Oh, Brother! Scott siblings contribute to Marion’s baseball success

MARION — Faith, family and baseball.

Isaac, Isaiah and Elijah Scott subscribe to those values, ranking them in that order. The brother trio merges all three aspects when stepping on the diamond for Marion.

“Our faith is first. We play the game to glorify and honor Him,” Isaiah Scott said. “Second is family. We’re always going to put family in front of baseball because it’s very important. Baseball is right under that. Baseball is very important to us. We don’t like to lose, obviously.”

The Scotts have been a key component to the Wolves’ success this season. They will take the field together when No. 2 Marion plays Center Point-Urbana in the Class 3A state baseball tournament Monday at Veterans Memorial Stadium, beginning at 2 p.m.

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Siblings competing together on the same team is common but making up 30 percent of the starting lineup is rare.

“It’s very unique,” Marion Coach Steve Fish said. “We’re very fortunate. Not only are they one-third of our lineup but they are baseball-passionate, good kids. You have the strong brother dynamics. Sometimes I chuckle to myself because you see that go on, too.”

This is an opportunity they have envisioned in the past and one they appreciate.

“It’s a blessing, for sure,” said Isaac Scott, who will continue his career at Central College. “I’m just trying to take in every moment. It’s going to be something we, and our family, will cherish forever.”

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The Scott Brothers are the middle children of Tim and Jenny Scott. Older sister, Maddy, was active in dance and show choir. She has a family in New London. Younger sister, Mari, plays sports, including soccer and volleyball.

Baseball has been an important part of the brothers’ lives. Tim played football in high school but worked instead of playing baseball. Jenny played softball. Isaac, a senior, and Isaiah, a sophomore, are Minnesota Twins fans, while Elijah is a St. Louis Cardinals fan.

“We talk about it a lot,” Elijah Scott said. “It’s really the only sport we all play. We bond over it a lot. We watch a lot of Minnesota Twins games.”

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The family enjoyed a special moment at the end of the Wolves’ substate final victory. They were the first three to arrive at the mound for the celebratory dog pile. The emotions on their faces were evident.

“I thank God for that,” Isaiah Scott said. “That is an experience I will remember forever. It’s a feeling I will never forget, being on the field with my brothers and winning a (substate) title. It was surreal. It was so awesome.”

Isaac actually started as a catcher and developed into a versatile contributor, playing outfield, infield corners and pitching. He tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout in the 3-0 substate win over Gilbert for the Wolves’ eighth state appearance and second straight.

He broke through last season, batting .390 with 46 hits and 31 RBIs. The oldest Scott has 46 hits — one back of Isaiah’s team-best 47 — 35 RBIs and a .400 batting average. Isaac has been a staple on the mound, posting a 6-0 mark with 1.63 earned-run average. He has allowed only 29 hits in 43 innings pitched.

“Now, he’s one of our most reliable pitchers,” said Fish, who praised Isaac for his ability to write, play and sing his own music. “He’s not going to throw it by you but he throws strikes.”

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As for Isaiah, he is an offensive leader and a middle infielder. He is hitting at a .423 clip with .542 on-base percentage. Isaiah has scored a whopping 60 runs and drove in 31.

“He’s one of the top hitters in Class 3A,” Fish said. “He is a really good baseball player.”

Elijah tallied 31 hits with 27 RBIs. His biggest has come from behind the plate, taking over the role left open after the graduation of all-stater Kaden Frommelt.

Fish recalled a preseason discussion with Elijah, who approached him to say he was going to catch every game. Fish said he responded with a flat-out, “No, you won’t.” Elijah has provided a consistent and reliable backstop for the Wolves.

“He’s caught every stinking game as a freshman,” Fish said. “He’s gotten better and better. We’re really happy with him.”

Elijah said he’s looked up to both of his brothers from when he first started playing baseball, competing above his own age level back then. Last season, he was a reserve. He has reveled in playing with both brothers, serving as a battery mate with each.

This season has surpassed his expectations.

“I try to take it in, but it’s hard to put into words how special it is,” Elijah Scott said. “I just try to enjoy and live in the moment. Just have fun.

“My approach this year wasn’t to do anything special. I wanted to do a job and pass the bat to someone who can do something special. Put it in somebody else’s hands. I just do whatever coach asks me.”

Being the youngest of three brothers, Elijah had no choice but to become tough. Though his older siblings were protective of him, they (mostly Isaiah) also picked on him as well. They also motivated him and were strong examples in work ethic.

“I looked up to both of my brothers,” Elijah Scott said. “They took me to the gym at 5 a.m. They’d always get me out of bed and push me to go to the gym every morning. That was special.

“I always looked up to them, wanting to get bigger and be as big as them.”

The brothers share the same love of the game but they have different tendencies on the field. Isaac is more even-keel and poised. His emotions are internal. Isaiah, on the other hand, exhibits more enthusiasm externally. Elijah is somewhere in between, leaning toward Isaiah.

“Isaiah has always been amped up. He’s that middle child,” Isaac Scott said with a laugh. “He plays with some passion. Eli’s seen how to play with a level head, to enjoy it and have fun, but he’s also showing some passion. He’ll get amped up. He’ll hit a single into right field and he’ll blow up on first base. It’s awesome.

“With Isaiah and Eli on the field, it helps me stay level-headed,” Isaac said. “Who can you trust more in front or behind you than your two brothers?”

The brothers make up their own biggest fans and fiercest competitors. They try to out-play each other and exchange good-natured ribbing about who has better statistics. The dynamic was honed over the years with epic Wiffle Ball games in their yard.

“We definitely push each other,” Isaiah Scott said. “It’s been that way for a long time, ever since we were young. We’ve pushed each other to be the best versions of ourselves.”

The Scotts played for hours with regular quibbles over outs and scores. Teammate Jake Miller entered the fray and those games were very intense, according to all three brothers.

“Actually, a couple weeks ago, we did a series with Isaiah, Eli and me with some friends,” Isaac Scott said. “We did a seven-game series. Sadly, Isaiah and Eli beat my team. It’s all right. No jealousy there.

“Jake Miller would play with us, too. That’s when the real competitive games were. Those games were so fun.”

Marion opens the state tournament with a familiar foe. The Wolves (31-5) edged the Stormin’ Pointers (29-8) in consecutive 3-2 victories in the regular season. Marion needed a clutch two-out hit to force extra innings and a walk-off home run in the first game. The Wolves survived a second one-run game in the nightcap. Fish expects a similar battle in the quarterfinals.

“It’s a tough matchup,” Fish said. “They are very good. They have some senior kids and they have a nice team. They earned their way to the state tournament. That is not surprising to me at all.”

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