The Malad American Legion Baseball team heads will begin district tournament play next week, the week of July 19, at Halliwell Park in Pocatello. They played their final games of their regular season this week with a game at Halliwell on Wednesday, July 14, and a game at Shelley on Thursday, July 15. The Dragons has a busy week last week playing their final home game against The Valley (Marsh Valley) and then going on the road to Soda Springs and Burley.

On Tuesday, July 6, The Valley came to Malad to face the Dragons. This was a double header played at the Malad City Park. In the first of the two games, 

This game was tight in the first inning with both teams going three up and three down. In the top of the second inning, Marsh Valley was able to score four runs to take the lead. In the third inning, they added one more run to go ahead 5 – 0.
Malad scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Bridger Bastian and Jaden Ward each crossed home plate for the Dragons. Malad now trail 5 – 2. 

In the top of the fifth inning, The Valley pushed five runs across home plate. They added two more in the sixth inning to take the win 12 – 2.

In the second game of the double header, the game was closer for the Dragons. The Valley did get a run across home plate in the first inning to take an early lead at 1 – 0. But Malad scored four runs that inning with Grady Combs, Traven Ward, Kyler Horsley, and Dillon Evans each scoring for the Dragons. Malad led 4 – 1. 

Neither team scored in the second inning. In the top of the third inning, The Valley scored three runs to tie the game at 4 – 4. The Valley added three more runs in the top of the fourth inning. They now lead 7 – 4. But Malad answered in the bottom of the fourth inning tie the score once again at 7 – 7.  Gaiden Combs, Kyler Horsley and Traven Ward all scored for Malad. 

In the fifth inning, Chase Briggs was able to score for Malad to put the Dragons up 8 – 7. But The Valley exploded in the seventh inning, scoring four runs and taking the win at 11 – 8. 

Malad made the trip to Soda Springs on Wednesday, July 7. This was just a one game night for the Dragons. 

Malad started off against Soda Springs quickly in the first inning. Grady Combs, Jaden Ward, Peyton Briggs, and Gaiden Combs all scored in that first inning to put Malad ahead 4 – 0. Malad then scored three more in the second inning with Grady Combs, Peyton Briggs, and Dillon Evans crossing home plate. Malad added three more runs in the top of the third inning with Grady Combs, Dillon Evans, and Stetson Higley all scoring. Malad led 10 – 0 at the bottom of the third inning. But Soda Springs was able to score a run in the third inning to cut the score to 10 – 1. 

Malad came back in the fourth inning to add a run by Stetson Higley. Malad was up 11 – 1. Then in the fifth inning, Stetson Higley, Grady Combs, Jaden Ward, Bridger Bastian, and Chase Briggs scored for Malad. The Dragons led 16 – 1. Soda was able to score one final run in the bottom of the fifth but Malad took the win at 16 – 2.

On Saturday, July 10, the Dragons made the trip to Burley for what would be a hot double header. The games were moved up to 11 and 1 to try to avoid some of the problems with the heat. 

In the first game, Gaiden Combs was able to get on base in the first inning on a walk and was able to score for the Dragons. Malad led 1 – 0. But in the bottom of that inning, Burley was able to get four runners across home plate to take the lead at 4 – 1. Burley added two runs in the second and five runs in the third inning to lead 11 – 1 at the end of three. 

Malad scored two more runs in the fourth inning with Traven Ward and Tyler Wilson getting across home plate. They cut Burley’s lead to 11 – 3. But in the bottom of the fourth inning, Burley scored five runs to take the win at 16 – 3.

For the second game of the double header, Malad’s struggles to hit Burley pitchers continued. The Dragons were not able to get any runners to score in this battle. Burley was able to get nine points on the board, taking the 9 – 0 win.