The Malad baseball team split their games on the road in their week following spring break.  Having to move their game from Malad to Marsh Valley due to soggy field conditions, the Dragons took the win over the Eagles Tuesday, April 2.  Unfortunately, their luck didn’t hold as they traveled to Firth
and Declo.  

It was a game dominated by defense as Malad faced off against Marsh Valley, winning with only a single run for the game.  The Dragons found little success getting on base in the first and second innings.  Dawsyn Peterson found his way on first base early in the opening inning on a single ground ball near second base but was caught stealing a play later. 

  In the second inning, Carter Blaisdell hit a double bagger off a fly ball to left field followed by a single from Rydon Montgomery.  But with the Eagles pitcher bringing a tough game, the Dragon runners were left stranded after two more hitters struck out.

  It was finally in the third inning that Cale Briggs managed a base that he was able to convert into a run.  On first base base with only one out, Briggs sped around second to third base after Brady Showell hit a single to right field.  Seeing an error in the outfield, Briggs rounded third base to come across home plate for the only run of the game.

On the hill for Malad was Showell, pitching all seven innings of the game.  The hurler struck out 11 of the 27 batters he faced, allowing zero runs on 2 hits and 2 walks without committing any errors.  He was backed up well by the fielding team to pick up the remaining outs.  

It was a team effort to force the second Marsh Valley out in the first inning.  As Showell was ready to throw his second pitch, the runner on first attempted to steal second.  Throwing the ball to Hubbard, Showell attempted to make the play at first base but the runner continued on to second.  Hubbard connected with shortstop Peterson just before the runner hit second base to tag
him out.

Blaisdell behind the plate led the team in putouts with 10, followed by Ryan Hubbard on first base with 7.  Hubbard got the assist from Timmy Jensen in the third inning, Peterson in the fourth, and Showell in the sixth.

Taking on the Cougars Thursday, April 4 proved to be a challenge for the Dragons.  Firth took an early lead with two runs in the first inning but it was the seven runs in the fourth innings that clinched the victory for the home team.  Malad managed one on base hit by Peterson in the top of the third.

The Declo Hornets held the Dragons scoreless as well in their Monday afternoon game, despite their handful of errors.  Blaisdell and Easton Green found their way on base but couldn’t make their way around the bases before the team tallied three outs.  

Pitching against the Hornets was Brycen Howe allowing 3 runs on 7 hits, walking 1 and striking out 6 in 5 innings.  Kurt Ward came in to relief pitch for the remaining inning, adding 2 more strikeouts.

The Dragons have another full week ahead as they host district opponent Bear Lake on Wednesday, April 10 before competing in the Glenn’s Ferry annual tournament over the weekend where they will play teams from Gooding, Wendell, Lighthouse Christian
and Declo.