Zach Malis first to sign with a D-I program from Desert Christian

November 18, 2014 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


Desert Christian baseball standout Zach Malis signs with Grand Canyon.
His coach Grant Hopkins is to his right while his parents watch proudly.
(Andy Morales/AIA365.com)

Zach Malis became the first athlete from Desert Christian to sign with an NCAA Division I program on Tuesday morning. The baseball standout signed with Grand Canyon and he is also the reigning Southern Arizona "Small School" Baseball Player of the Year thanks to both his bat and his pitching arm.

Malis batted .636 and had 55 RBIs to go along with his 11-1 record from the mound to help lead Desert Christian to the Division IV state championship last year. The team also won it all in 2013.

"I've coached Zach since he was about six in Little League," said head coach Grant Hopkins. "We had a great group and Zach was one of them. Now, with our new field, championships and him signing with a D-I program I hope to get a few more kids here."

With less than 200 high school kids, Desert Christian has done well to field a competitive team and Hopkins looks to keep it going although his success might force a move upward to a higher division when the AIA releases new alignments.

But, even so, the success of players such as Malis proves players will get recognition at a small school if an effort is put in and Malis has put in a lot of effort. Hopkins is petitioning the AIA to recognize four state records held by Malis and some of those records might be out of reach by the time he finishes his senior year.

"This means a lot to me," said Malis. "It is also great for Desert Christian. I hope it starts a trend for others to follow. It shows how far we have come as a school academically and athletically."

Zach comes from a gifted athletic family beginning with his grandfather Dick Bartsch who retired from the University of Arizona athletic department in 2007 after 33 years of service including his position of associate director.

His aunt Laura played volleyball at Arizona as did his mother Michelle. His father A.J. Malis is a former assistant volleyball coach at Arizona along with stints at Salpointe, Catalina Foothills and Sabino. Michelle was an All-American before moving on the be an assistant at Cal-Bakersfield. She also coached at Palo Verde and Sabino.

His younger brother Ethan is a baseball and soccer standout at Desert Christian.

The National Letter of Intent signing period for all sports besides football and soccer began at 7 am on Nov. 12 and ends on Wednesday, Nov. 19.