Final SBLive Arkansas 2023 Super 7 high school baseball rankings
The weekend of champions in Conway on the campus of UCA was everything we expected. Every game had the championship atmosphere it deserved culminating with an overflow crowd of over 2,000 fans for the 5A championship game Saturday night. In the end, five of the six teams that were selected preseason No. 1 won a state championship.
6A
1. Springdale Har-Ber (28-6)
2. Bentonville (21-13)
3. Rogers (26-3)
4. Rogers Heritage (24-9)
5. Cabot (20-6)
6. Conway (20-8)
7. Fayetteville (22-10)
Springdale Har-Ber: Ending the year in the same place you started is usually a good thing. Unlike the other four teams that accomplished the same feat, Har-Ber didn’t win their conference and their ranking fluctuated throughout the season. The turning point was a 10-0 loss to Springdale. Head coach Dustin Helmkamp said, “Honestly, we just started swinging it better after the loss to Springdale.” They dominated their opponents in the state tournament with big hits and solid pitching and defense. The problem for everyone else in class 6A is the Wildcats bring just about everyone back next year including championship game MVP Ross Felder.
Bentonville: The Tigers were my dark horse pick to win the class 6A tournament because of their trajectory at the end of the season. They almost pulled it off too. They beat Jonesboro in a game that ended after midnight. Then, they knocked Conway out of the tournament before upsetting Rogers 5-1 in the semifinals. Eli McCall had an outstanding tournament and will be back next year. One of the top catchers in the 2024 class, Rowan Christensen, will be back as well. Carter Nye, J.J. Spafford and Brooks Hasenclever round out the strong junior class that will be back to make a run at a third straight trip to the title game.
Rogers: The Mounties entered the state tournament as the overwhelming favorite to win it all. They had shut out 10 teams during their 16-game winning streak and showed the propensity to put runs on the board. Their lone in-state loss was to Har-Ber on March 6th and they had been ranked No. 1 the previous six weeks. They had a great season and the pieces are there to make another run. Jake Taylor and Ty Anderson will be back on the mound for Rogers next year after all-state caliber seasons.
Rogers Heritage: The War Eagles have staying power under Brian Walker after back-to-back semifinal appearances. They ran through Cabot 8-1 before losing to the eventual champions 8-3. The Askew brothers were dominant on the mound tossing complete games in the state tournament and they will be back next season. Heritage was 17-2 at one point during the season and won the Gulf Shores Showdown over spring break.
Cabot: A 6A-Central conference title was the highlight of the season for the Panthers. UCA commit Aden Velasquez had a great season on the mound and at the plate and Sophomore Cael Turner will be even better next season. If the Panthers develop a potent offense, they will contend for a state championship next season. Cabot won their only title in 2017.
Conway: The Wampus Cats enjoyed multiple long winning streaks during the season, and they were ranked No. 1 until their loss to Cabot on April 21st. It is very hard to repeat as champion, but Conway gave it their all. They have some talent coming back in their lineup but must replace some key innings on the mound.
Fayetteville: The young Purple Dogs will be a contender next season. Landon Schaefer had a super sophomore campaign ending with a no-hitter in the first round of the state tournament against Catholic. Jaison Delamar had a no-hitter against Northside earlier in the season. As Fayetteville continues to develop some of their younger talent, they will be even tougher next season.
5A
1. Little Rock Christian (31-3)
2. Valley View (29-5)
3. Maumelle (19-11)
4. Arkansas High (21-5)
5. Batesville (21-11)
6. Benton (18-9)
7. Greenwood (19-8)
Little Rock Christian: The No. 2 team since the beginning of the season won the game that mattered the most to move to No. 1. By now, you have seen the highlights of the “game of the decade” and know it almost didn’t happen. The Warriors came back from a 2-0 deficit in the opening round and never looked back. The stars in that game? Reece Tarini and Charlie Carter. The battery for the championship game drove in three runs to give Christian the round one win and finally advance to the quarterfinals. Tarini finished the season 11-0 and will now head to Louisiana Tech. Charlie Carter was a four-year starter and will now head to Oklahoma State. Those two will be greatly missed, but coach Brandon Eller does have pieces returning. Championship game MVP Cade Bowman, Tate Collins, and OU commit Jackson Kircher will be back next year for another run.
Valley View: One game does not define a season. That was the message coach Josh Allison told his team after the loss in the title game. The Blazers defeated LR Christian in the regular season. They also defeated 4A champ Lonoke, and they beat 3A champ Harding Academy twice. Valley View has now made it to the state championship game three straight years and money is on them making it back again next year considering they return eight of the nine starters from Saturday’s game.
Maumelle: Maumelle took their program to new heights this season. They played for a conference championship, they won their first stat playoff game, and they made it to the semifinals. They went toe to toe with Little Rock Christian in game two of their doubleheader and played Valley View close in the semifinals. The Hornets have the pieces coming back to make another run next season. Tag Andrews, Peyton Lee, and Blaize Ward will be the centerpiece offensively and pitching next season.
Arkansas High: It was hard to believe that the Razorbacks had not won a conference title in almost three decades. Ty Waid had a banner year belting 13 home runs and had over 100 strikeouts as a pitcher. Ryan Wardlaw will be missed in centerfield. Southwest Arkansas is a hot bed for talent in the state and the Razorbacks are hoping for their run to the semifinals this year is the start of more to come.
Batesville: The dark horse candidate almost beat Arkansas High in the quarterfinals. Coach Tony Roepke’s first season was a success considering the amount of talent lost to graduation. His young Pioneers did not care as they finished second behind Valley View in the 5A East and advanced in the state tournament for a third consecutive season. Mark Brissey, Beau Baxter, and Connor Cunningham earned all-state recognition and all three will be back next season.
Benton: Benton had high expectations coming into the season. Coach Mark Balisterri knew his team could pitch and paly defense. How their offense performed would be the key in making another state title run. Jake Jones was a bulldog on the mound all season, tossing two no-hitters, including the first-round win over Sylvan Hills. Logan Hope shutdown Valley View for six innings in the quarterfinals before losing 1-0. Jones will be missed, but enough talent returns for a chance at a conference championship and a run to the title game.
Greenwood: Brandon Brewer’s first season at Greenwood is just a taste of what’s to come. The Bulldogs won the 5A West conference title and if not for a rain delay could have made a run in the state tournament. Aiden Kennon will be missed. Sophomore Grant Karnes earned all-state honors in baseball after he did the same in football. Winning conference titles is nice but state championships are the goal in Greenwood.
4A
1. Lonoke (29-2)
2. Ashdown (18-12)
3. Brookland (21-13)
4. Gravette (17-9)
5. Morrilton (17-12)
6. Robinson (22-11)
7. Nashville (19-8)
Lonoke: What a season for Lonoke. They were not afraid to play the best teams in the state. They lost close games to Valley View and LR Christian. They are in the conversation as the top overall team in the state with depth on the mound and an offense that does not have an easy out in the lineup. The Jackrabbits tied a school record with 29 wins and won their first state title since 1969. The bad news for 4A teams is they return seven starters and all their pitching next season. Steele Eaves was one of the most dominant arms in the state this year. Jaxson Ingle proved to be a tough out in the leadoff spot and hit the only home run at UCA this past weekend. Tripp Sullivan is more than a pitcher, he is a speedy, quick-twitch athlete with a ton of upside. Cutter Colvert led the team in hitting and will be an absolute steal for a college program. Cole Spears led the team with 10 home runs this season and will be relied upon to pitch a little more next season. Not many teams have a “fab five” like the Jackrabbits, and it is the reason they will start No. 1 again next season.
Ashdown: A slow start to the year did not deter Panthers head coach Austin Cross. He knew his team had the talent to come together and make a run late in the season. After finishing second in the 4A-7 conference to Nashville, the Panthers were untested en route to the 4A South regional championship. Personally, I thought their run would come to an end in the semifinal game against Brookland but the Panthers easily won 17-2. This team did not quit the entire year and return most of their production for 2024. Shortstop/pitcher Walt Jones is an exciting player. Nash Brown and Caleb Blankenship are standouts on the gridiron and the diamond. They will miss utility player Derek Hilton. Hilton hit .480 and will play college baseball somewhere next season according to Cross.
Brookland: Not many teams can lose their coach early in the season and make a deep run in the playoffs. Brookland won a conference championship and advanced to the state tournament out of the brutal 4A East regional. This team was player led for the second half of the season. Weston Speir was almost unhittable on the mound the last few weeks of the season. Jake Reece got better this year. Griffing Duval and Dax Webb will be key to another conference title run in 2024.
Gravette: The Lions took new steps in 2023. They won a regional title and made it to the semifinals before losing to Lonoke. A 17-8 record is just the beginning for coach Bryan Bearden. They will miss Justin Trucks and Rhett Hilger but return some young talent. I expect them to contend in the tough 4A-1 conference again next season.
Morrilton: The devil dogs finally made their way to the state tournament this year for the first time since 2019. Coach Matt Long is one of the most respected baseball coaches in the state of Arkansas and always gets the most out of his kids. Duncan Blakely hit a home run against Robinson in the first round of the state tournament. Luke Carner and Caden Meeler were all-state caliber pitchers all season. All three players will be back for Motown next season.
Robinson: The senators were a constant in our rankings the entire season. They dealt with injuries, youth, and off the field issues but always persevered. Logan Eichler, Spencer Watson and Connor Grisham showed flashes of greatness this season. Driftin Ladd was a lockdown defender in centerfield and led the team in home runs. A first-round loss against Morrilton was not what coach Isaac Dulaney wanted, but he will agree that just to get there was big for this young team.
Nashville: The Scrappers won the 4A-7 conference title and made the state tournament after a runner up finish to conference foe Ashdown in the 4A South regional tournament. The good news for the scrappers is they return a lot of production in 2024.
3A
1. Harding Academy (26-7)
2. Rivercrest (21-4)
3. Central Arkansas Christian (15-7)
4. Bismarck (18-6)
5. Booneville (18-9)
6. Gosnell (24-9)
7. Elkins (25-4)
Harding Academy: The Wildcats rolled to their third straight state title with a dominating 10-0 win over Rivercrest. Razorback signee Kade Smith allowed two hits for his second win in a state championship game. Kyler Hoover led the Wildcats offense with two hits and two runs batted in. Smith and Levi Lang will be missed but this was coach Shane Fullerton's deepest team he's ever had. The Wildcats are now 7-0 in state championship games.
Rivercrest: For a team that did not get to play a single home game the entire season the Colts had a magical season. Little Rock Trojans signee Connor Vaughn had an all-state season and Kevin Morris we'll get a chance to play at the next level. A $5.5 million baseball and softball complex will help coach Stephan Elrod take this program to the next level.
CAC: The Mustangs should have been ranked for most of the season. Razorback football commit Grayson Wilson and Webb Watson had banner years for CAC earning all-state honors. Wilson tossed a complete game against Melbourne in the opening round of the state tournament. Their only losses to 3A competition were to the teams in the championship game.
Bismarck: The Lions carried the banner for the 3A-7 conference making a magical run to the semifinals before losing to Harding Academy. Senior Ian Smith earned all-state honors and will be missed on the mound and at the plate.
Booneville: Booneville was a mainstay in our 3A rankings the entire season. They won a conference championship and gave Harding Academy all they wanted in the quarterfinals Before losing 4-1. Dax Goff and Brooks Herrera will be missed in 2024.
Gosnell: The Pirates were the dark horse pick to make a run in the state tournament but came up short in the quarterfinals. They were one of the hottest teams down the stretch, winning their regional tournament over eventual state runner up Rivercrest. Trent Middleton earned all-state honors and Chad Stewart is a top young catcher in the state.
Elkins: The Elks season ended with a first-round loss to Prescott. Dizzy Dean ends his Elkins career as one of the most productive student athletes in school history. Joven Bell and Zanuel Martin earned all-state honors. Coach Hunter Corbell is one of the top young coaches in the state and will be sought after by bigger schools before long.
2A
1. Woodlawn (31-3)
2. Palestine Wheatley (15-10)
3. Episcopal (18-8)
4. Greenland (23-5)
5. Mansfield (21-6)
6. Riverside (23-7)
7. Cedar Ridge (14-15)
Woodlawn: The Bears got all they wanted for Palestine-Wheatley in the 2A championship game. The 3-2 win gave them their third straight state title and ninth all time which is second only to Pine Bluff. Owen Stover relieved starter Austin Howard and shut down the Patriots rally. Coach Tommy Richardson will be going for his 10th state championship next year, which will be his 31st at Woodlawn.
Palestine-Wheatley: “It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.” This was the Patriots motto all season according to head coach Kevin Whitson. Freshman Jacob Hickman will be a force on the mound for the next three years. He competed all game and held Woodlawn to two hits in the title game. Whitson had his interim tag removed after their semifinal win over Episcopal. They return their entire starting lineup next season.
Episcopal: The 2023 Wildcats baseball team broke almost every school record. They won their first conference championship, made their first state tournament, and advanced to the semifinals. Senior Drew Grumbles and junior Hunter Grumbles were named all-state for their performances this season. Andrew Johnston and Cole Scifres earned all-conference honors. Coach Eddie Stephenson wanted to lay a championship foundation for his future teams and you can bet the Wildcats will be back and even hungrier in 2024.
Greenland: Coach Jordan Larkan got his Pirates back in the state tournament in their first season in class 2A. Greenland has one of the best facilities in the state in the smaller classifications. Sophomore Jack Stockton has a bright future behind the plate. Carter Jackson, Zach Holte, and Kade Gobel earned all-state honors for the Pirates.
Mansfield: The Tigers were not on the radar at the beginning of the season. They entered our rankings after spring break and never left. Mansfield won the 2A-4 conference championship and finished runner up to Greenland in the 2A west regional tournament. Drew Elmore, Peyton Martin, and Fisher Willsey were recently named all-state for the Tigers.
Riverside: The 2A-1 conference is always tough. Three of the four teams that qualified for the regional tournament qualified for the state tournament. The Rebels led the charge, winning a conference championship and a regional championship. They were upset in the state tournament by a hot Cedar Ridge team. Kaleb Tacker had an outstanding year for Riverside earning all-state honors.
Cedar Ridge: The Timberwolves are the only team in the state with a losing record to end the season in our Super 7 rankings. After finishing third in the 2A-2 conference, they made it to the regional championship before losing to Episcopal. They weren’t finished as they defeated Cotter 8-3 then upset Riverside 13-10 before bowing out to eventual champion Woodlawn in the semifinals. Aiden Jones had a great season for Cedar Ridge. Against Cotter, he struck out 11 and went 3 for 3 at the plate. Jones earned all-state honors along with Kyle Provence.
1A
1. Taylor (24-4)
2. Mount Ida (17-9)
3. Viola (19-10)
4. St. Joseph (16-7)
5. Nemo Vista (14-12)
6. West Side Greers Ferry (20-5)
7. Wonderview (17-8)
Taylor: The Tigers completed their back-to-back state championship campaign in emphatic fashion. A 9-3 victory over Mount Ida gave Taylor their seventh title in school history, which is tied with Harding Academy for fifth all time in the state. Waylon Woodell was named MVP driving in five runs in the title game giving him 33 on the season. Senior SAU signee Preston Smith hit .493 with 6 home runs and 39 RBI earning all-state and all-state tournament team. Peyton Smith got the win against the Lions, improving his record to 8-0 on season with a 1.75 ERA. Peyton will also attend SAU and was named all-state and all-state tournament team.
Mount Ida: Coach Thomas Wilson is proud of his baseball team. They advanced to the state championship game for the first time in school history and accomplished more than any team ever at Mount Ida. Their season ended with a loss to Taylor for the second season in a row. Caleb White is on the Mount Rushmore of athletes at Mount Ida. He earned all-state honors along with Karter Rowton after having an outstanding football career as well.
Viola: The Longhorns had an up and down season but the highs outweighed the lows by far. They tied for the conference championship before finishing fourth in the regional tournament. They were the toughest No. 4 seed in the state tournament and beat Wonderview in the opening round before taking down Ozark Catholic in the quarterfinals. Braden Williams had a big season earning all-state honors.
St. Joseph: The Bulldogs made a nice late season run in a tough conference. They won their conference title and district tournament before finishing runner up to conference foe Wonderview in the regional tournament. They made a run to the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Taylor. Nicholas French and Keaton Storie have bright futures for the Bulldogs.
Nemo Vista: The Red Hawks took Taylor to the wire in the quarterfinals losing 3-2 in extra innings. It was the second straight season that Taylor ended their season. The Red Hawks did tie for the conference title with St. Joes. Cash McLelland earned all-state honors at the end of the season.
West Side: The Eagles ended their season again before they wanted. After an early season loss to Norfork, West Side had a nice run beating Norfork and Viola in the last week of the regular season to claim the conference championship. They won the regional championship by outscoring teams 34-5 including beating Norfork for a third time. Mount Ida ended their season 11-4 in the quarterfinals. Dax Hipp ended a remarkable career earning all-state honors. Junior Jacob Carlton earned all-state honors as well and will be back next season.
Wonderview: After winning 9 of their first 10 games, the Daredevils struggled down the stretch finishing third in conference play. Coach Phil Golden’s squad seemed to have found their second wind by capturing the regional championship and primed to make a run in the state tournament. The only problem was they got a tough draw with Viola in the opening round and lost 3-0. Sam Reynolds will head down the road to UCA next season to play ball and will be missed. Reynolds was named all-state by the coaches last week.
