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.

PRESEASON TOP 25

#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