Dragons Show(ell) out, knock off top-seed Orofino to open 3A state tourney; Bonneville advances in 5A

NAMPA — In a tournament setting, so often, success is not necessarily a question of which team is best, but which team is playing their best at the right time.

The Malad Dragons might just serve as Exhibit A in that adage.

Malad and head coach Jeff Snow are well aware of the proverbial word around the water cooler — that they “snuck” into the tournament. But, as Snow said Thursday after his squad toppled the No. 1-seeded Orofino Maniacs at Rodeo Park in Nampa, nothing about what they have done is lucky, or sneaky.

Last week, the No. 5-seed Dragons eliminated the No. 4-seed Grangeville Bulldogs, beating them twice by scores of 10-5 and 10-0, to earn a berth in this week’s State Championship.

This is not a team that is “sneaking” or “squeaking” past teams, Snow said, but one that is hitting its stride at the right time.

“We’ve peaked,” the coach said. “Our goal was to peak at the district tournament. We didn’t. But we did last week at the regional tournament. … We peaked at the right time. That’s what this is, is good timing — and our kids have put in a ton of work.”

The Dragons got started quick, though it did not look like they would.

With two down in the top of the first, senior shortstop Carter Blaisdell started a two-out rally with a single through the left side. Catcher Carter Carey poked a single through the same spot on the very next pitch.

Then, with two down and two on, third baseman Brady Showell clubbed a two-run double deep into the gap in left-center.

Normally, the quick 2-0 lead would have been enough for starter Brycen Howe. But against the tourney favorites, and an offense Snow called a “very, very good hitting team one-through-six,” Howe was unable to hold the lead.

The Maniacs got a two-run single from starting pitcher and cleanup hitter Aiden Olive to take a 3-2 lead in the second.

In the fourth, Orofino got another rally cooking against the big right-hander.

Snow made the tough call to pull his ace with one out and a pair of runners — on courtesy of a walk and a hit by pitch — trailing 3-2 in the fourth.

Snow went to his second ace, Showell. And the guy who had already been the offensive star of the early innings, escaped the jam on a strikeout and groundout.

Showell, according to Snow, has not shown the consistency his team expected through his senior campaign. He has been very good at times, the coach continued, but has battled through struggles at others.

Thursday would prove to be one of those good times, as he came up with another big hit in the fifth — a game-tying single.

Returning to the mound for the bottom of the fifth, suddenly in a tied game, Showell pitched around an error to keep things knotted at 3-3.

“He was cooking,” Snow said of Showell, who featured an especially effective breaking ball. … “He came in and dominated.”

Olive began showing signs of fatigue in the fifth, issuing his second and third walks of the evening. The Orofino starter handed out another free pass in the sixth, then allowed the go-ahead run to score on a wild pitch.

But, like an ace, the senior battled through the sixth, limiting the damage to the one run.

Olive could not pull the same disappearing act in the seventh, though.

Carey triggered an insurance-run rally with a triple to lead off the frame, and scored on a passed ball by catcher Reese Merry.

Then, Olive walked Showell, who decided that pitching and knocking in runs just wasn’t enough. Showell stole second and third base, then scored on another wild pitch — this one from reliever Tyler Zumpe.

Leading 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh, things got a little weird for Malad.

Showell surrendered his first hit with two down. Then, he was tagged with another base hit. And behind in the count, 2-1, to Olive, Snow pulled Showell for Blaisdell, who walked Olive to load the bases before coaxing a flyout from Ethan Gilmore to end the game.

Snow said after the game that the decision to pull Showell was “purely a pitch count thing.”

“That is not a comfortable place that a coach wants to be in,” he said.

Showell’s 60th pitch of the night was ball two to Olive. Had he thrown a 61st pitch, he would not be eligible to pitch again this weekend. So, Snow made the tough call to ask for one out from Blaisdell.

“It worked out as planned — sort of,” Snow joked. “Now here we are. … We’re in a good spot.”

Due to his struggles, Howe was pulled before he reached 60 on the pitch count — retiring for the night at 59 throws. That means both Malad’s aces will be available to pitch Saturday.

“Now, we’ve got our two studs ready to go Saturday,” Snow said. “I’ll take our chances, right now.”

Showell finished his 3-1/3 scoreless innings of work with five strikeouts to go with one walk and two hits. At the dish, he drove in three runs and scored another.

The Dragons will face Nampa Christian, Friday night, at Rodeo Park. The winner will advance to the championship round, while the loser will face the winner of a Friday afternoon matchup between Orofino and Marsing.

Bonneville bests Skyview

The top-seeded Bonneville Bees opened their run at the 5A banner with a 4-2 victory over Skyview, at Wolfe Field in Caldwell.

Bonneville was led by junior Jackson Ropp, who pitched 5 hitless, scoreless innings in relief, striking out six. He entered the fray with the Bees trailing 2-0, replacing starter Coltan Spagnuolo.

The Bees will face Twin Falls, Friday night at Wolfe Field, for the immediate berth into the championship round.