Mount Mercy’s Kyle Moeder finds escape, way to honor late father on baseball diamond

CEDAR RAPIDS — Sometimes baseball is more than wins and losses. Greater than hits, catches or errors.

For Kyle Moeder, the game formed a special bond between him and his dad, Tony, a former minor leaguer, and member of the Cedar Rapids Kernels 1994 Midwest League Championship team.

The sport was the source of countless talks over the years between them.

“Baseball was incredibly special to both of us,” Moeder said. “I can remember like it was yesterday, going to the (batting) cages, both of us being excited to watch baseball, when he was coaching or going to play. It was always fun.”

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The baseball diamond served as a suitable respite for the Mount Mercy senior and a fitting tribute to Tony, 51, who died Tuesday after a six-year battle with Frontotemporal Dementia. Moeder manned shortstop for the Mustangs’ Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Grand View Friday at Plaster Athletic Complex.

“It’s a place, especially in this situation now, it’s my escape,” said Moeder, who went 2-for-4 and reached base four times in 11-4 and 11-1 losses to the Vikings. “I can go out here and be free from everything else. At the same time, it’s the game I grew up loving because of my dad and everything he taught me.”

Family has been an important part of Moeder’s life — a characteristic instilled in him by Tony and his mom, Kathy. Mount Mercy Coach Jack Dahm, a former coach at the University of Iowa and Creighton, said Moeder wouldn’t be a Mustang if it wasn’t for his desire to be close to help family.

“Kyle would be playing Division I baseball, if it wasn’t for Tony being sick,” Dahm said. “Kyle wasn’t going to leave. We ended up getting him here because he wanted to stay here. That is just a mature kid.

“He puts the team first. He puts others first. He’s such a family kid.”

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Tony, an Oklahoma native, grew up in California. He played at the University of San Diego before a four-year career in the California Angels farm system, including a stop in Cedar Rapids that saw him hit 18 home runs and 20 doubles and drive in 64 RBIs in 1994.

Moeder resembles his father in appearance and performance, coming into his own as an all-stater at Cedar Rapids Xavier before suiting up for Kirkwood and Mount Mercy. Moeder was still at Xavier when his dad started showing signs of FTD. The family has received an outpouring of support.

“It’s been an emotional week, for sure, but one thing I will say is the support we have from this community, whether that’s people from Xavier, Mount Mercy or Kirkwood,” Moeder said. “Everyone has been rallying around us and that has made it a lot better.”

The Mustangs have been a source of support, donning light blue shirts and sweatshirts with “#teamtone FOREVER“ across the front. They were made for a game dedicated to FTD awareness and fundraising event that had already been scheduled for later in the month.

“It absolutely means the world,” Moeder said. “It all starts with Coach Dahm. His support means the world. He’s been there through everything this past week.

“I don’t know what I would do without my teammates. They mean so much to me. I just love them and all my assistant coaches. It is from top to bottom. I am very blessed to have this team and be in this program.”

Moeder opened the week on the road, playing in Sunday’s games at Culver-Stockton (Mo.) and delivering a run-scoring hit in the final inning with the bases loaded, two out and a 3-2 count. Dahm said the entire team was emotional after the RBI single that helped the Mustangs win by two in nine innings.

“It was like it was meant to be,” Dahm said. “Our whole dugout was teary-eyed.”

Moeder remained home as Tony entered hospice Monday. Dahm said Moeder has faced everything over the last five years with maturity and strength.

“He’s just such a good kid,” Dahm said. “It seems like the baseball field is his getaway. This is what his dad taught him. I know he’s said his dad would want him to play.

“It’s been very tough, but he’s handled it very well.”

Moeder went 1-for-2 in the opener, drawing a base on balls and scoring the Mustangs’ final run. He earned his 14th walk of the season, which ranks second for Mount Mercy, for a .419 on-base percentage before Game 2.

In the nightcap, Moeder reached base his first two at-bats, driving a double off the left field fence.

Mount Mercy (23-10, 14-4) had won 10 straight and 21 of its last 23 games. The Mustangs have dealt with recent adversity, including the Moeder loss, the death of Dahm’s mother-in-law and injuries to six starters. On Friday, starters Tyler Dahm and Zach Barden left the game after getting hurt.

“I don’t know if I’ve been this teary-eyed in a long time. I think I’m getting a little bit old,” said Dahm, who praised Moeder’s performance. “Our players have been really good through all these situations but it caught up to us today. I expect a little better effort.”