Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings: Marion closes regular season at No. 4 in final Class 3A poll

MARION — Steve Fish has coached for almost 40 years.

He won a state title, owns more than 800 career victories and worked with some of the state’s elite players. One thing keeps Marion’s longtime head coach coming back for more long summer days — the players.

“They keep me energized,” Fish said. “I really like them. I keep coming to the field. They give me joy. I just really like being around them. They are a good group of kids, who like being coached.”

The Wolves are fourth in the final installment of the Class 3A rankings released Monday by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. They are the top seed in Substate 5, facing South Tama Friday at home.

The Wolves started the season second and dropped slightly. They have worked back into the top four the last two weeks.

“It’s a reward for the body of work,” Fish said. “I don’t know if we’re the No. 4 team. There are a lot of good teams — (Cedar Rapids) Xavier, Benton Community and Solon — and they’re not ranked. I don’t know if there are a lot of difference between the top 20. It’s a reward of our record.”

Marion opened the week with a 26-5 record before a couple last-minute tune-up games against Pleasant Valley on Monday and Iowa City Liberty Wednesday. The Wolves have some top-tier talent, including all-staters Myles Davis, who has missed some time to attend a national showcase, and Kaden Frommelt. Sophomore Jake Miller is tied for the team lead in hits with 40. Isaac and Isaiah Scott, Trey Franck and Ryker Remington all have more than 33 hits.

The biggest strength might be the players’ flexibility in the field, allowing Fish to move them to various spots.

“I think it’s the versatility,” Fish said. “Their willingness to play different positions for the team.”

Fish admits it is cliché but some of the success comes from the players not doing too much. They stick to what they do best and don’t try to match the skills of teammates.

“They play within themselves,” Fish said. “They keep doing their jobs. I’ve been happy with what they’ve done.”

Western Dubuque (28-9) leads the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division. The Bobcats have been the top-ranked team in 3A from start to finish of the regular season. The defending state champions host Maquoketa in the first round of Substate 3.

In 4A, Cedar Rapids Prairie (31-5) remained at No. 2 behind only Ankeny Centennial (28-6). The MVC Mississippi-leading Hawks posted a doubleheader sweep over Western Dubuque Friday. Cedar Rapids Kennedy stayed in the top 10, coming in sixth. Iowa City High made another late move, jumping to fourth. The Little Hawks have played stronger as the season progressed.

“Pitching has been fantastic,” City High Coach Brian Mitchell said when postseason brackets were released. “Defense has also be fantastic the last few weeks.”

Prairie, Kennedy and City High are all No. 1 seeds in their substates. The Hawks face Cedar Rapids Washington in the first round, the Cougars play Clinton and the Little Hawks open against Muscatine. The 4A postseason begins Friday.

Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings

CLASS 4A (Final)

1. Ankeny Centennial (28-6)

2. Cedar Rapids Prairie (31-5)

3. Johnston (30-8)

4. Iowa City High (26-12)

5. Southeast Polk (26-12)

6. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (26-11)

7. West Des Moines Dowling (22-11)

8. Dallas Center-Grimes (26-6)

9. Pleasant Valley (25-14)

10. Cedar Falls (22-13)

CLASS 3A (Final)

1. Western Dubuque (28-9)

2. North Polk (23-4)

3. Council Bluffs Lewis Central (25-4)

4. Marion (26-5)

5. Adel ADM (22-8)

6. Dubuque Wahlert (26-11)

7. Knoxville (30-3)

8. Davenport Assumption (21-12)

9. Sioux City Heelan (23-12)

10. MOC-Floyd Valley (24-7)