Malden baseball team beats NMCC 3-0 in Class 3, District 1 championship

MALDEN, Mo. -- There was no playoff magic this time around.

After back-to-back final four appearances New Madrid County Central highlighted by come-from-behind wins the Eagles saw their season come to a close in the Class 3, District 1 championship game.

Facing Malden in the title game for the third straight year on Friday, NMCC saw defensive struggles and a gem of game by Green Wave pitcher Toby Miller result in a 3-0 season-ending loss.

PHOTO BY BRENT SHIPMAN - SEMO News Service Malden's Toby Miller delivers a pitch against New Madrid County Central in the Class 3, District 1 championship game on Friday.

"We just didn't play very good defense," NMCC head coach Joseph McClarty said. "Hats off to Toby as well. He did a great job on the mound. Him and catcher Parker McCormick seemed to really carry them. That's two seniors there that have been here for three years as well.

"They have a lot of experienced on their side. We didn't field it well enough and didn't swing it well enough."

Friday's meeting had a similar feel to the previous two title game meetings with Malden coming in as the top seed and hosting the tournament.

Each of the past two years the Eagles have played the underdog role perfectly, however, and upset the Green Wave for third and fourth place finishes in the state tournament respectively.

As you expect in a championship game, both aces lived up to their billing as Miller and NMCC counterpart, sophomore Palmer Campbell, gave their team every opportunity to win.

The deciding factor was ill-time defensive breakdowns by NMCC, who committed five errors to Malden's one. Those fielding problems compounded by aggressive Green Wave base-runners led to all three runs.

Palmer's only, questionably, earned run came in the bottom of the second to give Malden the lead. With two outs and a runner on third, Brandon Stanley hit a routine ground ball to the second baseman.

A leisurely throw to first base wasn't in time to end the inning as a hustling Stanley, who stole third earlier in the inning, was safe at the bag while McCormick scored form third.

Malden doubled its lead in the next frame when Shaeen Perkins reached on a walk before taking second on a passed ball.

On a ground out to the second baseman Perkins looked to have been to greedy when the Eagles made the out at first before catching him in rundown off third base.

Before the out could be recorded a throw to the catcher, Garrison Keene, was over his head and Perkins scored easily to make it 2-0.

"Gusty," Miller said of his team's base running. "But sometimes it doesn't take a bit hit."

Another pickoff throw at third base in sixth was overthrown into the outfield, allowing McCormick to score again and make up the 3-0 final.

Malden will host Scott City Monday at 4:30 p.m. in a Class 3 sectional.

Top-seeded Scott City beat second-seeded Kelly 8-3 in its district championship Friday.

No. 1 Malden 3, No. 2 NMCC 0

NMC 000 000 0 - 0 4 5

MHS 011 001 x - 3 5 1

WP -- Toby Miller. LP -- Palmer Campbell. Multiple hitters: (N) Drew Pikey 2-3; (M) Shaeen Perkins 2-2, Parker McCormick2-3. 2B -- (N) Kiel Cuasey.