Malden baseball team outlasts Strafford 9-8 to claim first state title

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
The Malden high school baseball team celebrates its first state title in school history after beating Strafford 9-8 in the Class 3 state championship Wednesday afternoon at CarShield Field in O’Fallon, Missouri. Malden finishes its season with a record of 26-5.

O’FALLON, Mo. - Malden senior slugger Dee Triplett never lost hope when the Strafford Indians scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 6-4 lead in the Class 3 state championship Wednesday afternoon.

“The way we have been hitting the ball I knew we would score again and get back in the game,” Triplett said. “We’ve just kept hitting and battling all season when we get behind.”

The Green Wave didn't have to play from behind very long.

After surrendering four runs in the top of the fifth frame Malden responded with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to move back ahead 9-6 and hung on to edge Strafford 9-8 in the Class 3 baseball state championship at CarShield Field in O’Fallon, Missouri.

“It was an emotional roller coaster,” Malden coach Tim Harmon said. “It was a great ball game and we tip our hats to Strafford. Both teams had a chance and never quit. Momentum swung both ways and we were just fortunate to come out ahead in the end. We made a few more plays than they did and hit the ball just a little bit better.”

The see-saw battle turned into a nail-biter after Hunter Langston hit a two-run home run off of Malden reliever Mason Brown with two outs in the top of the sixth inning to trim Malden’s lead to 9-8.

“Last year he would have folded after that home run,” Harmon said of the moment. “This year he has become a pitcher for us. When you give up a home run you have to put it out of your mind and focus on the next guy. He’s come into his own on the mound and he stayed calm out there today in a one-run game.”

Brown escaped the sixth inning without additional damage and returned to the hill attempting to protect a 9-8 lead in the top of the seventh inning. Brown got the first hitter he faced in the seventh, Bryce Boswell, to pop out. Wyatt Maples then reached on a two-base error before Dillon Hester collected an infield single to put runners at first and second with one out. Brown followed by getting Nicholas Oliver to pop out to first baseman Triplett for the second out and Drew Stoll to fly out to left fielder Drew Blankinship for the final out.

Brown secured Malden’s first state title in school history with a six-out save.

“Even with all the nerves I knew I had to relax and play the game that got us here,” Brown said. “And that’s what we did the last inning and we came out on top. All the hard work the last 12 years has finally paid off.”

Both teams enjoyed multiple leads in the epic battle.

Malden moved ahead 1-0 after Triplett connected for a two-out single and Gavin Bristow followed with an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning.

Strafford took its first lead at 2-1 when Oliver recorded a two-out 2 RBI double in the top of the fourth inning.

Malden moved back ahead 4-2 when Tye Miller drove home two runs with a two-out 2 RBI double and later scored from third base on an infield error in the bottom of the fourth inning.

“I got a waist-level fastball and got the barrel on it and hit it in the gap,” Miller said. “Then I was able to take third and race home.”

Strafford took its final lead at 6-4 when it plated four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Hester had the only RBI hit for the Indians in the frame. Three other runs scored on errant throws in the top of the fifth.

Malden moved back ahead 9-6 when it tallied its final five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Green Wave collected six of its dozen hits in the fifth frame. Brown collected an RBI double, Ethan Bader recorded an RBI single and Blankinship added a 2 RBI single during the rally.

“We just took the momentum back from them,” Blankinship said. “When they got up by two we never got down. We just came back and won the game.”

Both starting pitchers pitched into the fifth inning on the 88 degree afternoon.

“We had to stay collected and understand what we were playing for,” Bristow said. “You can’t play today’s game like any other game or you are going to get beat 90 times out of 100. We had to play this like it was a state championship game and not let little things like the heat throw our game off.”

Miller, who improved to 5-0 with the victory, allowed six runs (four earned), eight hits, struck out two and walked two in a five-inning 102-pitch performance.

Dillon Turner, who dropped to 5-2, pitched into the fifth inning before being relieved by Mason Foley who recorded the final six outs for Strafford. Turner allowed six runs (five earned) seven hits, struck out six and walked two. Foley allowed three unearned runs, five hits, struck out one and walked one.

“It was hot out there and the turf probably made it even hotter,” Harmon said. “Both starting pitchers battled. Our guy had to go deep. I’ve said before, 'Tye Miller is a gamer who gives you all he’s got.’ He made big pitches when he had to today and got it done.”

Triplett finished 3-for-4, Bristow went 3-for-3 and Miller was 2-for-4 at the plate.

“Yesterday I didn’t do as good at the plate when I was pitching,” Triplett said. “But I knew today was the last game of my high school career and I wanted to have a big game. I came out and hit the ball and helped my team win a state championship.”

Strafford committed five errors and Malden made three errors in the state final.

“It was really intense,” Bristow said. “Focus and concentration is what got us through it. We came together and made the plays we had to make. We knew this was going to be a tough game and we came in here with the mindset we were going to win it and not accept anything else but winning gold.”

Malden rallied from behind in four of its six playoff games in 2018.

“We never quit,” Miller said. “We did what we had to do to win every single game and it’s been an amazing experience.”

Malden finishes its season with a record of 26-5. It graduates five seniors - Triplett, Brown, Bader, Dushawn Butler and Ontario Reed.

“We had great chemistry with these guys,” Harmon said. “They really pull for each other and that’s hard sometimes in high school sports. There is no jealousy with this group. These guys all knew their role. We kept the batting order pretty consistent all year with the exception of flipping the two-hole and eight-hole back and forth depending on who was hot. There were no easy outs in our lineup.

“Triplett and Brown still need a place to play,” Harmon added. “I’ve reached out to several college coaches. If you’ve seen them play the last few days you can tell they are players. They have talent and somebody needs to pick them up.”

Harmon expressed thanks to the community and school officials that assisted in the state championship run.

“Our booster club and administration have been big all year,” Harmon said. “We want to be sure and thank them for everything they do for our program.”

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
Malden’s No. 25 Tyler Walker and No. 32 Dee Triplett celebrate beating Strafford 9-8 in the Class 3 state championship Wednesday afternoon at CarShield Field in O’Fallon, Missouri.

Malden 9, Strafford 8

SHS 000 242 0 - 8 12 5

MHS 100 350 X - 9 12 3

WP - Tye Miller. LP - Dillon Turner. SV - Mason Brown. HR - Langston (S). 2B - Dillon Turner (S), Drew Stoll, (S), Miller (M), Dee Triplett (M), Gavin Bristow (M), Brown (M). Multiple hits - Malden: Triplett 3-4, Bristow 3-3, Miller 2-4; Strafford: Langston 2-3, Bryce Boswell 2-4, Dillon Hester 3-4, Stoll 2-4.

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
The Malden high school baseball team with its championship after beating Strafford 9-8 in the Class 3 state championship Wednesday afternoon at CarShield Field in O’Fallon, Missouri. Malden finishes its season with a record of 26-5.