The Lady Dragons are moving through their final weeks of regular season games, playing back to back to back games against Soda Springs, West Side and West Jefferson.  The team continued their remarkable undefeated streak, tallying up 13 wins before their final week of games. 

Before playing Soda Springs for their final home game on Wednesday, April 26 , they honored the four graduating seniors- Kaitlyn Tanner, Kaysha Beck, Beth McClain, and Graycee Goddard.  The four seniors and their team had a stellar game, shutting out the Cardinals 15-0 in only three innings.  Malad was slow to start their hitting, earning all their runs in a single inning.  Riglee Peterson began the scoring for the Lady Dragons, hitting a home run to right field on the first at bat of the third inning.  The MHS softball team made it through their line up twice before racking up their 15 runs to call the game.  Defensively, Kaitlyn Pickett led the team with putouts, earning six from behind the plate.  Pitcher Peterson added an additional six outs as she struck out her opponents.

The following day, the team traveled to West Side for their second match up of the season.  Previously the Lady Dragons defeated the Pirates in Malad, 11-0.  Malad was slow to gain momentum offensively, but once they fell into their rhythm, there was no stopping their roll.  It wasn’t until the fourth inning when the score was 2-1 that the Lady Dragons began making their way around the bases.  

Hadlee Summers led the batting order in the fourth inning, hitting a single to the Pirate’s pitcher.  Summer not only beat the ball to first base, but was able to advance to second on error by the first baseman.  Peterson followed Summers to bat, hitting a double and batting in Summers.  Aubrey Shulz brought in the final run of the inning for Malad, stealing home plate on a wild pitch by the Pirates and setting the score, 7-1.  The team continued their strong offense the following inning, adding four more runs from Bostyn Combs, Addley Kimberling, Hallie Horsley, and Shulz to bring the final score to Malad 11, West Side 1.

The Lady Dragon’s battled out their final game of the week with West Jefferson, just as they had the week before.  But unlike the week before, Malad managed to shut out the Panthers making the defeat of their two-time state champion rival all the sweeter.  Coach Christie Schow shared about the game, “It was the best I’ve seen them play this season! 

“Graycee Goddard had an outstanding catch, diving for a short hit fly ball in foul territory for an out.  Likewise, Bostyn Combs made a fantastic out in center field, diving for another short fly ball.  Aubrey Shulz had a great double along with Hallie Horsley, and Brylee Oglesbee had a beautiful bunt that helped us score a run.  Riglee Peterson did awesome at the mound, pitching the best I’ve seen all season.”

West Jefferson brought an intense, tough game, pushing the Lady Dragons to bring their very best play.  Pitcher Jordan Torgerson threw aggressively from the mound, striking out five of Malad’s first seven batters over the opening two innings.  Despite the tough pitcher, the MHS team began to adapt, making contact with the ball and getting their game on base going.  Schulz scored the first run for Malad after a solid double hit to right field to be batted in by Peterson two at bats later. 

Horsley tagged on a second run in the fourth inning as she hit a triple to right field with one out and the count at one and one.  Horsley stole home as Pickett was up to bat, bringing the score 2-0.  In the top of the seventh inning, Horsley had another big hit, a double again to right field, and later batted in by Pickett’s ground hit to shortstop.  Teagan Daniels, courtesy runner for Pickett, put a final run on the scoreboard for the Lady Dragons, taking advantage of a Panther error at first base.

Malad’s defense was top notch as they held number five 2A team in the state scoreless.  From the mound, Peterson totaled 11 strikeouts over seven innings against 24 batters, allowing only two hits, one walk to first base and committing zero errors.  From the field, Horsley had four putouts as she covered first base.   McClain brought two outs catching fly balls at shortstop, another from Goddard at third base, Combs from center field and Oglesbee at second base.

The team has one final week of regular season games before districts will begin.  As the team continues to fine tune their game, they are optimistic of their post season tournament play.