Team Rankings Released
February 23, 2015
By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director
Teams from across the state will be playing benefit games this week before kicking off their seasons next week. Here is a look at the top 10 teams in the Preseason Top 25. These rankings include teams from all classifications, conferences and regions.
1. Fayetteville HS
The Bulldogs sit atop the preseason poll after coming close to a state title win in 2014, losing to Bryant in the championship game. This season, Fayetteville should be the team to beat with a squad anchored by a talented senior class. RHP Andy Pagnozzi (Mississippi), RHP John Boushelle (Kansas State) and OF/RHP Cody Davenport (Central Arkansas) provide depth on the mound while C Grant Koch (Arkansas) and SS Drew Tyler (Arkansas) are game changers offensively.
2. Bryant HS
The Hornets are the 7A defending state champions and led on the mound by 2014 state tournament MVP RHP Blaine Knight and 2016 LHP Evan Lee (Arkansas). The question for Bryant will be how they replace departed seniors. SS Jake East, OF Logan Allen, RHP/IF Dylan Hurt and RHP/OF Austin Kelley will look to be the answer to those questions. They have won three of the past five state titles and this year doesn’t look to be a drop off, as the Hornets look primed to be in the mix for another one.
3. Heritage HS
Everything starts and ends on the mound for the War Eagles. They may garner the most talented staff in the state with seniors LHP Kacey Murphy LHP (Arkansas), LHP Ty Harris (Arkansas) and RHP Kyle Lamproe (Crowder CC), in addition to 2017 RHP Logan Easley. Offense will be a key question to answer as Heritage tries to chase down an elusive 7A state title from Fayetteville and Bryant.
4. Benton HS
The Panthers are at the top of the 6A classification and may have been thought to be a year away from claiming a state title, but with the addition of 2015 RHP/MIF Drew Harris, the Panthers could make a run. Harris has strong leadership qualities, as he was the quarterback for Benton’s state championship team in the fall. He is continuing his career on the gridiron, but is a solid two-way player with experience. Harris is a solid defensive shortstop and should provide a spark offensively to a pitching driven team. On the mound, he will add right-handed depth, which is in short supply with a rotation heavy on southpaws. Before Harris arrived on campus the Panthers were thought to be a contender due to their talent-rich junior class that consists of: LHP Chase Nix, OF Colten Nix, C Brinson Williams, LHP Ryan Rickford, LHP Drew Dyer and RHP Gunnar Smith.
5. White Hall HS
White Hall is the 5A defending state champion and return a rotation that only allowed 2.5 runs per game in the state tournament last year. The Bulldogs are led by 2015 RHP Daniel Sprinkle (Auburn), 2015 RHP Antione Luster and 2016 RHP Cade Canada. Offensively, they will lean on 2015 OF Kirk Baugh, 2016 OF Caleb Carr and IF 2016 Brewer Owen to get them going. 2016 SS Bailey Smith looks to be Justin Archer’s replacement to anchor down the middle defensively.
Rounding out the top 10 is, No. 6 Har-Ber HS, No. 7 Arkadelphia HS, No. 8 Greenbrier HS, No. 9 Bentonville HS and No. 10 Conway High School. The rankings will be updated every two weeks starting March 16.
ARKANSAS TEAM RANKINGS
1. Fayetteville High School
2. Bryant High School
3. Heritage High School
4. Benton High School
5. White Hall High School
6. Har-Ber High School
7. Arkadelphia High School
8. Greenbrier High School
9. Bentonville High School
10. Conway High School