Marion’s Grayson Kirsch overcomes injury, earns win in pitching debut

MARION – Grayson Kirsch was expected to be one of the leaders for Marion’s pitching staff.

A knee injury altered his role for most of the season, preventing the junior left-hander from pitching and limiting him to more of an offensive role.

Kirsch has been productive at the plate this season and focused on helping the team but he has awaited his return to the mound.

“I love pitching,” Kirsch said. “It was hard for me but I’ve been swinging the bat well this year, so anything I can do for the team, really. I’m just glad to be back.”

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Kirsch made his first start of the season, going three innings and allowing just one run on three hits for the win against Williamsburg in the opener of a Wamac Conference baseball doubleheader Monday night at Marion. The Class 3A second-ranked Wolves posted 14-3 and 13-1 run-rules victories.

Kirsch said the plan was to pitch one to two innings. He only threw 44 total pitches, affording him an opportunity to work an extra inning.

“My arm was feeling good,” Kirsch said. “Longer than I expected.”

Everything changed on Kirsch’s last at-bat in the spring. He dislocated his left knee, which is the leg he uses to push off of the mound. He suffered a setback during recovery when he aggravated it during a walk-off home run against Center Point-Urbana. Kirsch said he threw one inning in a recovery game on a lower level but this was his first varsity last season and first win since he had three as a freshman year.

“It felt good,” Kirsch said. “I’m healthy now. I’m just glad to be back on the mound.”

Kirsch struck out four and walked one. He retired the Raiders in order to start the game and was effective, demonstrating what Marion Coach Steve Fish expecting to see before the injury.

“It was what we were hoping to have most of the year,” Fish said. “At least, he’s out there. We’re trying to get some guys healthy for the postseason.”

Kirsch will remain patient. He will continue to strengthen his arm and plans on more live innings next week. His focus is to contribute innings as a reliever. A role he embraces.

“I’ll probably be a closer this year, which is perfect,” Kirsch said. “I love it.”

Fish said the pitching staff might be a patchwork of arms. He has done that throughout the season, especially without the services of Kirsch and Payton Hodges, who is coming off an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury last season. Marion has the depth and multiple players capable of pitching well.

“I’ve done more and more piecing things together than I’ve ever done,” Fish said. “It’s nice to be able to do it. … We just don’t have that power arm that’s going to get you to where we just have to get three or four runs.

“We’re hoping by keeping people off balance and piecing it together we can still be effective. We have guys that can throw strikes and be around the zone. If we play defense, we should be in most games.”

Marion (27-4, 19-3) won the Wamac East title. The Wolves produced plenty of offense, tallying 11 hits in Game 1.

Hodges drew a bases loaded walk and Kaiden Griffith added an RBI single in the two-run first. Trey Franck, who was plunked four total times in the doubleheader, and Griffith were hit by pitches with the bases loaded to bring in runs in the second. Isaac Scott added an RBI single that put Marion up, 5-1, after the second.

The Wolves pulled away in the six-run third. Scott, who pitched two innings of relief, hit another RBI single and his brother, Elijah, connected on a three-run double later in the inning that saw 10 Marion batters step to the plate.

Isaac Scott and Griffith each had four RBIs to pace the Wolves in the opener. Both finished the day with four hits.

In game 2, Hodges delivered a two-run single in the three-run first for all the support a trio of Wolves pitchers needed. Jake Miller, who has returned from a back injury, had four total hits and belted a three-run home run to enact the mercy rule in the sixth.

Isaac Scott finished with four total hits and Elijah Scott drove in two more runs in Game 2.

The Wolves are scheduled to play at Central DeWitt Tuesday.

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