Reign of fire continues as Dragons torch Hornets in district championship
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MALAD CITY — For 13 years, the Malad Dragons have owned their district, winning a district title each of those seasons. What that means is, this year’s seniors, including star Riglee Peterson, were in preschool the last time someone other than Malad was the district champ.
“Oh my gosh,” Peterson said upon hearing it explained that way. “Yeah, I never registered it that way. That’s insane.”
Peterson is not alone in her inability to fully comprehend the gravity of that run, according to head coach Bri Adams, who believes all nine seniors are equally unaware of the historical significance the run they are now a part of, has been.
“They’re just out here — they want to win, and make everyone in Malad proud,” Adams said. “Malad’s love and passion is baseball and softball, so, I think, they do it not just for themselves but for the town, too.”
Malad earned No. 13 of that streak Wednesday, with a 12-2 mercy-rule victory over the Declo Hornets in the 3A District 4-5 tournament. And as it has been so many times over the past four years, it was Peterson who led the way for the Dragons.
Starting the game in the pitcher’s circle and as Malad’s leadoff hitter, Peterson pushed her team out ahead early. She followed a scoreless top of the first by knocking the first pitch she saw in the bottom half over the fence in center field for a home run and 1-0 lead.
It isn’t the first time she has done that this month, Adams said.
On May 1, when the Dragons opened their new field for senior night, Peterson was perfect, retiring all 15 batters Soda Springs sent to the plate, while also homering twice.
“Riglee threw a perfect game,” the coach said, explaining how that game may be the one singular moment she recalls first years from now when remembering this team and season. “And she was the first batter and hit the first pitch of the game out of the park. She hit another one, and we had two more girls hit home runs as well, so we had four home runs that game — our first on the new field. That was probably the coolest moment of the season.”
Peterson said that game will also slide to the front of her memory rolodex years from now. But for her, it will be for a different reason.
“I think it’s more about the feeling I felt. Being with my team and the good feeling of opening a brand new field,” she said, adding how that day marked the team’s move from the ratty dirt track at Malad Elementary to the brand new baseball-softball complex at the high school.
“It’s so good,” she said, giddy, when talking about the new field. “We’ve got a dugout.”
Peterson is a three-time state 2A MVP and a frontrunner to be named the 3A MVP this season.
After another scoreless frame in the top of the second, she ignited another Malad rally in the bottom, launching a double off the fence near the same spot where her first-inning homer landed.
She scored a second run as Malad followed a five-run first with a two-run second, taking advantage of five Declo errors between the first two innings.
Adams sent fellow senior Marinn Brown out to bat for Peterson in the third, not considering the fact that Peterson’s spot in the order may never see another trip to the plate.
“My thought process was, to prepare for state, and see who we had on our bench that can step up and hit the ball,” Adams said, expressing some regret that her team was not able to squeeze one final at-bat out of its star.
Peterson said she did feel some sadness when the bottom of the fourth ended with her in the on-deck circle, but fully understands the decision to prepare for something much bigger.
“It’s my last time on my team’s field … but it’s part of the game,” she said. “It’s what (Adams) thought was best, and I’m glad that my teammate got on the field and got to play in this last game on the field, too.”
Declo pieced together just one rally against Peterson, scoring two runs on three hits in the fourth.
The Hornets did, however, do a good job of putting the ball in play against the right-hander. Peterson struck out just four in her 5 innings of work, relying heavily on a defense that has been the focal point all season.
“Our defense is seasoned. We have girls who have been out there for four years,” Adams said of her defense, which was among the keys to Malad’s victory Wednesday.
While both teams were able to put the ball in play early and often, the Dragons finished the game with a clean defensive slate, while Declo was charged with six errors.
“I think, that’s part of the reason they’re so successful,” Adams said. “The defense is from the ground up and they just execute very well.”
Declo was led by first baseman Teagan Wickel, who went 2-for-2 with a single, double and run scored.
Six different Dragons were credited with at least one RBI, including Hadlee Summers, who went 3-for-3 with three singles, one RBI and three runs scored, and Bostyn Combs, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base.
After falling in the state championship round, to Cole Valley Christian, last year, Malad is on a bit of a revenge tour, and Adams believes the team has some fire in their eyes.
“I honestly think, they have a fire lit in them already,” she said. “They just have to want it, and they have to remember the basics, and remember that they are a good team. … If they remember who they are and where they’re from, they can do it.”
She referred to this year’s squad as a “whole team of stars” that is “solid” from “top to bottom.”
“We have some depth, and I feel like that is going to give us an edge this year at state,” she added.
Peterson agrees that her team is capable of running the table and returning to the mountain top, but said it is important to remember that every team can be beat — including them.
“We need to go out with a bang, and we will.”
State play-in games are scheduled for May 10, with seeding announcements to come after the final spots are decided.
Other district tourney action
5A
The Pocatello Thunder beat the Century Diamondbacks, 2-1, Thursday to earn a 2-0 sweep in the 5A D5 tournament championship. They must now earn a spot in the state tournament by winning a play-in game.
6A
The Highland Rams await the winner of a win-or-go-home game between Thunder Ridge and Madison, Thursday afternoon. The 6A D4-5-6 championship round will begin immediately following the Titans-Bobcats game, at Thunder Ridge High School.
Highland must fall twice to be eliminated. If necessary, a winner-take-all game will be played — also on Thursday.
The runners-up in the district tournament will earn a spot in the play-in round.
4A
Preston and Marsh Valley will play Thursday, at Preston High School, for the 4A D5 championship. Because they are thus far undefeated in the tourney, the Eagles must beat Preston twice in order to claim the district tile.
Both teams have already secured a spot in the state tournament.