SBLive Arkansas Super 7 softball rankings: Wet weather wreaks havoc with schedule, top teams still manage to meet

By Kyle Sutherland I Photo by Sadie Rucker

Mother Nature once again had a major impact on last week’s schedules, particularly in the stacked Van Buren River City Rumble that was canceled for the third time in four years, but there were still plenty of key matchups including the top two teams in the state squaring off. Class 4A continues to show how deep it is as there are probably anywhere from 10-12 teams who have a legit case to be in the Super 7.

Here are the SBLive Arkansas Super 7 softball rankings for April 4-11. 

6A

1. Bentonville (10-1)

2. Cabot (8-0)

3. Bryant (12-3)

4. North Little Rock (11-4)

5. Rogers (7-1)

6. Bentonville West (8-2)

7. Fort Smith Northside (9-6)

Outside looking in: Conway, Rogers Heritage

Analysis:

-Bentonville dropped its first game of the year, 8-1 to defending 6A champion and top-ranked Benton, on Saturday but rebounded with a 5-4 victory over Greenwood.

-Cabot is the lone undefeated team remaining in Class 6A after defeating Conway, Beebe and Little Rock Central.

-Bryant had a great showing in the Southern Warrior Classic over the break. and the Lady Hornets continue to impress 40 runs in three games last week.

-North Little Rock got back to in-state play defeating Little Rock Southwest and Mount St. Mary by a combined 30-0 after spending spring break playing in the Gulf Coast Classic

-Rogers dropped its first game of the year to 6A top-ranked Benton but earned wins over Bentonville West and Springdale.

-West did not play Thursday against Har-Ber due to weather but drops two spots following back-to-back losses against Gravette and Rogers.

-Fort Smith Northside claims a spot in the Super 7 rankings for the first time this year after winning four of its past five games.

5A

1. Benton (10-0)

2. Greene County Tech (13-2-1)

3. Marion (9-4)

4. Sheridan (8-4)

5. Beebe (8-5)

6. Greenbrier (6-4)

7. Van Buren (9-3)

Outside looking in: Greenwood, Vilonia

Analysis:

-Benton has pulled away as the overall top team in the state after thumping 6A No. 1 Bentonville 8-1, scoring four runs in the first inning, followed by a 5-0 victory against Greenwood in a rematch of last year’s 5A state title game to close out the weekend.

-Greene County Tech went 4-0 on the week sweeping doubleheaders against conference foe Paragould and on the road at St. Benedict at Auburndale (Tenn.).

-Marion handled Jonesboro in a doubleheader but fell 3-2 against 2A No. 1 McCrory. The Lady Patriots head to Nettleton on Tuesday for a conference doubleheader.

-Sheridan had plenty of high expectations coming into the year and so far have lived up to it. The Lady Jackets had another great week going 3-0 including a victory over Class 4A’s previously top-ranked Morrilton and are currently on a five-game win streak.

-Beebe has looked great this year with its losses coming only to ranked teams. The Lady Badgers have a home doubleheader against Parkview before traveling to Valley View to finish the week.

-Greenbrier moves into the Super 7 for the first time this season after going 3-0 last week with one of those victories being against 3A No 1 Baptist Prep.

-Van Buren climbs from ‘Outside looking in’ to the final spot in the Super 7 following a big doubleheader sweep over Greenwood.

4A

1. Nashville (9-2)

2. Morrilton (9-3)

3. Farmington (8-3)

4. Bauxite (10-2)

5. Gravette (11-5)

6. Malvern (11-3)

7. Stuttgart (8-3)

Outside looking in: Pea Ridge, Valley View

Analysis:

-Nashville takes over the top spot in Class 4A on a five-game win streak, including the latest one over 1A top-ranked Taylor.

-Morrilton fell at the beginning of the week to 5A power Sheridan for the second time this year but rebounded to win its three remaining games.

-Farmington took a 16-5 pounding from conference foe Gravette before spring break in the Farmington Invitational Tournament, but the Lady Cardinals returned the favor dishing out a lopsided win of their own 23-14.

-Bauxite has been in the mix of contenders all season with a 1-0 victory over now top-ranked Nashville to its credit. The Lady Miners claim the fifth spot in Class 4A following a victory over a very good Malvern squad.

-After trading lopsided games with rival Farmington in the past couple of weeks, Gravette finished the week strong with a 6-2 win over Gentry. 

-Malvern fell 4-0 to Bauxite Friday but is still in great position as winners of nine of their past ten.

-Stuttgart started a winning streak in the Bearcat Blast and has since won six straight. The Lady Ricebirds are up against a loaded schedule this week including a road trip to Bauxite on Thursday.

3A

1. Baptist Prep (9-4)

2. Lincoln (15-4)

3. Hackett (14-3)

4. Ashdown (10-2)

5. Gosnell (12-2)

6. Smackover (9-3)

7. Atkins (7-3)

Outside looking in: Bismark, Booneville

Analysis:

-Baptist Prep dropped a Monday contest to Greenbrier, but other than that has fallen only to three of the Top 4 teams in 6A. The Lady Eagles capped the week shutting out Mayflower 7-0.

-Lincoln rode one of the more dominant two-game stretches the state has ever seen from freshman Brinkley Moreton in a doubleheader against Greenland as she collected 15 total runs batted in and three home runs, while also breaking the state record for RBIs in a single game with 10.

-Hackett has won nine of its past 10 games and shutout all three opponents last week while putting 46 runs on the scoreboard.

-Ashdown took two on the chin over spring break to Class 4A top-ranked Nashville and Genoa Central in the Magnolia Tournament but regrouped to defeat Fouke and Bismarck.

-Gosnell dropped its final two games in the Bearcat Blast then came back with vengeance this week defeating all three opponents-Corning, Harrisburg, and Manila-handily.

-Smackover had a loss sandwiched between two victories last week and has won seven of the past eight.

-Atkins had won six in a row, but the Lady Red Devils were up against a tough road trip to cap the week against defending 4A champion Morrilton and fell 6-5.

2A

1. McCrory (14-0)

2. East Poinsett County (14-1)

3. Woodlawn (8-0)

4. Tuckerman (8-5)

5. Rector (8-1)

6. Salem (9-2)

7. Magnet Cove (7-3)

Outside looking in: Fordyce, Melbourne

Analysis:

-McCrory had done everything it was asked to do this season other than earn a statement win but the Lady Jaguars did just that Friday with a massive win over 5A No 3 Marion.

-East Poinsett County lost its first game of the season falling by one run to 4A Valley View, but continued the dominance shown all year ousting Marmaduke and Riverside by a combined 31 runs to 4.

-Woodlawn remains unbeaten going 3-0 on the week and has allowed just three runs in eight games.

-Tuckerman had a tough week against very good competition but did notch a 7-1 victory over Collierville (TN) Friday. The Lady Bulldogs did not have ace pitcher MaKaylie Gist in losses to DeSoto Central and South Panola.

-Rector has been perfect on the year other than a loss to top-ranked McCrory and put on an offensive clinic last week in a doubleheader against Cross County outscoring the Lady Thunderbirds 31-0.

-Salem dropped a Thursday game to Cedar Ridge but has looked really good the majority of this year winning five of its past six games.

-Magnet Cove went 2-0 coming off spring break defeating Mountain Pine and Glen Rose. The Lady Panthers will host Murfreesboro Monday before going on road trips to Poyen and Caddo Hills later in the week.

1A

1. Taylor (7-2)

2. Mt. Vernon-Enola (7-2)

3. Greers Ferry Westside (5-1)

4. Concord (4-2)

5. Ouachita (5-2)

6. Viola (5-2)

7. Calico Rock (7-5)

Outside looking in: Izard County, Wonderview

Analysis:

-Taylor has lost two of three to top 4A competition but other than that have been as good as advertised.

-Since falling in back-to-back contests prior to spring break, Mt Vernon-Enola has won four in a row.

-Greers Ferry Westside moves into the No 3 spot after victories over Shirley and Calico Rock that make up for dropping the final game of the week to Concord.

-Concord dropped Friday’s game to a tough 3A squad Pangburn but earned a 9-7 victory over Greers Ferry Westside earlier in the week to keep the Lady Pirates in the Top 4.

-Ouachita defeated Jessieville 10-4 and moves into the Top 5 on a two-game win streak.

-Viola moves into the Super 7 after sweeping the week with wins over Calico Rock, Izard County, and Shirley.

-Calico Rock was dealt a tough draw over the past five games losing to Valley Springs, 3A No 2 Lincoln, Viola, and Greers Ferry Westside, but rebounded to end the week taking out plenty of frustration on Norfork.