By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Chester High School senior, Brenden Malley, has made a decision to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level next fall when he begins his post-secondary education at Morton College in Cicero, Illinois near Chicago.
Malley is the son of Ty and Nikki Malley of Chester.
He has a big sister, Kerringtyn, who is thriving as freshman this year at the Savanna College of Art and Design in Georgia.
Brendan with his grandparents.
Brenden Malley is joined by his girlfriend Camdyn Quillman at his signing event at which he committed to play baseball at the collegiate level next year at Morton College near Chicago. Jim Beers Photo
At Chester High School, Brenden was active in a variety of organizations. He was a member of the Student Council and served as President his junior year. This year as a senior, he was the Extra-Curricular Chairman of the Council.
Several of Brenden Malley’s past and present coaches were on hand at his signing event to show support for his decision to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level next year at Morton College. Present were Ty Malley, his father, who coached him in T-Ball; Jim Simpson who coached his travel team; Brett Klindworth who was an assistant coach at CHS; Bryce Bainter who is a current baseball coach at CHS; Chris Naeger who coached him in T-Ball; and Jarrod Peters who is his present CHS Head Coach. Jim Beers Photo
He was active in the “HIVE” Pep Club all four years at CHS and joined the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) his last three years. Malley also was a member of the Future Farmers of America as a sophomore, junior, and senior. This year, as a senior, He was a member of the Sting Student Newspaper.
Malley was very active in sports at CHS throughout his high school career at CHS. He played football his freshman, sophomore, and senior years. His junior year he was a member of the golf team. He was a basketball athlete his freshman, junior and senior years. Baseball was his constant sport having played all four years on the YellowJacket Baseball Team
Brenden Malley poses for a picture with Chester High School Administrators at his signing ceremony to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level next year at Morton College. With Malley are Jeremy Blechle, CHS Principal; Robin Barton, Assistant Principal; and Jenny Cartwright, Athletic Director. Jim Beers Photo
Brenden’s senior year he really stepped out of his comfort zone and took one of the major roles in the school musical, “The Addams Family” as Lurch, the butler. He did a great job and got great kudos in his first year in acting.
Malley is a good student and appeared on the CHS Honor Roll all four years. He earned many honors in sports his junior year. He helped win a varsity Cahokia Conference Golf Championship. In basketball, Malley won the Teammate of the Year Award, as well as the Most Rebounds Award.
Many of Brenden Malley’s friends and current baseball teammates showed up to support and congratulate him at his signing event to play baseball next year at Morton College. Jim Beers Photo
Baseball was his “bread-and-butter sport, however. He was selected to the Southern Illinois Baseball Coaches Association All Star Team his junior season. He is performing well this year as a senior. In football, Malley helped his YellowJacket Football Team with a Cahokia Conference Illinois Division Championship this school year. He also was named to the 2024 Cahokia Conference Illinois Division All-Conference Offensive Team. Finally, he earned an Illinois Coaches Association All State Academic Team Award I 2024.
In the community, Brenden has helped with landscaping as a volunteer at his school (CHS). He was a Chester Grade School Assistant Baseball Coach his junior year. He also volunteered at a “Little Stinger” football camp his junior year. All four years at Chester High School, Malley volunteered with the Citywide Halloween activities. All three years that he was on the CHS Football Team he was a volunteer shopper with the Christmas Gift Program.
Besides being a good student at CHS academically, Malley has earned college credit as a Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) Dual Credit Enrollment Program participant. He took three classes as a high school student which gave his a “jump” on college credit. His three classes included Intro to Tech Mathmatics; Rhetoric & Composition; and Fitness and Wellness.
He looks forward to studying at Morton College which is very close to the City of Chicago. Morton is a Division II JUCO School. Brenden plans to study chiropractic, and hopes to eventually earn a doctorate in that field of study.