Class 3A No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier’s early outburst leads to win over No. 2 Marion

MARION — A big inning. A big win.

Cedar Rapids Xavier used one to produce the other.

Class 3A third-ranked Xavier amassed four runs in the opening inning and toppled No. 2 Marion, 6-3, in a prep baseball game Thursday night at Marion.

“It was a fun game,” Xavier Coach Dan Halter said. “It was great to compete. Two good teams. It’s early and both teams have things to improve.”

The Saints (4-1) put the ball in play right out of the gate. Cooper Schenck, Maverick Burger and Brody Hoffmann each had infield singles in the first four at-bats.

Preston Lang had the first big hit, ripping a liner down the third-base line to drive in two runs. Lang scored on Caleb Even’s double to right center for the 4-0 advantage.

“Our at-bats were good all the way through the lineup,” Halter said. “We kept extending counts and getting big at-bats. We had a good two-strike approach.”

Lang added an RBI double in the third. He drove in half of the Saints’ runs and tied for a team-high two hits.

“He’s been seeing the ball well and hitting it hard,” Halter said. “He has played with confidence.”

Hustle on the bases by Carlos Baez-Perez in the seventh added an insurance run. Marion attempted to pick him off and he broke for third when the Wolves threw behind him. He slid in safely before the throw skipped away, allowing him to get up and race home.

Carson and Cooper Schenck teamed up to pitch all seven innings for Xavier. Carson earned the win, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on five hits. Cooper worked the final 1 1/3 in relief for the save, striking out the final two batters to end it.

“They have been competing very well,” Halter said. “Mentally, they are really prepared. I’m proud of them.”

Isaac and Isaiah Scott led Marion with two hits and a run apiece. Both scored in the fifth to pull the Wolves within 5-3. Myles Davis had a solo home run in the first and also walked for the Wolves (1-1).