Marion sweeps Dyersville Beckman in battle of ranked Wamac baseball teams

MARION — Owen Puk had a decision to make to start the season.

Marion’s senior all-stater could leave to prepare for his college baseball career at Florida International or remain for his final high school campaign. It turned out to be no dilemma at all.

“I’ve been here since eighth-grade year and we’ve gone to state three times,” Puk said. “We have a great culture and a great group of guys. It was an easy decision for me to stay.”

Puk continues to play a vital role, helping Class 3A top-ranked Marion to a sweep over 2A No. 3 Dyersville Beckman in a Wamac doubleheader Friday at home. The Indians won the first game, 13-3, in six innings, resuming a contest suspended by rain June 17, and closed with an 8-3 victory.

Players reported at noon for the earlier start with Beckman. This came after Thursday’s marathon nightcap of a doubleheader split with 3A No. 6 Solon that kept them at the field until almost midnight.

“It was tough,” Marion Coach Steve Fish said. “I was kind of expected a little low energy and that is how we played. We did what we needed to do. We found ways.”

Puk has dealt with some injuries, but he has seen the lineup more often. Last week, he served as a designated hitter against Center Point-Urbana. He returned to first base against Solon. Puk took the mound for the suspended contest, resuming with two outs in the top of the second.

“I’m feeling better,” Puk said. “I felt good. My body felt good. My control wasn’t there, but just trying to work back into it.”

The 6-foot-5, 185-pound right-hander allowed three runs on just four hits and retired the first six batters he faced. He went the rest of the way, striking out five in 4 1/3 innings.

“Pitching, I didn’t know what we were going to have for today,” Fish said. “Owen has been hurt. He said he would go. We had him on a pitch count but he had an extra two weeks.

“He got a workout out there. He did a good job.”

Marion (24-4, 16-1) carried over a 4-0 lead from the June 17 start. The Indians added two in the second, receiving RBI singles from Myles Davis and Lucas Unsen. Davis added an RBI double in the fourth.

Two more runs came in the fifth. Gage Franck had an RBI double. The Indians ended the game with a four-run sixth, Jake Trca had an RBI single in the final at-bat.

Davis and Jaqson Tejada led the way with three hits apiece.

In the nightcap, Marion pulled away with seven runs in the fourth to eclipse a 2-1 deficit. Trca and Tejada opened with consecutive singles. Tejada added an RBI single later in the inning.

Puk had a two-run single and Kaden Frommelt had a run-scoring base hit.

“We’re all good hitters, I think,” Puk said. “As a team, when we play and execute we’re really solid.”

Unsen earned the win in Game 2. He threw into the sixth and struck out five.

The Indians persevered being short-handed as well due to an injury and a player serving a suspension for an ejection.

“We were able to play some other guys,” Fish said. “They stepped in and did some nice things, so that was encouraging.”

Beckman (16-14, 10-12) is mired in a slump, losing six straight games. The Blazers suffered a third straight sweep to a conference foe, falling to Benton Community and Independence this week, too.

Nick Schmidt and Owen Huehnergarth each had a base hit and an RBI for Beckman in the nightcap. Schmidt also scored.

In the resumed game, Nick Offerman had an RBI single, driving in Luke Schieltz, and also scored.