SBLive Arkansas Super 7 softball rankings: Cream rises to top at Benton tournanament

By Kyle Sutherland I Photo by Sadie Rucker

We had another great week of softball with plenty of conference action, but also some tournaments during the weekend headlined by the ultra-stacked Benton Tournament that featured some of the state’s top overall talent. 

For once, weather did not play much of a factor but based on forecasts for this week, we could see the exact opposite. With rain expected for four out of five days, many more cancellations and postponements could be imminent. 

Here are the SBLive Arkansas Super 7 softball rankings for April 11-18. 

6A

1. Bentonville (12-1)

2. Cabot (11-0)

3. Bryant (13-4)

4. Rogers (9-3)

5. North Little Rock (12-5)

6. Bentonville West (10-4)

7. Fort Smith Northside (9-8)

Outside looking in: Conway, Rogers Heritage

Analysis:

-Bentonville allowed just four hits in two games thanks to outstanding pitching from Ryann Sanders against Rogers followed by a perfect game from Razorback commit Kasey Wood.

-Cabot began the week with a 7-1 statement victory over No. 3 Bryant followed by wins over Clarksville and No. 7 Fort Smith Northside. The Lady Panthers remain the only undefeated team in Class 6A.

-After falling 7-1 to No. 2 Cabot to begin the week, the Lady Hornets closed it out with an 11-4 win over No. 5 North Little Rock.

-Rogers has only lost three times this year, however those came at the hands of the top two overall teams in the state - Bentonville and Benton twice. The Lady Mounties finished out last weekend with a 13-3 win over 4A No. 1 Nashville in the Benton Tournament.

-North Little Rock split conference games defeating No. 7 Fort Smith Northside 20-5 before taking an 11-4 loss to No 3 Bryant. Things do not get easier as the Lady Charging Wildcats start the week off against No 2 Cabot at home Tuesday.

-West began the week with a 7-2 win over Fort Smith Southside but went 1-2 in the Benton Tournament defeating Marion on Friday before suffering losses to Nashville and Benton Saturday.

-Fort Smith Northside took two on the chin to No. 5 North Little Rock and No 2 Cabot but hold on to the final spot in the Super 7. The Lady Bears play two at home this week against Little Rock Southwest and No. 3 Bryant.

5A

1. Benton (15-0)

2. Greene County Tech (15-2-1)

3. Sheridan (10-4)

4. Beebe (11-5)

5. Marion (10-7)

6. Greenbrier (8-4)

7. Van Buren (11-3)

Outside looking in: Little Rock Christian, White Hall

Analysis:

-Benton has proven over the past week that it is worthy of a Top 15 national ranking and is unquestionably the state’ top overall team. The Lady Panthers started off the week with a dominating doubleheader sweep over conference foe Jacksonville before defeating Rogers, Bentonville West, and Nashville in the Benton Tournament.

-Greene County Tech still has not lost to in-state competition and have now won six in a row following a doubleheader sweep of West Memphis.

-Sheridan only played one this week, notching a 16-0 victory over Hot Springs to earn its tenth win of the year.

-Beebe continues to roll following a dominating doubleheader sweep scoring a combined 26 runs to Parkview’s 0 followed by a 6-1 victory over Valley View.

-Marion split a conference doubleheader with Nettleton before playing in the Benton Tournament against some of the state’s top competition falling to Bentonville West 5-4 and Rogers 10-0.

-Greenbrier took care of Class 4A Pottsville 13-5 before pummeling struggling conference foe Siloam Springs but face a tough doubleheader on the road Tuesday at Vilonia.

-Van Buren swept Mountain Home 2-0 to begin the week before dropping a 9-8 decision to Class 6A Rogers Heritage. The Lady Pointer’s next two series with Alma and Vilonia have huge implications.

4A

1. Nashville (13-4)

2. Morrilton (13-3)

3. Stuttgart (11-2)

4. Farmington (11-3)

5. Bauxite (16-3)

6. Gravette (13-5)

7. Malvern (12-5)

Outside looking in: Pea Ridge, Valley View

Analysis:

-Nashville squared off against the state’s top teams as the only school smaller than Class 5A in the Benton Tournament over the weekend. The Scrapperettes took down 6A No. 6 Bentonville West on Friday but suffered losses to 6A No 4 Rogers and No. 1 overall Benton. They took Benton to extra innings tied at 1, but the Lady Panthers were just too much as they have been for every one of their opponents.

-Morrilton fell to 5A No. 4 Sheridan on March 28 and since then have won seven in a row, most recently defeating Alma and Flippin over the weekend in the Tyson Classic Tournament.

-Stuttgart has turned heads this season coming off a semifinal finish last year and have continued its winning ways taking down a very good Bauxite team on the road on Thursday to move up four spots into the Top 3. Ace pitcher Emma Banks has begun to emerge as one of the tops in the state at her position.

-Farmington has now won five in a row beginning the streak with a 7-1 win over Rogers Heritage and most recently defeated Fayetteville led by senior Grace Boatright’s six runs driven in.

-Bauxite fell to Stuttgart at home, but overall, had another great week winning four of five games and are still looking very strong. The Lady Miners have an opportunity to make a massive statement at home Thursday against Nashville, but first they must take care of business on a road trip to Arkadelphia.

-Gravette got rolled by Farmington on March 29 but other than that has looked pretty good winning six of its past seven. The Lady Lions start this week with a tough test against gritty rival Pea Ridge.

-Malvern dominated Hope in its first game of the week followed by a somewhat surprising loss to a good Bismarck team before getting thrashed by top-ranked Nashville 13-0. Despite the two losses, the Lady Leopards hold on to the seventh spot, but face another tough week in the brutal 4A-7 conference against Arkadelphia and De Queen.

3A

1. Baptist Prep (12-4)

2. Lincoln (18-5)

3. Hackett (14-3)

4. Gosnell (14-3)

5. Ashdown (13-3)

6. Smackover (11-3)

7. Atkins (10-5)

Outside looking in: Booneville, Genoa Central

Analysis:

-Baptist Prep has won four in a row since dropping a couple to Class 5A opponents - No. 6 Greenbrier and 6A No. 3 Bryant. They are the favorite in 3A until someone proves otherwise.

-Lincoln dropped a Tuesday match with 4A No. 4 Farmington, but still has continued to stay hot with a series sweep over West Fork and a 6-4 victory over Prairie Grove.

-Hackett dropped a 3-2 contest against Class 5A Greenwood but followed that up with a game to remember in a 23-0 win over Cedarville led by freshman phenom Makenzie’s Freeman’s perfect game. That was Freeman’s fifth perfect game of the season and sixth no hitter.

-Gosnell had a setback in a 7-4 loss to Trumann but hold on the fifth spot rebounding in wins over Hoxie and Rivercrest.

-Ashdown dominated its opponents last week scoring 41 total runs against Haskell Harmony Grove and then swept a doubleheader against Centerpoint. They have a big opportunity on the road against Genoa Central to begin the week.

-Smackover has recovered from two early-season losses and has won nine in a row.

-Atkins’ seventh spot is certainly not reflective of its body of work as the Lady Red Devils have a solid argument, but more so the overall talent in Class 3A. Four of their five losses have been to ranked teams.

2A

1. McCrory (16-1)

2. East Poinsett County (17-1)

3. Woodlawn (10-0)

4. Tuckerman (10-5)

5. Rector (12-1)

6. Magnet Cove (9-3)

7. Fordyce (10-5)

Outside looking in: Melbourne, Spring Hill 

Analysis:

-McCrory suffered its first loss of the season to Pangburn but rebounded with victories over Palestine-Wheatley and England to get back on a win streak.

-East Poinsett County has put up insane offensive numbers all season, and last week was no different defeating Marked Tree, Cross County, and Class 5A Jonesboro by a total of 49-3.

-Woodlawn, like East Poinsett County, has had strong production at the plate all year and has double-digit wins to zero losses. The Lady Bears open the week on the road against an improving Spring Hill squad.

-Tuckerman has had to deal with injuries at key positions this year, but this Lady Bulldog team is loaded across the board and are still considered a strong contender to repeat as 2A champs. Kenzie Soden pitched a perfect game in Tuesday’s 15-0 win over Sloan-Hendrix.

-Rector is red hot in a six-game win streak after sweeping a doubleheader with Riverside as well as defeating Bay and gritty Walnut Ridge. The Lady Cougs will play four games again this week.

-Magnet Cove took down Murfreesboro 7-1 at home before winning an offensive showdown with Poyen. The Lady Panthers have four games this week, including three straight on the road.

-Fordyce returns to the Super 7 as winners of seven of its past nine games.

1A

1. Taylor (9-2)

2. Mt. Vernon-Enola (9-3)

3. Greers Ferry Westside (8-2)

4. Ouachita (8-2)

5. Concord (5-3)

6. Viola (5-2)

7. Shirley (7-4)

Outside looking in: Izard County, Wonderview

Analysis:

-Taylor had yet another dominating week with double-digit victories over Bradley and Junction City. There really is not much more to be said about the Lady Tigers that has not been said already.

-Mt Vernon-Enola was upset by Guy-Perkins to start the week but rebounded taking frustrations out on Midland and Sacred Heart. The Lady Warhawks play Class 2A Quitman at home Monday before a conference road trip to Wonderview. 

-Greers Ferry Westside split a doubleheader with Rural Special on Tuesday but kept up the winning momentum in victories over Calico Rock and Viola. A doubleheader with Norfork awaits followed by a home match with Concord to finish the week.

-Ouachita had a stellar week beginning with wins over Bismark and Horatio then ended it with a 15-0 pounding of Blevins in which freshman Maddie Fulmer pitched a perfect game.

-Concord took care of Class 2A Rose Bud but then fell to a trending up Shirley squad. The Lady Pirates face Murderer’s Row this week on the road against Izard County and Greers Ferry West Side plus a home game with Calico Rock.

-Viola had a 9-4 setback against No 3 Greers Ferry Westside on a cold Friday game but holds onto the No 6 spot with victories over Mammoth Spring and Cotter.

-Shirley seems like it could be coming on at the right time and can continue to prove more with a home game against Viola followed by road contests at Izard County and Calico Rock.