HARTINGTON - For the first time ever in the American Legion Class C Jr league, there is a three-peat champion.

The squad from Malcolm Post 354 keeps the trophy in town after cruising through the Winner's Bracket in the American Legion Class C Jr Tournament in Hartington and finished the job on Wednesday evening against the hometown hosts, Hartington Post 4.

Hartington Post 4 lost the opening game of the tournament, but rallied back in the Loser's Bracket to face off against the two-time defending champs. They would need to win two games against Malcolm to become state champions for the first time,

Both teams unleashed their aces and saw strong performances from Hartington's Koby Detlofsen and Malcolm's Carson Frank.

The game was scoreless through two innings, but Malcolm crossed home first, after Nolan Duzik singled and later scored on a pass ball.

Carson Frank went through 4 and 1/3 innings before allowing a baserunner. That was until Hartington's Grady Haberer singled on a shallow knock to left-center field. Haberer ended up scoring in the inning after Sam Wiebelhaus drove in a hit, mixed in with a fielding error by Malcolm.

The contest stayed tied at 1-1 after 7 innings of championship baseball, but both starting pitchers remained on the bump.

Malcolm broke through in the top of the 8th, regardless of two quick outs. Brixon Meyer worked a walk, then stole second, allowing the single from Carson Frank to score the go-ahead run.

Frank also came around to score on a Hartington error.

Carson Frank returned to the mound in the bottom of the 8th and shut down the Hartington bats in order to cap off another exciting season with Malcolm's third straight title in the American Legion Class C Jr league.

Frank was the winning pitcher for Malcolm Post 354, striking out 12 batters on 87 pitches and a complete game, and then some. Frank also scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 8th inning.

Koby Detlofsen pitched a beauty, going all 8 innings with 107 pitches and 3 strikeouts, but picked up a tough loss to end the season for Hartington Post 4.