Dubuque Wahlert walks off with state baseball quarterfinal victory over Marion

DES MOINES — The seventh inning was a roller coaster of emotion for Marion and Dubuque Wahlert.

Each enduring the highs and lows of the ride.

Unfortunately for the Indians, their state tournament trip came to an end sooner than they wanted.

Dubuque Wahlert's Joey Callahan hit a bouncer over third to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh and give the fourth-seeded Golden Eagles a 5-4 victory in the Class 3A state baseball quarterfinals Tuesday at Principal Park.

Callahan's walk-off hit capped a two-run inning after Marion took a 4-3 lead in the top half of the inning. It ended Marion's record-setting season with a 31-11 mark.

'It was incredible,' Marion Coach Steve Fish said. 'It went back and forth.

'It was up and down the whole game.'

Momentum seemed to be on the Indians' side for in the seventh when they started to hit Wahlert ace Austin Savary, who came in to relieve Alex Timp in the fifth.

Nick Cole sparked Marion with a leadoff single. He moved to third when an errant pickoff throw from the catcher sailed into right field. Maverick Miller delivered a one-out single, setting up Baylor Fish with runners on first and third.

Fish, the youngest of the coach's four siblings, lifted a fly ball to right field deep enough to score pinch-runner Austin Prier for the lead. One many thought would hold.

'I was just trying to put it in play and help the team,' said Baylor Fish, who played most of the season with a torn meniscus and is set to have surgery next week. 'I thought it would be enough.'

The elder Fish said his son knows situations better than he does after 30 years and a Hall of Fame coaching career. Baylor simplified his approach at the plate and was the perfect person to provide what was needed.

'He always put the team in front of himself,' Steve Fish said. 'I know he understands the game. He knows what to do. I'm proud of him.'

Wahlert (27-15) rallied with a leadoff double by Jimmy McDermott and Savary, who finished 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.

Marion's Blair Brooks denied him of a hit that could have tied it sooner and put Savary in scoring position. Brooks raced back, laid out and made a diving grab at the warning track in left. McDermott tagged to third, but Brooks charged the Indians again.

After a walk and an infield single that dribbled perfectly between the first and second basemen, reliever Rick Atkins forced a grounder to second. In an attempt for an inning-ending double play, the exchange was dropped at second base and McDermott scored to tie it.

Callahan came up and secured Wahlert's first win at the summer state tournament.

'It was a classic. You can't point your finger at one play,' Steve Fish said. 'It's tough to be on the losing end of things.'

Steve Fish has coached all four children during his Marion career. He coached his son, B.J., in the 2006 tournament. Byron Fish was a member of the 2011 team that made the state semifinals. Baylor was the bat boy for both of those teams and Steve was emotional about his last game as the starting shortstop.

'I've been able to share my passion with my kids,' said Steve Fish, who coached his daughter, Brittany, in basketball. 'It's hard to see it come to an end, kind of.'

The Indians were in control for most of the game, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Mitch Wiese smacked a two-run double down the left-field line that chased home Maverick Miller and Parker Ridge, who both singled.

'We had a really good batting practice,' Wiese said. 'I was looking for a curveball. That's what I got.'

After seven hits in the first four innings, the bats stalled. Savary, who was expected to start, retired the first six batters he faced. He earned the win and improved to 12-2.

'He had good poise,' Steve Fish said. 'We struggled with him (until the seventh). He's a good player.'

Ridge helped add to the lead in the third. He opened with his second base hit and scored on Trevor Paulsen's double for a 3-0 edge. Ridge, Miller and Cole led Marion with two hits apiece.

Marion made its first state appearance since 2011 and set a record for wins in a season. Ridge praised the support fans and the community gave the team at state and along the road to get here.

'I've been playing varsity since freshman year,' Ridge said. 'This has been the most fun I've had.'

The Indians had state title aspirations from the first meeting, refusing to settle for conference titles and just qualifying. The goal was to win a championship, so the loss is disappointing. Steve Fish said time should soothe the sting.

'I'm so proud of this group of seniors,' Steve Fish said. 'They accepted every challenge. We weren't one guy. We were a true team. We had a bunch of baseball players.'

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