The weekly SSBR Fall Elite Eight is sponsored this season by our partner, Conner Darnell Designs. If you have a need for a graphic designer, photographer, or sports media, give Conner a look at his website: connerdarnelldesigns.com.

---

Here at SSBR we try to have fun with what we do. We cover a sport that is supposed to be fun and we want to convey that in our content.

One of the ways we do it is by doing our version of a ranking system. We take all the teams regardless of classification and do our best to rank them on how they are doing relative to their class.

*In the Spring we have the caveat that says we are not ranking them on a “head to head” basis. In the Fall since teams may play each other regardless of class more regularly.

We also do our rankings based on results more than what we think who would necessarily win a game. If a spot comes down to two teams, if they’ve played head to head the result of that game weighs heavily in that decision. (The first week’s rankings, however, do have what a team’s expectations for the season factored in, but as the season goes along it will be the results that matter.)

In the Spring we do a “Dominant Dozen” and last Fall we did a “Super Six.” This season we are doing an “Elite Eight” because there aren’t as many teams as the Spring, but six is too little for the Fall

As always, this is for fun so please treat it as such.

---

Other Teams Considered (In alphabetical order)

Amber-Pocasset (A, 4-2); Arapaho-Butler (A, 5-0); Asher (B, 3-0); Calumet (B, 1-1); Canute (A, 3-1); Ft Cobb-Broxton (B, 3-2); Frontier (B, 3-1); Navajo (A, 4-1), Ripley (A, 5-1); Santa Fe South (2A, 3-1); Sentinel (B, 3-0); Sterling (A, 5-0); Stonewall (A, 4-1); Tushka (2A, 4-2)

---

8. Colbert Leopards (2A, 8-0)

Perhaps the surprise team of the first Elite Eight is the Colbert Leopards. With the rule stating that teams could start official play before the 12th if both teams have started school, the Leopard took advantage and won 4 games before the 12th. To be honest, the schedule for Colbert hasn’t been the toughest, but they did what they were supposed to do and won each game and they are the first team to 8 wins.

This week: Mon: vs Calera; Thurs-Sat: Colbert Tournament

7. Byng Pirates (2A, 3-0)

The Pirates didn’t play in a tournament this past week, but they started with a really good schedule. Byng gave Calera and Ripley their only losses so far and if Ripley had won their game vs Byng, they probably be in this spot. Byng also beat a good Drummond team as well.

With the reclassification for the Fall, Byng is definitely a contender to make the 2A State Tournament.

This week: Mon: vs Stonewall; Thurs-Sat: at Tupelo Tournament

6. Oktaha Tigers (2A, 2-2)

Being scheduled to play in perhaps the toughest in-season tournament at the end of the week, you’d think Oktaha would schedule a “warm up” game to start the season. Nope. The Tigers went on the road to always tough Wright City to start the season and probably had the toughest schedule to start the season.

Oktaha did lose two of their first 4 games, but both of those losses came to teams ranked above them. They beat the Class A Spring State Champ Amber-Pocasset and an always solid Latta.

This week: Mon: vs Howe/Okay; Thurs-Sat: Oktaha Tournament

5. Wright City Lumberjax (A, 3-1)

Wright City always seems to be a team to watch out for and this Fall’s team is no different. The Jax started out by run ruling the Spring 2A State Champ, Oktaha and run ruling both Haworth and Soper.

They did take a bump by losing to fellow Class A state contender, Okarche, in a 4-2 loss in a neutral site game at Seminole State College on Saturday.

This week: Mon: vs Battiest; Tues: vs Tushka; Thurs: vs Smithville; Fri: at Stuart

4. Rattan Rams (A, 4-1)

To be honest, Rattan was already penciled in the #1 spot heading into Saturday’s game vs Dale. However, losing a 21-11 game would bump you out of the top spot.

Rattan is still a top team though and they will not give up 21 runs often. They were outstanding in their other 4 games winning by a combined score of 35-11 in those 4 games.

This week: Mon: vs Rock Creek; Tues: at Moss; Thurs-Sat: at Oktaha Tournament

3. Silo Rebels (2A, 2-0)

Silo only had 2 games this last week, but they were impressive in both. They went on the road to Wister and blew open a close game to win 12-5 before they run ruled Moss in their home opener on Saturday.

This week: Thurs-Sat: Tupelo Tournament

2. Okarche Warriors (A, 3-0)

Okarche didn’t play in a tournament this past week, but they still played as tough a schedule as any still going undefeated. The Warriors opened up vs Canute winning 7-3. They shutout Class B state contender, Calumet 2-0 late Friday night before beating Wright City in Seminole on Saturday afternoon 4-2.

The Warriors are definitely one of the favorites in Class A this Fall.

This week: Mon at Ripley; Tues vs Dale; Thurs-Sat at Oktaha Tournament

1. Dale Pirates (2A, 3-0)

It’s one thing to host the best in-season tournament, it is another to handle the pressure and win that tournament.

That is what the Pirates did when they beat Ft Cobb-Broxton, Oktaha, and Rattan on consecutive days. Those 3 teams won 4 state championships between them in 2023-2024 and are state title contenders this school year as well.

Dale has firmly put themselves in the state title converstation (if they weren’t already).

This week: Mon: at Latta; Tues: vs Okarche; Thurs-Sat at Drummond Tournament

---

Like this post? Don’t miss any posts. Enter your email in the box below and have Sooner State Baseball Report content delivered right to your inbox.