SBLive Arkansas Super 7 baseball rankings: Regional tournaments brings thrills, upsets

By Kevin Bohannon | Photo by Jimmy Jones  

Rain forced regional tournaments to be pushed back across the state, but it was well worth the wait. We have seen the best of what Arkansas baseball has to offer over the past week in every classification. We got to see champions crowned, unexpected upsets and some of the best performances of the year. A few regional tournaments will finish up Monday but for the most part, we know the matchups in each classification. SBLive will have coverage of every state tournament this week, so check back each day for the latest news. 

SBLive Class 6A Super 7  

1. Rogers 23-5

2. LR Catholic 21-5

3. Springdale Har-Ber 23-7

4. Conway 16-9

5. Cabot 19-7

6. FS Southside 19-10

7. Bentonville 19-10

Analysis: Rogers dropped a close game to cross-town rival Rogers Heritage, but they had already clinched the conference title, so we won’t put too much stock in the loss. LR Catholic is playing championship caliber baseball emerging as the 6A-Central Champion blowing past Conway and Cabot in the past two weeks. Conway’s offense exploded for 18 runs against Bryant in the regular-season finale to give them momentum. Cabot ended with a convincing win against NLR. The “Wild Wild West” finally saw separation with FS Southside claiming the 3 seed after a sweep of Springdale over the weekend. Bentonville and Bentonville West split their series and Rogers Heritage split with Rogers giving them a playoff spot.

SBLive Class 5A Super 7  

1. Van Buren 23-5

2. Jonesboro 23-7-1

3. Marion 25-5

4. Greenbrier 20-7

5. Sylvan Hills 20-10

6. LR Christian 21-7

7. Sheridan 19-10

Analysis: Van Buren will attempt to go wire to wire as the No. 1 team when it defends its state championship this week in Hot Springs. Jonesboro has the deepest pitching staff and to win 3 games in 3 days they will need all hands on deck. Senior Ty Rhoades is the glue that holds the Canes together. Marion may be as hot as any team in 5A while Greenbrier will be a tough out with the battery of Huskey and Zachary. Sylvan Hills won 11 straight conference games to claim the 5A Central title getting a little help from Benton splitting with LR Christian. Sheridan started the week as the 3 seed in the 5A South and ended as the 1 seed after defeating El Dorado 9-3 on Friday. Evan Ward pitched a gem for the Yellow Jackets. Lake Hamilton and El Dorado can win a couple games next week as well.

SBLive Class 4A Super 7  

1. Valley View 25-5

2. Lonoke 27-5

3. Arkadelphia 18-4

4. Huntsville 24-8

5. Farmington 19-9-1

6. Monticello 20-9

7. Star City 20-7

Analysis: The 4A South Regional in Malvern started off with back-to-back walk off wins by Monticello and Fountain Lake. Arkadelphia came back in the semifinals against a very good Star City team to win 7-5 and eventually topped Monticello in the championship game capping off three wins in two days. The 1-4A conference showed it may be the deepest and most talented conference as all four teams advanced from regionals to the state tournament. Huntsville got back to its winning ways and stole home late in the championship game to take the lead against Harrison and help on for the victory. Regular season and district tournament champion Farmington dropped games to Huntsville and Shiloh Christian and may be the best 4 seed ever in the state tournament. Lonoke and Valley View will do battle in the semifinals of the 4A East Region. Pulaski Academy ace Kel Busby led the Bruins to a 2-1 first round upset over previously No. 3 Brookland. Jack Henry Petit pitched a gem for the Bearcats and did not allow an earned run. Both pitchers went the distance combining for 23 strikeouts to only one walk.

SBLive Class 3A Super 7  

1. Harding Academy 27-3

2. Ashdown 23-6

3. Manila 22-7

4. Elkins 21-7

5. Paris 18-4

6. Rose Bud 20-10

7. Genoa Central 17-8

Analysis: Harding Academy outscored their three regional opponents 25-1 in cruising to another regional title. Rose Bud Freshman Russ Martin’s complete game was a masterpiece in the Rambler’s 2-1 win over Walnut Ridge. Manila is the lone 3-3A team left as they finished runner up to Harding. Ashdown defeated conference runner up Genoa Central 8-6 in Saturday’s title game. All four 8-3A teams advanced to the state tournament. The surprise of the weekend was Haskell Harmony Grove upsetting previous #2 ranked Camden Harmony Grove 7-6 in the opening round of 4-3A Regional. Elkins stole home in extra innings to advance to the championship game where they will take on Paris. Duke Walker tossed a one hitter against Booneville in the semifinals and had a triple to lead the Eagles.

SBLive Class 2A Super 7  

1. McCrory 22-4-1

2. Woodlawn 22-6

3. Mansfield 23-4

4. Murfreesboro 19-7-1

5. Buffalo Island Central 17-2

6. St. Joseph 17-2

7. Melbourne 19-5

Analysis: It was a wild weekend in Class 2A as Woodlawn was upset by Murfreesboro 5-4. The Rattlers had been in and out of our Super 7 Rankings this season and showed they can beat anyone. They will play Dierks in the Regional Championship game on Monday. McCrory had to go to extra innings to defeat Bay 2-1 in the opening round of their regional. They will play BIC in the Monday’s championship game. Southside Bee Branch defeated Melbourne 14-10 behind an offensive explosion from University of Arkansas signee Easton Swofford who had three home runs in the game. St. Joseph will be their opponent in the finals after the Bulldogs defeated conference foe Bigelow 11-4. Mansfield methodically won their regional championship to improve to 23-4 on the year.

SBLive Class 1A Super 7  

1. West Side Greers Ferry 20-4

2. Izard County 19-6

3. Norfork 21-6

4. Taylor 15-4-2

5. Ouachita 22-7

6. Mount Ida 15-5

7. Hillcrest 11-5

Analysis: Class 1A is the only classification that really did not see many upsets or surprises. As expected, West Side will play Izard County in the 2-1A Regional Championship on Monday. West Side used pitching and defense to defeat Norfork 2-1 to advance to the title game. Norfork will take on Hillcrest in the consolation game after Hillcrest dropped their semifinal game to Izard County. Taylor defeated Mount Ida 5-4 in the semifinals to set up a rematch with Ouachita. The Warriors lost to Taylor 13-7 in the earlier matchup. All seven ranked teams are from the 2-1A or 4-1A and are expected to dominate the state tournament next week in Ouachita.