Preseason Fearless Friday Super 7 Baseball Rankings
It is (almost) officially spring time again which means it’s time to get back on the dirt.
While some teams will have to wait a week or two until basketball and other winter sports have concluded, baseball teams will take the field for Opening Day starting Monday.
Here are seven teams to watch from each classification for the first edition of the 2025 Fearless Friday Super 7 Baseball Rankings. The next round of rankings will release on March 17 and continue weekly for the remainder of the season, excluding during state tournament play.
Also, make sure you subscribe to the Arkansas Preps Weekly podcast on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify for even more in-depth coverage on each classification every week.
6A
1. Fayetteville
2. Springdale Har-Ber
3. Bryant
4. Rogers
5. Conway
6. Rogers Heritage
7. Cabot
Fayetteville’s already loaded roster got even better with the addition of Arkansas signee Mark Brissey. Springdale Har-Ber loses some talent from back-to-back title teams, but Arkansas signee Luke Cornelison is tough on the mound.
Bryant will take a step forward under Garrett Bock in his second year at the helm with Oklahoma signee Ridge Southerland back. Rogers has won five straight conference titles and Jake Taylor is back looking for revenge after the Mounties came up short to conference foe Har-Ber in the state championship.
Conway has a ton of talent returning, starting with Max Holland and Shaun Cover who are future Division One catchers, while Beau Billeck and Jesse Davenport lead the pitching staff. Rogers Heritage will be in the mix once again, while Cabot has two quality arms in Oklahoma State signee Cael Turner and Jacob Murray.
5A
1. Valley View
2. Maumelle
3. Russellville
4. Sylvan Hills
5. Benton
6. Marion
7. Van Buren
Valley View has experienced hitters up and down the lineup and has been one of the most consistent programs this decade. Maumelle returns Peyton Lee and Blaize Ward, along with a host of experienced seniors after reeling off a run to the state championship.
Russellville returns Arkansas commit Trystan Newberry and Little Rock signee Russ Martin on the mound, plus Cade Palmer is solid behind the plate. Sylvan Hills has 12 seniors led by McLennan (Texas) College signee Everett Bird and Caleb Harrison is one of the top 2026 arms in the state.
Benton is solid up the middle with 2027 Sawyer Wilson and Marcus Bates. Marion is always in the hunt for the 5A-East title and Jimmy Bumbaugh returns. Van Buren has key pieces back to challenge for a 5A-West run, including Weston Wilcox.
4A
1. Harding Academy
2. Robinson
3. Brookland
4. Magnolia
5. Morrilton
6. Prairie Grove
7. Shiloh Christian
4A is possibly the most wide-open classification in the state of Arkansas. Longtime Class 3A dynasty Harding Academy returns their top arms from last season, including Bentley Hawks who is as good as they come. Robinson took down Goliath (Lonoke) and almost won the state title last season as they made a run to Conway and Catholic transfer Bowman Stein added more depth to their lineup.
Magnolia will be a favorite in the 4A-8 along with Crossett. Morrilton works hard and Mike Lee’s team wants more in 2025. Prairie Grove lost a lot of talent from last year’s title team, but Coach Cameron will have his squad ready for a repeat. The Allen Gum era officially begins at Shiloh Christian after Jamie Beers led the Saints on an interim basis in 2024. Young talent returns from a Shiloh team that played beyond expectations last spring.
3A
1. Ashdown
2. Rivercrest
3. Harmony Grove (OC)
4. Charleston
5. Genoa Central
6. Booneville
7. Greenland
Ashdown has a talented roster and should benefit from dropping a classification and looking diagonally northeast from southwest Arkansas, Rivercrest returns pitching after a semifinal run last season.
Harmony Grove (OC) finally got over the postseason hump and made a run to the semifinal round before coming up short to Central Arkansas Christian. The Hornets lost some talent and changed conferences, but will be battle tested.
Charleston has a good 1-2 punch on the mound. Booneville lost offense but should have enough to make a run. Greenland moves up from 2A and has speed on the base paths.
2A
1. Woodlawn
2. McCrory
3. Riverside
4. South Side Bee Branch
5. Ouachita
6. Palestine-Wheatley
7. Cedar Ridge
The last time Woodlawn didn’t win a state championship, they reeled off three straight titles and are extremely motivated after coming up short by a run to Ouachita. The Bears have talent returning, plus added transfers from Sheridan and White Hall. McCrory can beat anyone with Will Rushing on the mound.
Riverside is tough on the mound and should win their conference. If South Side’s offense can match their pitching, they will be tough. Ouachita shocked the world last year and the great news for the Warriors is they return the 2A title game’s Most Valuable Player Trey Cox. Palestine-Wheatley is experienced and will host the state tournament again, while Cedar Ridge will be a tough out led by experienced senior Aiden Jones on the mound.
1A
1. Taylor
2. West Side (Greers Ferry)
3. Armorel
4. Nemo Vista
5. Viola
6. Norfork
7. St. Joseph
Taylor has won three straight state titles and Brian Fowler keeps reloading with different names, but the same results. West Side was one game away last year and Brooks Hipp returns to lead the way for the Eagles, while Armorel brings back talent from last year’s state quarterfinalist team.
Viola looks to rebound after not making the state tournament last year. Nemo Vista has been in the mix for a state title the last three years and should win their conference this season.
Norfork, famously known as the “Party Crashers”, changed conferences but Ethan Davis is always looking to take the next step and a conference championship is attainable this season. St. Joseph lost some talent from last year, but Luke Davis always does a good job getting his team to peak at the right time.
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