It felt like another championship was a foregone conclusion. But, when Malcolm went to Imperial to defend its American Legion Class C Juniors state title, the real question was how dominant Malcolm would be. The answer: very dominant.
In fact, Palmer-Wolbach-Greeley was the only team to force Malcolm into a complete seven inning game. After a tag play at the plate ended an 8-3 title bout on July 19, a dogpile ensued as Malcolm claimed back-to-back state championships for the first time in program history.
In five games, Malcolm outscored its opponents 59-11, with the first four games shortened by the mercy rule. With a limit of 105 pitches per day per pitcher and day of rest rules based on pitches thrown, keeping the games short created a big advantage for the Malcolm pitching rotation.
“I think we’ll look back and laugh at the amount of time we spent on strategizing a game plan with our pitchers,” Malcolm coach Tanner Soderberg said. “Our ability to jump out and build early leads really saved our pitching and threw all that strategizing out the window.”
The early leads were built by the hot hitting of players like Logan McGreer who hit .563 from his leadoff spot in the order. In the tournament, McGreer hit two doubles, a triple and a home run while driving in five runs and swiping seven bases.
Carson Frank led the team with 10 hits in the tournament while driving in six runs. Brixon Meyer had five doubles and led the team with eight RBIs.
“When I came up, the guys in front of me always found a way to get in scoring position,” Meyer said. “My bat came alive at just the right time.”
With a team earned run average of 1.21, the seven members of the Malcolm pitching stuff proved to be a tough match for opponents. Mason Wisnieski appeared in three of the five games, pitching 12.1 innings. He fanned 16 batters while allowing just one earned run. Wisnieski went the distance in the championship game.
“My approach was to fill the strike zone up and make them hit the ball,” Wisnieski said about his championship game appearance. “I had confidence that our defense would make plays. I changed speeds quite a bit with some off speed pitches to keep them guessing but, more importantly, I just relied on my wonderful defense.”
Also appearing in three games, Meyer tossed 10 total innings, including a six-inning complete game win over Crofton on July 18. Meyer struck out 13 in the tournament while also allowing one earned run.
Perhaps, even more important than another state championship plaque coming back to Malcolm is the impression the ball players made on a southwest Nebraska community that worked hard to put on a great event.
After an unfortunate bed bug issue forced the closure of Imperial’s primary motel, the players and their families were relocated to area cabins, campers and local residences.
“We got scattered all over the area,” Malcolm assistant coach Shawn Meyer said. “We had to set up office in the golf course club house in order to get wifi.
“They guys made friends everywhere they went, whether it was the golf course, the bowling alley or around someone’s dining room table.”
Prior to one game, with a storm cell in the area delaying its start, the Malcolm players hurried to assist tournament officials to cover the mound and home plate areas with tarps. The opposing team observed from its dugout.
“Malcolm was the talk of the town,” Soderberg said. “They picked up trash after games and helped wherever they could. You’d have to try really hard to not be a fan of our guys.”
The Malcolm juniors finished the 2023 campaign with a 26-2 record. Now, players like Wisnieski, McGreer, Meyer, Frank, Garrett England, Noah Gonyea, Chase Smith and Owin Little will join the Malcolm seniors and try for one more state championship this summer.
“With the winning baseball culture in Malcolm and our love for the game, the eight of us that play on both teams will be ready for the challenge,” Brixon Meyer said.
“Every day is a great day that you get to play baseball and have fun getting better with your friends,” Wisnieski said. “It never really gets old.”
