SBLive Arkansas Super 7 High School baseball rankings: Opening week brings surprises
By Kevin Bohannon
Arkansas High School Baseball got off to a great start this week with games across the state. For once, the weather cooperated and events like the PBR Jamboree and FCA Classic were able to be played without interruption. We had some surprises this week and movement in the rankings in each classification. Week 2 promises to bring even more excitement.
SB Live Class 6A Super 7 Poll
1. Springdale Har-Ber 3-0
2. Bryant 2-2
3. Bentonville 4-0
4. Bentonville West 4-0
5. Rogers 2-1
6. Conway 4-1
7. Fayetteville 2-2
Analysis: The 6A-West flexed its muscle in the PBR Jamboree and other non-conference matchups. Har Ber only allowed 2 runs this week and defeated Oklahoma powerhouse Broken Arrow 6-0. Bryant opened the season in Texas once again and went 2-2 against tough competition playing four games in 36 hours. Bentonville outscored teams 37-3 and played very clean baseball while cross-town rival Bentonville West averaged 13 runs per game in sweeping their games. Rogers only set back was to 5A defending Champion Van Buren and Conway bounced back from a loss to Sheridan to get some big wins. Fayetteville joined Bryant in Texas this week and had some games go down to the wire. The Bulldogs are young, and this trip will go along way come May.
SB Live Class 5A Super 7 Poll
1. Van Buren 4-0
2. Benton 4-0
3. Sheridan 4-0
4. Jonesboro 3-1
5. Greenbrier 2-1
6. Hot Springs Lakeside 4-1
7. Batesville 2-0
Analysis: Van Buren came out swinging in the PBR Jamboree sweeping the competition and defeated Class 6A Rogers 4-2 in an excellent early season matchup. Benton and Sheridan took care of business in the FCA Classic combining to go 8-0. Sheridan beat Conway 17-5 behind Landen Feimster’s two-home run performance. Benton used pitching and defense to run the gauntlet with their most impressive win shutting out 6A NLR 5-0. Jonesboro had a set back at the hands of 4A surprise team Pulaski Academy while Greenbrier won 2 of 3 on the week losing to 6A Cabot 4-2. Lakeside’s Brennan Browning was the catalyst in the Rams 4 wins and Batesville had a pretty easy week defeating CAC and Wynne by a combined score of 30-2. Freshman Mark Brissey (Hog Commit) launched a 2 run HR in his 3rd high school at bat while fellow Hog signee Gage Wood made easy work of CAC striking out 11 while allowing only one hit in four innings.
SB Live Class 4A Super 7 Poll
1. Valley View 2-0
2. Lonoke 5-0
3. Magnolia 3-1
4. Pulaski Academy 3-1
5. Brookland 2-0
6. Nashville 3-1
7. Farmington 2-2
Analysis: Valley View did their job as the top ranked team shutting out both teams this week. Lonoke made some noise going 5-0 with four wins against 5A competition. Magnolia had a set back against Class 3A Ashdown but so did other teams The Panthers are good. Pulaski Academy shocked the state by soundly defeating Class 6A Jonesboro 6-2 behind superb pitching performances by Kel Busby and Patrick Engskov (Oklahoma University commit). Brookland swept their games against Northeast Arkansas competition and will be tested this coming week. Nashville makes a return to the rankings winning 3 of 4 and Farmington split their four games in the PBR Jamboree losing to 6A powers Bentonville and Bentonville West. The Cardinals will score a lot of runs this spring against 4A competition.
SB Live Class 3A Super 7 Poll
1. Harding Academy 4-2
2. Ashdown 5-0
3. Walnut Ridge 0-0
4. Camden Harmony Grove 4-0
5. Bismarck 4-0
6. West Fork 2-0
7. Fouke 1-1
Analysis: Harding Academy had a busy week culminating with a doubleheader against Conway and Catholic. The Wildcats dropped both games and have some things to clean up on defense committing 14 errors in the two games but still remain at #1 but Ashdown is nipping on their heals coming off a 5-0 week with big wins over Magnolia, Nashville and Horatio. Walnut Ridge wrapped up basketball this week and starts their season Monday against Gosnell. Camden Harmony Grove was impressive beginning their season with a win in the the battle of the Groves defeating Haskell Harmony Grove 11-8 then sweeping the Prescott Tournament. Bismarck had a big week defeating Class 4A Arkadelphia and was led by three-sport star Ian Smith. West Fork opened conference play sweeping Valley Springs easily but a key matchup with Elkins looms large. Fouke rounds out the Super 7 with their loss coming to 5A Texarkana 11-6. Class 3A rankings will fluctuate through the first four to five weeks as teams get players back from basketball so definitely stay tuned.
SB Live Class 2A Super 7 Poll
1. Woodlawn 4-0
2. McCrory 0-2
3. Horatio 4-1
4. Parkers Chapel 3-0
5. Murfreesboro 2-2
6. White County Central 3-0
7. Carlisle 0-2
Analysis: Woodlawn made a statement that it’s “repeat or bust” in 2022 winning their first four games by a score of 58-5. McCrory played up in classification this week dropping close games to Brookland and Baptist Prep. Horatio’s only loss was to Class 3A Ashdown. Murfreesboro is getting their feet wet before conference play as they look to make a run. White County Central was the surprise team in 2A going 3-0 and defeating 4A Southside 13-1. Parkers Chapel looked solid all week going 3-0 and Carlisle while losing both games to 5A Maumelle and Beebe looked like they belonged on the field and will be a tough out for 2A teams.
SB Live Class 1A Super 7 Poll
1. Izard County
2. West Side Greers Ferry
3. Taylor 3-0
4. Mount Ida 1-0
5. Ouachita 3-2
6. Viola
7. Nemo Vista
Analysis: Class 1A doesn’t front load schedules like higher classifications due to players still playing basketball, but we did see some action this week. Taylor averaged 12 runs a game in their three wins while Mount Ida took care of Poyen 8-5. Ouachita had a busy week going 3-2 and playing in the Prescott Tournament dropping a game to the host on Saturday and Class 3A Camden Harmony Grove earlier in the week. There are more games on tap this week as conference play gets underway.
