Marion’s Kaiden Griffith delivers game-winner in substate baseball semifinal thriller over Cedar Rapids Xavier

MARION — Kaiden Griffith stepped to the plate with a chance to win the game.

The Marion senior had never been in that situation. He endured the expected complications — butterflies, jitters and enough adrenaline to power the home-field lights.

“It was really new to me,” Griffith said. “I got up and there were some nerves. I was shaking a little bit but I took a deep breath, looked at my bat and concentrated and focused. I knew I could put the ball in play. I was confident in myself.”

Griffith delivered the game-winning single to score Trey Franck with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 victory over Cedar Rapids Xavier in a Class 3A substate baseball semifinal Tuesday night at Les Hipple Athletic Complex.

It was the second one-run game between the two teams. Marion won, 11-10, exactly two months before the postseason clash.

“That shouldn’t be a district semifinal game. They’re good,” Marion Coach Steve Fish said. “That was a hell of a high school baseball environment. Back and forth, trading punches.

“Our guys settled in and started to get some barrels on it when we needed runs. We did. We executed at the end. I was happy with the way we played.”

Griffith watched as Franck opened with a double ruled fair down the third-base line. Isaac Scott followed with a single, moving the winning run within 90 feet of the plate with none out.

Xavier Coach Dan Halter opted to intentionally walk Payton Hodges to load the bases and create a force at any base.

“It was a matter of having to try to set up a force at home and get a double-play ball,” Halter said. “He tried to play the percentages. It’s a tough spot to be in.”

All Marion needed from Griffith was a groundball, a long flyball or a hit. Griffith had faith he would be able to drive in the quick Franck.

“It was the perfect position with zero outs,” Griffith said. “I had been seeing the ball well all game. I was thinking anything close, I’m swinging. I just have to put the ball in play.”

Xavier’s Tate Proskovec pitched all nine innings. Griffith was going to be his last batter faced. The two battled the count full and Griffith even fouled off a couple pitches before the base hit ended the game.

“I just swung hard,” Griffith said. “I put it in the gap and scored him.”

Fish said Griffith has made great strides since joining the roster as a freshman during Marion’s 2021 3A state title season. He is athletic and is an accomplished football player, planning to play football for Wartburg. Fish chuckled when he said he tells people he’s a special baseball player, too.

“I’m proud of him,” Fish said. “He’s really improved on his confidence. In these big spots, he’s come through. When I see him up there, I’m like ‘OK, here we go.’”

Griffith drove in the first and final runs for the Wolves. He belted a solo home run to tie the score on the bottom of the third. He had hit a home run against the Saints in May and was amped after pregame batting practice. He called his shot, kind of.

“My swing felt really good,” Griffith said. “I was like, I’m feeling it. It felt great.”

Most of the game was a pitchers’ duel between Marion’s Payton Hodges and Xavier’s Proskovec. Hodges went seven innings, allowing just two runs on three hits with six strikeouts. Only one hit came after the first. Cole Goodrich pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the win.

Hodges underwent Tommy John surgery last season. Fish had to pry the ball from his hands.

“Payton wanted the ball,” Fish said. “I tried to get him out of it because he was up in pitch counts but he said, ‘No coach, I want to get through it. He gave us a great outing. He kept them off balance a little bit.”

Xavier squandered a great effort from Proskovec, who gave up six hits with four in the first eight innings. He tallied 11 strikeouts.

“He emptied the tank,” said Halter, who praised the Saints defense and standout plays by center fielder Caleb Even and shortstop Jon Ramos to prevent runs. “He pitched amazingly well. I’m so proud of him and the way he competed. That is a good lineup from top to bottom. They don’t have many holes in their lineup. You have to battle and that’s what he kept doing. He doesn’t deserve a loss.”

Xavier (21-19) owned a 1-0 lead when Andrew Hamlett singled in the first and scored on Preston Lang’s RBI double. Hamlett added an RBI single to plate courtesy runner Cole Beasler-Weber for a 2-1 lead in the sixth.

Marion answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Isaiah Scott walked and scored on a Franck single, making it 2-2 until Griffith’s winner.

“These guys are more of a collective group,” Fish said. “They really bought into it. They’re always going to compete.

“Trey Franck really swung the bat well tonight. He did some nice things. He was a difference maker.”

Interestingly, Griffith was selected to play in Saturday’s Shrine Bowl football game in Cedar Falls. He has excused from midweek activities for the all-star exhibition, allowing him to focus on baseball.

“We’ve had practices throughout the week,” Griffith said. “It’s kind of hard with baseball. It’s postseason. I don’t want to injure myself. I want to do what’s best for our baseball team. I’ve been missing a little bit of that. Coach understands. He knows we’ve been having a really good season.”

The No. 2-ranked Wolves (30-5) host Gilbert (9-20) in a substate final Wednesday. The winner qualifies for the state tournament held July 22-26 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids. Marion is going for a second straight state appearance, sixth in the last eight seasons and eighth overall.

“Gilbert has state experience,” Fish said. “They will be a tough team.”

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