STATE 3A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT: Kellogg drops opener in nine

SPIRIT LAKE — In their first state appearance since 2022, the sixth-seeded Kellogg Wildcats dropped a heartbreaker, falling 3-2 to the third-seeded Malad Dragons in the first round of the state 3A softball tournament at Timberlake High. 

Kellogg took a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth when Malena Munoz singled ghost runner Joci Lee to third, and Lee scored on Ella Kunze’s sacrifice fly. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Stella Merja tripled down the right-field line to drive in a run and tie the game for Malad, then scored the game-winning run on Sarah Toone’s sacrifice fly. 

Kellogg (16-5) will play seventh seed North Fremont (19-7) today at 9 a.m. at Timberlake in the losers bracket.

Malad (22-4) will meet No. 2 Parma (22-3) today at 11:15 a.m. 

Kellogg tied it at 1-1 in the sixth when Kamryn McDonald doubled and reached on an error. 

Lee struck out nine, walked one and allowed four hits for Kellogg. 

Kellogg     000    001    001    —    2    5    0 

Malad     000    010    002    —    3    4    1 

1 out when winning run scored. 

Joci Lee and Kamryn McDonald; Liddia Gonzalez, Sarah Toone (5) and Logan Maroney. 

HITS: Kell — McDonald 2, Munoz, E. Kunze, Miller. Mal — Merja, Toone 2, Bingham. 2B — McDonald, Toone. 3B — Merja.