Final 2025 Fearless Friday high school softball rankings
BY KYLE SUTHERLAND
The 2025 prep softball season concluded May 22-24 with the crowning of six state champions at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
The Bentonville Tigers took down conference foe Springdale Har-Ber for the second consecutive season in the Class 6A championship round and won their seventh state title since 2016. All of those championships have been under head coach Kent Early, who now has the most rings of any coach in state history regardless of class.
Benton got knocked off of the top of the 5A mountain last spring after being there for three consecutive seasons and took down fellow juggernaut Sheridan for their fifth all-time state championships under head coach Heidi Cox.
After coming up short in the state championship two consecutive seasons, and four in the past five years, Pea Ridge refused to be denied and shut out Bauxite for the 4A trophy. It was the first state championship in school history. Central Arkansas signee Emory Bowlin had one of the better all around performances in the state championship games, striking out 12 baters and also smacked a home run.
A deep and experienced Mayflower squad played the toughest schedule in 3A and they were well-prepared for a championship run as the Lady Eagles capped the season with a rout of Harding Academy for the program’s first state title.
A pitcher’s duel was expected between Tulsa signee Kenzie Freeman (Hackett) and Arkansas Tech signee Klaire Womack (Riverside), and that is exactly what we got. Both Freeman and Womack had outstanding outings, but an Annalee Qualls’ solo home run to lead off the sixth inning was all the Lady Rebels needed to claim their second title in three seasons. Womack also won her second 2A State Tournament MVP.
Taylor – what more is there to say? The Tigers broke the state record for consecutive state championships when they took their seventh-in-a-row in 2024, now they just keep adding to history. Southern Arkansas signee Ayla Buford completed one of the more decorated individual careers in Arkansas prep softball history as a four-time 1A State Tournament MVP.
6A
1. Bentonville (27-4)
2. Springdale Har-Ber (25-5)
3. Bryant (20-2)
4. Rogers (17-6)
5. Cabot (22-4)
6. Bentonville West (16-12)
7. Conway (17-8)
5A
1. Benton (32-2)
2. Sheridan (23-7)
3. Maumelle (19-11)
4. Vilonia (22-8)
5. Beebe (25-8)
6. Greene County Tech (21-7)
7. Greenwood (22-8)
4A
1. Pea Ridge (22-5)
2. Monticello (22-7)
3. Bauxite (24-12)
4. Gosnell (17-7)
5. Gentry (17-8)
6. Heber Springs (20-10)
7. Malvern (21-7)
3A
1. Mayflower (26-6)
2. DeWitt (21-5)
3. Harding Academy (22-9-1)
4. Salem (20-4)
5. Melbourne (20-7)
6. Lamar (17-9)
7. Lavaca (17-7)
2A
1. Riverside (25-8)
2. Hackett (28-4)
3. Woodlawn (32-5)
4. Tuckerman (30-6)
5. Quitman (25-9)
6. Des Arc (19-9)
7. Bigelow (19-12)
1A
1. Taylor (25-3)
2. Scranton (19-4)
3. Concord (19-9)
4. West Side Greers Ferry (15-6)
5. Sacred Heart (17-5)
6. Bradford (13-8)
7. Calico Rock (12-9)
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