Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings: Marion moves into No. 1 spot in Class 3A

Marion Coach Steve Fish has been coaching high school baseball for a long time.

He knows just how difficult it is to win a game and has talked to the Wolves about appreciating each one.

Marion has plenty to be grateful for, entering this week with a 21-1 record and the No. 1 spot in the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A rankings released Monday. The Wolves join Cedar Rapids Kennedy atop the rankings. The Cougars are No. 1 in 4A for the second straight week.

Marion replaced No. 3 Western Dubuque, which had been top-ranked since the preseason poll.

“I told my guys I’ve been doing this a long time,” Fish said. “That’s awesome. That’s very good, so enjoy it, but it doesn’t mean anything as far as the next game.”

The Wolves returned seven starters from last season’s state tournament team. They have experience, but don’t have the star power they’ve had in recent seasons with the likes of Owen Puk, Myles Davis and Kaden Frommelt.

The lineup is still stacked with very talented players. Brothers Isaiah, Isaac and Elijah Scott rank first, second and fourth, respectively, on the team with 32, 27 and 23 hits. Trey Franck is batting .448 with a .585 on-base percentage. Nine batters hit .320 or better. Andrew Ahmann and Coda Johnson have four wins apiece to lead Wolves pitchers.

“This is more of a collective effort,” Fish said. “This doesn’t take away from some of the guys that I have. You look out there and there are a lot of guys just getting the job done.

“I’m proud of that most with this group, regardless of the No. 1 ranking. They play hard and they have fun.”

The season hasn’t been free of bumps in the road. The Wolves defeated Davenport Central, 8-1, on Saturday, despite missing starters Jake Miller, Kaiden Griffith and Grayson Kirsch. Marion has overcome injuries to key players and has produced.

“Our biggest focus is getting healthy,” Fish said. “Our young guys found a way to step right in and play.”

Fish said the team has benefited from a specific approach. The opponent doesn’t matter. The Wolves play against the game of baseball and their own abilities, looking to be their best each time out. They have also demonstrated a knack to win close games, winning four by one run with three in last week.

“Even in the close games, there is no panic in our guys,” Fish said. “They expect to win. We’ve said that for a long time that anytime we step on the field that is the expectation whether we’re playing the New York Yankees or Denny’s Muffler down in the starter league. We expect to win the game. We talk about that.”

Solon remains in the 3A rankings at 10th.

The Mississippi Valley Conference is well represented in 4A. In addition to Kennedy, Iowa City High is up a spot to No. 5 and Iowa City Liberty improved to No. 7. Linn-Mar returns to the poll at ninth.

Dyersville Beckman and Anamosa are fourth and ninth, respectively, in 2A. The River Valley Conference North leaders play at Anamosa Thursday.

Lansing Kee is 10th in 1A for the second consecutive week.

Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A rankings

1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (23-2)

2. Ankeny Centennial (17-4)

3. Dallas Center-Grimes (20-1)

4. Johnston (20-3)

5. Iowa City High (21-4)

6. Waukee (16-7)

7. Iowa City Liberty (17-7)

8. Waukee Northwest (14-9)

9. Linn-Mar (16-6)

10. Southeast Polk (15-9)

Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Cedar Rapids Prairie (15-10), Davenport North (18-8), Indianola (14-7), Ottumwa (15-5), Sioux City East (16-7)

Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A rankings

1. Marion (21-1)

2. North Polk (14-3)

3. Western Dubuque (15-6)

4. Dubuque Wahlert (17-6)

5. Sioux City Heelan (18-6)

6. Central DeWitt (16-5)

7. Davenport Assumption (13-8)

8. Grinnell (15-7)

9. Harlan (15-5

10. Solon (15-7)

Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Algona (16-4), Benton Community (20-6), Bondurant-Farrar (13-7), Center Point-Urbana (14-5), Pella (13-6)

Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A rankings

1. West Marshall (23-1)

2. Van Meter (23-1)

3. Underwood (14-2)

4. Dyersville Beckman (13-4)

5. Des Moines Christian (16-2)

6. New Hampton (18-3)

7. Estherville-Lincoln Central (13-4)

8. Sumner-Fredericksburg (14-2)

9. Anamosa (13-5)

10. Truro Interstate 35 (16-3)

Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Clarinda (12-2), Mid-Prairie (12-6), Northeast (9-6), Unity Christian (16-6), West Lyon (11-2)

Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A rankings

1. Akron-Westfield (16-2)

2. Burlington Notre Dame (17-3)

3. Remsen St. Mary’s (13-2)

4. Mason City Newman (18-3)

5. Lynnville-Sully (18-3)

6. Saint Ansgar (13-2)

7. Wapsie Valley (19-6)

8. Tri-Center (13-3)

9. Woodbury Central (13-2)

10. Lansing Kee (17-5)

Other receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Algona Garrigan (13-4), Logan-Magnolia (12-5), North Linn (14-3), Sigourney (12-2), Woodbine (13-1)

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com