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, “head to head” is more of a factor.
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 “Sweet Sixteen. In the Fall we do 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.
Dropped Out
- Calera Bulldogs (2A), PR 6: Last week: 2-2; Wins: Turner, Navajo; Losses: Byng, Silo
- Cameron Yellowjackets (A), PR 7: Last week: 1-3: Win: Tushka; Losses: Okarche, Preston, Rattan
- Ft Cobb-Broxton Mustangs (B), PR 8: Last week: 0-3; Losses: Okarche, Canute, Dale
1. Preston Pirates (2A), 8-1
Previous Rank: 5
Last week: 4-0
The Pirates claim the top spot this week after going 4-0 last week beating 3 teams that were in last week’s SSBR Elite Eight. Preston downed then #3 Dale in a rematch on Monday before beating then #7 Cameron and #1 Okarche on their way to claiming the Oktaha Tiger Tournament championship. Preston run ruled Wister, 13-0, in the finals.
This week: Mon vs Porum; Thurs-Sat Preston Tournament
It was that win over Okarche that propelled them to #1 because…
2. Okarche Warriors (A), 8-1
Previous Rank: 1
Last week: 4-1
The Warriors had a solid week going 4-1, but it was that loss to then #5 Preston that slides Okarche down one spot. Okarche started the week with wins against then #8 FCB, #3 Dale, and #7 Cameron before that loss. The Warriors took 3rd in the Oktaha Tournament with a 13-0 drubbing of Howe.
It doesn’t get any easier for Okarche. this week neither.
This week: Mon at OCA; Tues vs Canute (at Calumet Festival); Thur-Sat at Roff Tournament
3. Byng Pirates (2A), 6-0
Previous Rank: NR
Last week: 4-0
Byng had some high expectations coming into this Fall season and are considered one of the favorites in Class 2A. They weren’t ranked in the first rankings because they had played only 2 games.
The Pirates got into the meat of their schedule this week. They defeated a Class 2A state tournament contender in Tuska on Tuesday before winning the Tupelo Tournament this weekend defeating Stonewall, then SSBR Elite Eight #6 Calera, and Latta in the finals.
The pitching for the Pirates really showed this weekend allowing only 2 runs total and that was to Latta. They shut out Stonewall, 10-0, and Calera, 1-0, with Reese Littlefield throwing a no hitter vs the Bulldogs.
This week: Tues vs Vanoss; Thur-Sat at Roff Tournament
4. Silo Rebels (2A), 6-1
Previous Rank: 2
Last week: 3-1
The Rebels drop two spots this week after suffering a loss to a good Latta squad, 2-1, in the semis of the Tupelo Tournament. The full potential of Silo hasn’t been seen yet this season. They have been really good on the mound as evidenced by they allowing only 3 runs this week, but their young talent hasn’t quite put it all together at the plate quite yet. Their wins this week were vs Roff (5-0), Moss (4-1), and Calera (4-0).
They head to Missouri for their annual Fall trip.
This week: Mon at Moss; Fri-Sat vs 3 Missouri schools in Ozark, MO
5. Dale Pirates (2A), 5-3
Previous Rank: 3
Last week: 2-2
It’s not too often that you see a team go 2-2 in a week and NOT fall out of the Elite Eight let alone drop only 2 spots. However, when you look at the week in context, you can see why Dale remains in the Elite 8. The Pirates opened the week on the road in a rematch at Preston where they lost before losing in another rematch vs Okarche on Tuesday. They followed that up with wins vs then #4 Canute and #8 Ft Cobb-Broxton in a triple header between the 3 team on Friday.
Given the fact that all 4 games this week were against SSBR Elite Eight teams and the Pirates are the “1” in #1 Preston’s L column, Dale come in at #5.
This week: Mon vs Navajo (Calumet Festival); Tues vs FCB (Calumet Festival); Thurs-Sat at Hydro-Eakly Labor Day Tournament
6. Canute Trojans (A), 6-2
Previous Rank: 4
Last week: 3-1
At this point in the early season, Canute looks to be the best team out west (unless you count Okarche as “west” and not the metro). They have handily taken care of teams in their area of the state so far this young season.
Their 2 blemishes so far are to #2 Okarche in the season opener and #5 Dale on Friday. It is that loss to the Pirates that put them a spot behind Dale.
The Trojans have a huge week coming up.
This week: Mon at Calumet (Calumet Festival); Tues vs Okarche (Calumet Festival); Thurs-Sat at Hydro-Eakly Labor Day Tournament
7. Calumet Chieftains (B), 6-1
Previous Rank: NA
This week: 3-0
The Chieftains make their 2025 debut in the Elite Eight and they are the only Class B team in the rankings. Calumet won the sneaky good Leedey Invitational this week beating Arnett, Hammon, and Drummond on their way to the title. They weren’t really challenged along the way winning their games 16-1, 9-3, and 13-5 respectively.
Calumet hosts the Calumet Festival on Monday and Tuesday before heading to the Roff Tournament at the end of the week.
This week: Mon vs Granite & Canute (Calumet Festival); Tues: vs Ripley; Thurs-Sat at Roff Tournament
8. OK Christian Academy Eagles (2A), 8-1
Previous Rank: NA
This week: 4-1
The Eagles are making their first ever appearance in an SSBR rankings. OCA started the season with 8 straight wins before losing to Stuart in the finals of the Varnum Tournament on a walk off balk in the bottom of the 8th inning.
OCA has been slowing creeping up on our radar and this could be the year for them. They have 11 senior and 2 of them with over 150 games played between the Fall and Spring. Several of their players have collegiate offers with Cruz Gillespie (SR) having multiple D1 teams interested. Matthias Clay also picked up several offers this past summer.
OCA has already given Arapaho-Butler their only loss this season along with a win over 2x State Champ from last year, Wright City. The Eagles also have 2 win over Spring state qualifier, Ripley.
Monday’s game vs Okarche could tell us even more about the Eagles.
This week: Mon vs Okarche; Thurs at Stonewall; Fri vs Wellston, Sat vs Drummond
Other Teams Considered (in alphabetical order)
- Arapaho-Butler (A), 8-1
- Latta (2A), 6-3
- Mill Creek (B), 8-0
- Mulhall-Orlando (B), 7-0
- Stuart (B), 7-4
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