Nampa Christian lost eight senior starters last year from a team that lost only two games in all of 2021 and ‘22, seasons that ended in 2A state championships.
No matter. The Trojans just reloaded and rolled along this season, reaching the title game in pursuit of a threepeat.
But standing in the way Saturday in Orofino was Malad, which used a two-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Trojans 4-3 and deny them a third straight title.
Ryan Jensen delivered the winning runs for the Dragons with a two-run single to center field. Nampa Christian (20-7) got the potential tying run on base in the top of the seventh, but Dylan O’Brien was thrown out trying to steal third, ending any rally.
The game was tight the whole way, with only five total hits between the teams. Landon Mills took the loss for the Trojans despite allowing just one hit over 5 1/3 innings. He struggled with his control, walking seven.
Mills drove in one of Nampa Christian’s runs, with Jack Ihli and Brayden Schaefer delivering the other RBIs.
Stetson Higley started for Malad (14-6) and struck out 10 over 5-plus innings. Cambree Howe got the final four outs, not allowing a hit while striking out two.
4A: Pocatello 14, Skyview 4
Skyview used six pitchers Saturday in the 4A state championship game at College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls trying to stop the Thunder’s offense.
Pocatello (20-2) cranked out 15 hits and blew open a 1-1 game with a six-run fourth inning. The Thunder followed that with a four-run fifth and scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to end the game with the 10-run rule.
Caden Tucker had two hits and drove in two runs for the Hawks (24-5), Grady Daniels had two hits and an RBI, and Mason Krahn scored two runs.
Originally published