Arkansas high school softball Super 7 rankings (3/11/2024)
Two weeks into the 2024 season, the only thing known is that there is not a lot to be sure about at the moment.
While some have already lived up to expectations, others are off to slower starts and, of course, there have been a few surprises as well.
With basketball season complete, all teams are fully assembled and there will be multiple ranked matchups starting this week.
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6A
1. Bryant (6-0)
2. Rogers (2-1)
3. Springdale Har-Ber (5-1)
4. Bentonville West (5-0)
5. Bentonville (2-3)
6. Cabot (6-0)
7. Fayetteville (4-2)
Bryant: The defending state champions start play against Class 6A competition this week, but they have still faced a challenging schedule, nonetheless, with wins that include defending 1A champion Taylor and defending 5A champ Benton.
Rogers: The Lady Mounties did fall to Har-Ber, but victories over No. 6 Bentonville and 4A No. 1 Gravette – one of the state's best teams regardless of class – puts them in the No. 2 spot.
Springdale Har-Ber: While it was against 2A competition, the Lady Wildcats' lone loss thus far against Magnet Cove is nothing to be ashamed of.
Bentonville West: A home matchup against Rogers on Thursday will tell more where the Lady Wolverines are, but you can't discredit the unbeaten start.
Bentonville: Don't expect this to last. Per usual, the very young Lady Tigers have played a tough schedule that includes a win over three-time defending Louisiana state champion, Calvary Baptist.
Cabot: The Lady Panthers have handled their business, but have not been pushed up to this point and possibly will not be until the end of the month, or on April 2 against top-ranked Bryant.
Fayetteville: There's still plenty of kinks to work out, but the Lady Purple Dogs take the No. 7 spot with big opportunities ahead this week against No. 5 Bentonville and No. 3 Har-Ber.
5A
1. Benton (3-1)
2. Sheridan (7-0)
3. Greene County Tech (1-0)
4. Van Buren (3-2)
5. Maumelle (4-0-1)
6. Greenbrier (4-3)
7. Greenwood (1-1)
Benton: Some of the youth showed last week for the Lady Panthers in close wins over Arkansas High and White Hall, then in a hard-fought loss to defending 6A state champion Bryant.
Sheridan: The potential for this year's Lady 'Jackets squad has been and they have lived up to it as the bats have been hot and have pitched three shutouts, but there are plenty more challenges ahead.
Greene County Tech: The void left by Ava Carter at the plate and in center field is big, but the Lady Eagles still have plenty of pieces to make another run to the finals as they get East play started Tuesday with a doubleheader with Nettleton.
Van Buren: Coming off a shutout loss, it does not get any easier for the Lady Pointers, who take on No. 4 Greenbrier in a doubleheader on Tuesday.
Maumelle: There were signs that 2024 could be a big year for the Lady Hornets and they have raised some eyebrows so far with wins that include No. 7 Greenwood and 3A No. 4 Mayflower.
Greenbrier: Three consecutive losses – albeit to all ranked teams including No. 2 Sheridan and 6A No. 3 Har-Ber – followed three straight wins to start the year as the Lady Panthers need to rebound against a brutal slate this week.
Greenwood: A loss to Maumelle was a small setback, but don't quit on the Lady Bulldogs just two games into the season. Good opportunities to rebound against Gentry, then a West conference doubleheader with Russellville, is on the table this week.
4A
1. Gravette (2-1)
2. Pea Ridge (3-0)
3. Farmington (1-1)
4. Bauxite (4-2)
5. Malvern (3-2)
6. Monticello (6-0)
7. Star City (3-3)
Gravette: Three games in, the Lady Lions have already impressed as they edged 5A No. 4 Van Buren with some of their starters still in basketball and then gave 6A No. 2 Rogers all it wanted.
Pea Ridge: Three games, three shutouts from the Lady Blackhawks that included a 5-0 win over 5A No. 4 Van Buren. They play a couple before it, but many eyes will be on their matchup against 6A No. 2 Rogers on Friday.
Farmington: Having just assembled their full team this week, there is still plenty to find out about these Lady Cardinals and we'll see much more in their Invitational Tournament this weekend.
Bauxite: Excluding understandable losses to defending 6A champion Bryant and 5A champion Benton, the Lady Miners are excelling and have another loaded week that will finish at the Blazer Blast in Valley View this weekend.
Malvern: Led by a heroic performance from Kendall Watson (4-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI), the Lady Leopards rebounded from back-to-back losses and routed Nashville.
Monticello: After finishing last week with a crucial shutout conference victory over Star City, the Lady Billies finish up with two more 4A-8 matchups against Watson Chapel and Crossett before hitting spring break.
Star City: Props to the Lady Bulldogs for challenging themselves in the early season that includes a big win over Malvern, but they are looking to get back in the win column this week following a shutout loss to Monticello.
3A
1. Atkins (6-0)
2. Hackett (9-1)
3. Booneville (7-3)
4. Mayflower (4-4)
5. Baptist Prep (2-2)
6. Lincoln (2-2)
7. Lamar (0-1)
Atkins: The two-time defending state runner-up moves into the top spot after taking home the Chelsea Riley Colburn Tournament trophy that included a win over Boonville in a stellar showdown between Libby May and Lexi Franklin.
Hackett: It is worth noting that in the Lady Hornets' lone loss to Atkins, ace Makenzie Freeman did not pitch. Excluding that, Hackett has pitched four shutouts and not allowed more than two runs in a contest.
Booneville: They may have suffered back-to-back losses over the weekend, but with the way Lexi Franklin is pitching the Lady Bearcats will be just fine.
Mayflower: Make sure to look deeper than the .500 record; Save for a lopsided loss to No. 2 Hackett, the Lady Eagles' defeats were all to higher class teams, including defending 6A runner-up Cabot.
Baptist Prep: The same mention regarding Mayflower is echoed for the Baptist Prep. They handled 6A North Little Rock and 4A Stuttgart, while losses include defending 6A champion Bryant and defending 6A runner-up Cabot.
Lincoln: Just because they did not go far in the state tournament last year, don't look past this squad. When it starts with Mississippi State commit Brinley Moreton, you always have a chance.
Lamar: Still plenty of reason to be high on the Lady Warriors, there is just not much we know about them yet. Prior to this week, they opened the season with a shutout loss to Russellville before rebounding with a convincing victory over 4A Ozark.
2A
1. Riverside (4-0)
2. Magnet Cove (4-2)
3. Mansfield (0-0)
4. East Poinsett County (3-1)
5. Woodlawn (5-2)
6. Lavaca (2-1)
7. South Side Bee Branch (4-0)
Riverside: The defending state champions have not been challenged thus far, as they have won their four contests by a combined 58-2 that includes Class 5A Marion.
Magnet Cove: First-year head coach Todd Finley knew he would have a loaded team this year, and scheduled tough to prove it. They're off to a great start after notching a big victories over 6A No. 3 Springdale Har-Ber and 5A No. 6 Greenbrier on Saturday.
Mansfield: With basketball season now complete, Alyson Edwards and Co. begin their mission for a third state finals appearance in four years Monday at home against Acorn.
East Poinsett County: After taking one on the chin to Class 4A Brookland in the opener, the Lady Warriors won their past three games 41-0.
Woodlawn: The Lady Bears were busy to start their season over the weekend, and looked good overall with a win that included defending 3A state champion Booneville.
Lavaca: Class 4A Mena took down the Lady Arrows in the season opener, but Lavaca has won its past two and takes on defending state champion Booneville to start this week.
South Side Bee Branch: There are about two handfuls of teams that could be in this spot, but the Lady Hornets take it for now knowing they still have plenty to prove.
1A
1. Taylor (4-2)
2. Midland (3-1)
3. Bradley (2-2)
4. Shirley (2-2)
5. Viola (1-0)
6. Concord (2-0)
7. Wonderview (0-3)
Taylor: Living by the by the 'Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere' mentality, the Lady Tigers closed out the week with two huge victories over Class 6A Conway and Class 5A Beebe in the Central Arkansas Tournament.
Midland: With only a loss to Class 4A Southside (Batesville) on its resume, the Lady Mustangs will play their final game before spring break Thursday against Walnut Ridge.
Bradley: They took some lumps to start, but have also done some good things as the Lady Bears aim for ace Ainslee Moore's return by, hopefully, the end of the month.
Shirley: Through the first two weeks, the Lady Blue Devils have played all upper-class completion and took wins over Rose Bud and Perryville.
Viola: Haylee Crotts punched out six batters in a three-hit shutout and also went a perfect 3-for-3 in the Lady Longhorns' season opening win over Cave City.
Concord: Many of these Lady Pirates just finished a deep basketball state tournament run, but have already earned two big wins and start the week with a big one at Viola.
Wonderview: The losses at the Chelsea Riley Colburn Tournament were very tough to swallow, but the Lady Dare Devls hold onto the final spot having played all upper classifications, including 2A No. Woodlawn.
-- Kyle Sutherland | Kyle@scorebooklive.com | @k_sutherlandAR
