Arkansas Preseason High School Rankings
February 21, 2023
The Arkansas high school season is coming in February, and we're here to cover it. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be putting out our team previews ahead of the 2023 spring season, spotlighting on programs spanning across the different state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Arkansas Preseason Power 25 Rankings.
We’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. As their responses keep coming in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.
#1
Team: Springdale Harber
2022 Record: 25-8
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Dustin Helmkamp
OUTLOOK
After back to back to back State championship games played, the Wildcats look to get over the hump and win their first title under Head Coach Helmkamp. With another loaded roster Harber looks to be the team to beat in the 6A as they have all the makings of a state title contender.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
ROSS FELDER/ RHP /2024 /University of Arkansas
TYLER RIDLEY/RHP/ 2023/ Crowder College
AUSTIN JONES/ RHP /OF/2023/Central Arkansas
GAVIN MOORE/ RHP/ 2024
JEFF ZACHRY/ LHP/ 2023/Crowder College
LUKE CORNELISON, INF/2025/University of Arkansas
CALEB SMITH/ 1b/ 2024
KALEB KELLAR /INF/ 2024/ Little Rock
WALKER SMITH/ INF/2023
KALEB CEOLA/ Catcher/2025
BRAYSON REEH/OF/2023
#2
Team: Valley View Blazers
2022 Record: 18-5
Classification: 5A
Head Coach:
OUTLOOK
Valley View is coming off a State runner up and has a loaded team coming back. With the pitching, defense, and offensive depth, the Blazers look to be the team to beat across all classifications. Slade Caldwell is one of the top players in the country and with the arms of Crecelius, Hoskins, and Ward in the back end the staff has plenty of upside with young guys waiting in the wings. Keaton Mathis gives plenty of options as he can get on the mound and jump behind the plate as well.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
SLADE CALDWELLOF / LHP / 2024/ Mississippi
LAWSON WARDC / RHP / 2024/ Univ. of Arkansas
TYLER HOSKINSRHP / 1B / 2023/ Crowder College
DREW GARTMANSS / RHP / 2025
ELI CRECELIUS RHP / 1B / 2024/ Louisiana Monroe
CONNER BROWNLHP / OF / 2024
KEATON MATHISC / RHP / 2026/ Univ. of Arkansas
NOAH RAGSDALE2B / SS / 2026
HUDSON RODGERS 3B / 1B / 2025
MADDEN TATUM OF / SS / 2026
JAYDE TAYLOR RHP / OF / 2025
NOAH RAGSDALE2B / SS / 2026
OWEN ROACHOF / RHP / 2026
PARKER KINGOF / RHP / 2026
#3
Team: Benton Panthers
2022 Record: 22-9
Classification: 5A
Head Coach: Mark Balisterri
OUTLOOK
The Panthers look to be one of the top teams in the 5A this spring. Returning a lot of last years team along with some impact newcomers Benton is deep enough to make a big run in the 5A conference. With Jake Jones and Dalton Adair on the bump and Bates and Woolbright in the middle defense looks to be strong as well as the lineup that coach Balisterri will roll out.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MARCUS BATES/SS / 2026/ Univ. of Arkansas
JAKE JONES/RHP / C / 2023/ Central Arkansas
DALTON ADAIR/RHP / 1B / 2024/ Central Arkansas
GAVIN KELLEY/RHP / OF / 2024
BROC MATTOX/1B / 3B / 2025
JUSTIN MITCHEM/OF / 2023
JACK WOOLBRIGHT/ MIF/ 2023/ SAU Tech
#4
Team: Conway Wampus Cats
2022 Record: 19-9
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Leighton Hardin
OUTLOOK
After winning the state championship last season, the Wampus Cats look to defend their title. Conway returns a bunch from last years roster and should have every opportunity to have a deep run in the 6A this season. Hugh Hill was part of the three headed monster alongside Preston Prock. Those two arms make it tough for hitters with the left right combo. Conway will be the team to beat in the Central.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
HUGH HILL/LHP/ 2023/ Richmond
SAM GREGG2B / SS / 2023
KYLER SPENCER/3B / RHP/ 2023/University of Arkansas
PRESTON PROCKRHP / RHP / 2023
Tucker Satterfield/ UTIL/ 2023
GAGE LAWRHP / OF / CONWAY, AR / 2023
MAX HOLLANDC / 2B / CONWAY, AR / 2026
COLE GLOVER/C / 2B / CONWAY, AR / 2023
PRESTYN RIBBING/RHP / 1B / CONWAY, AR / 2024
#5
Team: Bentonville Tigers
2022 Record: 23-10
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Todd Abbott
OUTLOOK
Coming off a runner up in the 6A state title game, the Tigers have plenty back to find themselves in the state title game again. With a nice compilation of upper and underclassmen Coach Abbott will have another chance at a title.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
TONY WOODIE1B / 2023/ Allen County Community College
STEPHON GRYSKIEWICZ1B / LHP / 2023/Allen County Community College
ROWAN CHRISTENSEN/C / 3B / 2024
ELI MCCALL3B / RHP / 2024
CARTER NYE/SS / RHP / 2024
ETHAN PAYNERHP / 2B / 2023
JJ SPAFFORD2B / SS / 2024
AARON MADEWELL2B / C / 2023
TY STEELELHP / OF / 2023
CASEY CHRIST2B / SS / 2025
#6
Team: Little Rock Christian Warriors
2022 Record: 22-8
Classification: 5A
Head Coach: Brandon Eller
OUTLOOK
LRCA returns a lot from last year and looks to make a big run in the 5A. Reece Tarini is the leader on the mound and Charlie Carter is the stronghold of the lineup. Nate Gross is a hard throwing left hander so with the one two combo the Warriors look to be the team to beat. Jackson Kircher along with Bowman and Collins have a deep lineup as Tarini and Gross are both offensive threats as well.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
REECE TARINI/LHP / OF / 2023/ Louisiana Tech University
CHARLIE CARTER/C / 1B / 2023/ Oklahoma State University
NATE GROSS/LHP / OF / 2023/ Ouachita Baptist University
CADE BOWMAN/MIF / OF / 2024
TATE COLLINSOF / RHP / 2024
JACKSON KIRCHERRHP / OF / 2024
#7
Team: Bryant Hornets
2022 Record: 15-14
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Travis Queck
OUTLOOK
After what one would call a disappointing season, the Hornets will have plenty of talent to rebound this season. Coach Queck is one of the best in the business and will have the Hornets ready to contend in the 6A. With Gideon Motes and Ridge Southerland on the mound it will be tough sledding for opposing line ups.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
GIDEON MOTES/LHP / 1B/ 2024/ University of Arkansas
RIDGE SOUTHERLANDRHP / 1B / 2025/ University of Oklahoma
JACE RUFFNER3B / SS / 2024
GRANT JOHNSONRHP / SS / 2024
JORDAN KNOXOF / OF / 2023
#8
Team: Fayetteville Bulldogs
2022 Record: 12-18
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Scott Gallagher
OUTLOOK
After a disappointing 2022, the Bulldogs look to bounce back to form and have plenty of division 1 talent to provide the necessary boost. Landon Schaefer is on of the top players in the country and DeLamar has electric stuff off the mound up to 93 mph. With Easton Frazier anchoring the rotation, the bulldogs have plenty of arms to be difficult to hit. Zach Adams is a big piece to the offensive puzzle and Landon Holzhauer will handle the catching duties as one of the top catchers in his class.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
LANDON SCHAEFER/SS / RHP / 2025/ Univ. of Arkansas
JAISON DELAMAR/OF / RHP / 2025/ Univ. of Arkansas
EASTON FRAZIER/RHP / 2023/ Austin Peay State
ZACH ADAMS/3B /2023/ Crowder College
CADE COSTELLO/RHP / 2023
LANDON HOLZHAUER/C / 2025
CHARLIE GRAVES/OF / 2025
DAVID ABIDE/OF / 2023
TRISTAN MORGAN/MIF 2023
PARKER WRIGHT/OF / 2023
#9
Team: Cabot
2022 Record: 20-8
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Ronnie Goodwin
OUTLOOK
A surprise top 10 team to some, Cabot is always in the mix to be at the top of the Central. This season proves to be no different as they have a legitimate number one in Aden Velasquez. With some youth coming up Cabot will have plenty of options offensively behind Velasquez, Owen and Slunder.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
RYAN SLUNDER1B / OF / 2023
ADEN VELASQUEZSS / RHP / 2024/ Central Arkansas
ABE OWEN3B / 1B / 2023
AVIE SINGLETONOF / RHP / 2024
JACOB BOYSTER2B / RHP / 2022
AARON FITCHLHP / 2023
COOPER POWELLOF / RHP / 2026
JAYDEN GREENOF / RHP / 2026
MADDEN SMITHOF / 2B / 2026
#10
Team: Marion Patriots
2022 Record: 30-5
Classification: 5A
Head Coach: Pete Prater
OUTLOOK
After a state championship last season the Patriots look to repeat and have enough back to do so. Coach Prater has proven to be one of the best in the business and will have the Patriots ready to challenge in the 5A. Davis York and Jett Sutton look to anchor the rotation and some new players will be expected to help provide depth to the lineup.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
DAVIS YORKRHP / 1B / 2024
JETT SUTTONRHP / OF / 2023
DAXTON DAVISRHP / OF / 2023
DYLAN KNIGHT1B / OF / 2022
CONNOR TAYLOROF / RHP / 2023