The Lady Dragons played in their first 2025 softball game as they hosted the Snake River Panthers for their season opener on Wednesday, March 12.  As a new season begins, there are plenty of changes on the diamond, but at the end of the day the team played just like the same old Lady Dragons- dominating from the very first pitch of the game.

Liddia Gonzalez took the mound for the MHS softball team, mixing things up to start the season as not all the players were eligible for the opening game.  While Head Coach Bri Admas missed those strong players she also commented, “I could move any of these girls almost anywhere and they would be good!  They adjust well to whatever we need to do.  It’s pretty cool.”

The Panthers got on base with their first batter due to getting hit by the pitch, but then the Lady Dragons went three outs on the next three batters.  Logan Maroney scooped up the sacrifice bunt to get the out at first base.  Gonzalez handled the other two outs from the pitcher’s circle, both with a count of 2-3.

Malad started batting at the top of the lineup with Teagan Daniels stepping up to the plate.  Patiently waiting for a ball in the strike zone, Daniels was walked on base.  She stole second as Bostyn Combs followed behind her at the plate, and later third on a wild pitch.  Daniels finished her run around the bases with a final dash to home plate on a passed ball as Riglee Peterson was up to bat.  

Peterson made her way from the batter’s box back around to home plate in nearly the same fashion as Daniels, capitalizing on the Snake River errors to advance around the bases after being walked on.

Down the lineup, Tylee Venable hit a single line drive to center field.  The Panther’s error gave enough time for Venable to advance to second while Kialey Pickett, courtesy runner for catcher Maroney, and Hadley Summers, on base with her usual slap hit, punched in two more runs to make it 4-0.  Brylee Oglesbee hit a double to center field, batting Venable in before the Lady Dragons hit their third out to end the inning.

Taking the field, Gonzalez made quick work ending Snake River’s second inning at bat, pitching three consecutive strikeouts.  Daniels and Combs ran in scores six and seven before the Panther’s put a stop to the Lady Dragon offense.  But their own offense was once again short lived as Gonzalez put three more strikeouts across the plate.  Snake River connected with one hit plus a walk on in the mix, but the quick end to the inning kept them scoreless.

The Panther pitcher was unintentionally the best hitter for Malad as she sent four players on base with two hits with the pitch and two walk ons.  After Peterson hit a hard ground single to left field to punch Oglesbee in for the run, Snake River hit Maroney at the plate to send Marinn Brown in for another Malad score.  Daniels took a chance at home plate on a wild pitch to put the Lady Dragons up 11-0 before the inning ended.

After another quick three strikeouts by Malad’s sophomore pitcher, the MHS team took up their bats and helmets for what would turn out to be the final inning of the game.  Gonzalez, on base with four straight pitches outside the strike zone, stole second as Venable went to bat and advanced to third on the ground ball hit.  Ready to steal home, Gonzalez took advantage of the third baseman’s error and scored another run for Malad.  As Oglesbee singled on a grounder to shortstop, Venable, advancing behind Gonzalez, completed her trip around the bases to make it 13-0.

As Brown went up to bat, Oglesbee managed to steal second and later advance to third.  Poised for any opening, Oglesbee ran in one more score as Malad picked up their second out after a ground out.  With one more out, the Panthers would take over hitting.  With one more score, the Lady Dragons would end the game 15-0.

Combs stepped up to the plate for Malad, hitting a triple bagger after Snake River tossed two balls and a foul.  With one final base to cover to end the game, Combs was set to take advantage of any error or opportunity.

Teammate Peterson, up to bat, took in an inside pitch, the Panther’s wary of the possible runner coming from third base.  The next pitch, low and wide, rolled off of the catcher’s mitt and behind her.  Combes set off for home, sliding in before the catcher could return for the out. 

Commenting on their first game of the season, Coach Adams shared, “I am super proud of both varsity and jv teams.  Both had shutouts and run rules.  Liddia pitched amazing- almost a no hitter.  We struggled to hit against the slower pitching but still got it done.”  She continued, “We have a strong team this year. I’m grateful for all the parents that have put so much time into their daughter’s softball careers.  It helps us a ton when they get to this level.”

The Lady Dragons were unable to play their scheduled game in Marsh Valley due to weather over the weekend.  They next are set to play on Wednesday, March 19 as the host the Sugar/Salem Diggers.

Malad vs Snake River

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H

Snake River  0 0 0 0 - - - 0 1

Malad  5 2 4 4 - - - 15 7

Lineup AB R H RBI BB

Teagan Daniels 2 3 0 1 2

Bostyn Combs 4 2 2 0 0

Riglee Peterson 1 1 1 2 1

Logan Maroney 1 0 0 1 1

Hadley Summers 3 1 1 0 0

Liddia Gonzalez 1 2 0 0 1

Tylee Venable 3 2 1 2 0

Brylee Oglesbee 2 2 2 2 0

Marin Brown 2 1 0 0 1

TEAM TOTALS 19 15 7 8 6

Pitching IP H R BB SO

Liddia Gonzalez 4 1 0 2 11