassmen.

-Nashville was a softball juggernaut a decade ago and the Lady Scrappers are trying to get back to that point following a state semifinal run.

-Brookland did lose some key pieces who will be tough to replace, but do return Madison Wooldridge, Emily Willett, Bella Byerly, and Taylor Reed who pitches and is also solid at the plate.

-Malvern is itching to return after last season ended with a 15-0 loss against Farmington coming off a first-round bye. Steller sophomore Ashlyn Fike is a returning utility player who starred last season earning All-State Tournament team along with other postseason honors.

-It is reasonable to argue the Lady Blackhawks should be higher following a state title runner-up, but the question for them is can they rely on a large number of underclassmen with only four starters returning? Two-year starters Nalea Holliday and Dallice White bring the most experience.

-Stuttgart was humbled in a 10-0 defeat in the state quarterfinals and do not think the seven returning starters, including five seniors, have forgotten how last year ended. Emma Banks is a continuously emerging pitcher along with Hagan Hord, who hit a walk-off homerun against Monticello, and Lauren Spoon some others who could make some noise.

3A

1. Arkansas Baptist

2. Smackover

3. Hoxie

4. Booneville

5. Paris

6. Bald Knob

7. Atkins

Analysis:

-Baptist Prep is looking for more coming off its first state title in school history, and it could very well get more with North Texas signee Mackenzie Childers, Maci Henderson, and Taylor Bornds returning among many other consistent contributors having only lost two senior starters.

-Smackover was seemingly untouchable last year from mid-March up until Hoxie ended the dream season 5-2 in the semifinals. The Lady Buckaroos return five starters and expect promising sophomore Mallory Craig to pick up the slack in the circle.

-Hoxie shortly had momentum in the state championship game before Baptist Prep could do no wrong and won 9-1. Senior Jaecie Brown, who batted her sister Jaedyn in for Hoxie’s run in the title game, leads a focused and hungry Mustangs squad.

-Booneville loses utility player Brooklyn Zarlingo but return everyone else from last year’s district championship team.

-Paris won its first two state tournament games 14-0 before being handed a shutout of its own at the hands of eventual state champion Baptist Prep 2-0 in the quarterfinals. The Lady Eagles have a lot of experience combined with plenty of depth including 2023 Razorback commit Jayden Wells.

-Bald Knob will more than likely go as far as fearless pitcher Mady Shoebottom who had a career game striking out 11 against Cave City last April.

-Atkins began to figure things out at the back end of 2021 but could not score enough runs to defeat eventual champion Baptist Prep and Smackover in the postseason. All-State tournament performer Kinley Prater returns for her junior season along with many talented underclassmen.

2A

1. Tuckerman

2. Mansfield

3. Spring Hill

4. McCrory

5. Parkers Chapel

6. Quitman

7. Salem

Analysis:

-Defending state champion Tuckerman comes in as the favorite in Class 2A returning essentially its entire roster led by sophomore Makaylie Gist (22-2 record, 193 strikeouts in 2021) and Kenzie Soden who hit the walk-off RBI to win the state championship 4-3.

-After falling by a single run in that state championship game to Tuckerman, Mansfield is ready to make a statement led by junior Brooklyn Adams, who will move from third base to catcher, and sophomore sensation Alyson Edwards who pitched 22 games last year striking out 180.

-Spring Hill has many key contributors back from last season, including star RHP/UTL junior Erin McMaster, and is a young team who challenged Tuckerman hard in the semifinals before falling by two runs.

-McCrory lost an offensive showdown to Parker’s Chapel in the state quarterfinals and they will get their first crack at the Lady Trojans on April Fool’s Day, but they have plenty to focus on before that happens.

-Many underclassmen will be relied upon for Parker’s Chapel after losing some key players, including Drexel signee Drue Thomas, but the talent is there for another deep state tournament run. 

-Golden Glover junior Silver Milliniks leads a Lady Bulldog team who hung tough who had a tough one-run loss in the state quarterfinals.

-Salem has had to figure out how to overcome adversity before the season even began with leadoff hitter/left fielder Jaycie Strong out for the year due to injury, but it does have four key returning starters along with a host of talented underclassmen.

1A

1. Taylor

2. Sacred Heart

3. Wonderview

4. Mt. Vernon-Enola

5. Bradley

6. Emerson

7. Greers Ferry West Side

Note: Scranton would be listed, but due to low numbers it will not be fielding a team for the 2022 season.

Analysis:

-Taylor is looking for a ring to put on the thumb as it looks to win a fifth-straight state title. Ace pitcher Madison Morton is gone, but the Lady Tigers have plenty to work with.

-Sacred Heart made it to the state finals but ran into juggernaut Taylor and allowed 15 runs on 17 hits from the Lady Tigers. They return All-State Tournament performer Halen Hoelzeman who will help try to break Taylor’s title streak if they meet again in the postseason.

-Wonderview may just have Class 1A’s top pitcher in Oklahoma Wesleyan commit Lydia Polk and this team has plenty of offense as well.

-Mt. Vernon-Enola hung with Taylor much closer than any team in the state tournament falling by just one run in the quarterfinals. They lose Kassidy McJunkins but have a bevy of young talent including sophomores Ally Mendoza and AJ Person.

-Bradley will lean heavily on the arm of sophomore Ainslee Moore but also have some upperclassmen returning to build on their quarterfinal finish from last season.

-Emerson had an inconsistent regular season in 2021 but picked things up heading into the postseason scoring 21 runs in postseason victories over Bradley and Armorel, but their season was stopped by Bradley. They have a very young team, but talent is there to make another run if they can put it all together.

-West Side won nine-straight games from April 21 until losing to Wonderview in the quarterfinals and takes the seventh spot hoping to make a deeper state tournament run in May.