As March begins, there aren’t many that aren’t hoping for the cold days of winter to be behind us and the sunny warm days of spring to take their place.  But none are more hopeful than the athletes and coaches of the spring sports season.  With softball, baseball, and track practices in full swing with games and meets in the near future the spring season is here whether Mother Nature agrees or not.  

Thankfully, the weather has cooperated enough for the various teams to take their training outside.  The fresh spring air and warm sunshine have only energized the athletes, bringing an excited anticipation for their upcoming games.

Lady Dragon Softball

The Lady Dragon Softball team is chomping at the bit to get their season underway.  Head Coach Bri Adams said, “Ending last year with the silver when they had been working for the gold has left them hungry. They have been pushing themselves harder at practice this year and I can see it in their eyes- they want it this year. They aren’t leaving any T’s uncrossed or i’s undotted.”

Coach Adams and her team are taking a very intentional and focused approach as they begin this season.  From putting a large emphasis on fundamentals, setting a strong foundation to their play that will be helpful at every level of the game, to instituting new throwing routines, the MHS softball team is looking to make the adjustments that will bring the improvements they need to play at a high level.

Aside from their play on the field, the Lady Dragons are also focusing on building connections and relationships among their team.  “We have a big group of seniors and a huge group of freshmen and a few in between.  We’ve been doing things at practice to bridge the gap and the girls have been running with it. They have been so amazing to be willing to get to know each other.  Our upperclassmen have stepped up as leaders and it has been truly awesome to see as a coach.”

Looking ahead at their schedule this spring, the Lady Dragons are taking on a number of  new teams.  “Our schedule is tough this year,” said Coach Adams.  She continued, “We scheduled mostly bigger schools. Sugar Salem and Bonneville are new schools in addition to playing bigger schools from Logan and Snake River.  They will all be good competition for us.”

Taking on more competitive teams will only help the softball team as they set big goals this season.  Hitting against better pitchers, seeing more strategic runners, and playing longer, more physically and mentally taxing games will make them into a stronger team.

The Lady Dragon will play their first game on their home turf as they host the Snake River Panthers on Wednesday, March 12 at 4pm.

Dragon Baseball

It’s nearly time for the long awaited “Play Ball” roar to announce the beginning of the 2025 Dragon baseball season.  With a new season comes plenty of “new” to a team, and this year is no different for the MHS team.  At the top of their list of new things is a new coaching staff, led by Head Coach Jeff Snow, assisted by Ty Price, Chad Maroney, and Tyrell Hubbard.

With a new coaching line up come multiple changes in style, philosophy, training, and strategy.  But whatever “new” the team experiences, the Dragons are ready to bring their game when they take the field.   

The MHS baseball team will be competing against several new teams this season, taking on teams from Century, Box Elder, Bear River and Clearfield in addition to several local teams.  These teams will provide a different challenge for the Dragon team in many aspects.  First, most of these teams and programs are larger which makes them much more competitive and will push Malad to step up their own game.  Secondly, a number of these teams have warmer conditions that allows them to get out on the field earlier than the Dragons.  Keeping up with their early season experience could be demanding, in a good way, for Malads’ teams.

First on their list to compete against are the Panthers at Snake River High School on Wednesday, March 12.

Both the MHS softball and baseball teams are looking forward to the new facilities this season.  While the fields won’t be ready for their opening games, they are hoping and anticipating that they will take the new diamonds mid-April.  Coach Adams shared, “We are crossing our fingers and toes that it will happen sooner than later.”

The new ball fields, located across from Malad High School, are a highly anticipated and long awaited upgrade.  They will provide better seating, parking, concessions, and an all around better experience for the teams and fans.  On days that feature home games by both teams, fans can easily move back and forth to support all their favorite Dragon athletes instead of having to choose between the two.

MHS Track & Field

The Malad track is abuzz once again as the MHS track team has begun practices for their new season.  Patiently waiting for a little sunshine and warm weather, the athletes let out a cheer as they took their first laps of the season around the track.

Taking over the coaching helm of the Malad track and field team is Head Coach Caleb Williams.  Coach Williams, already serving among the track staff, stepped into the role after Coach Crozier left Malad for a new teaching and coaching opportunity.  Looking at his staff and team, Coach Williams shared, “We are going to have a great season this year.  I think we will see great individual and team wins this year.”

Over 50 athletes have joined the team to begin this season but Coach Williams shared, “I’m still working to recruit a few more.”  The team includes handfuls of seasoned tracksters as well as new athletes that are willing to give it a try.  The coaches are excited to see the talent before them, even wishing for some athletes they could turn back the calendar and draft them to the team seasons earlier.

Only into their second week of practice, the MHS track team is first focusing on strength, endurance, and agility before zooming in on the distinct demands of each event.  Getting a benchmark and an understanding of the individual talent will help both the coaches and athletes know what events they should be competing in.

Malad will compete on their own track for their first meet of the season as they hold the Malad Invitational meet on Thursday, March 20 beginning at 10 am.

Rain or shine, snow or not, the spring Dragon athletes are ready to take on another season.  It may only be the beginning, but the energy of the 2025 spring season is sure to be promising for the MHS teams.