Super Morio: Beau Morio powers Cedar Rapids Xavier to Class 3A Substate 6 high school baseball win over Fort Madison

CEDAR RAPIDS – Beau Morio follows a specific routine for each at-bat.

He calls it the “Four outs” method. He begins to visualize his next plate appearance. When he’s in the hole and on deck, he focuses on timing. Morio walks to the plate with his shoulders back, head high and right hand on the bat barrel. He digs in the batter’s box a couple times and is ready for business.

“I swipe across it to refresh the box and get ready for me to hit and dominate,” the Cedar Rapids Xavier sophomore said. “Take a breath, find the focal point of my bat and be ready to go.”

Whatever the habits, it has paid dividends for the Saints leading hitter. He went 3-for-3, including a tone-setting home run in the bottom of the first, and drove in four runs in Xavier’s 12-2 victory over Fort Madison in the Class 3A Substate 6 high school baseball game Saturday at Ken Charipar Field. The Saints will host Clear Creek Amana on Monday in the substate semifinal.

“It’s basically what you hope for,” Saints Coach Dan Halter said. “Respect the opponent. Respect the coaches. You have to show up right away and put up a big number.”

Morio helped the Saints grasp control from the start. The No. 3 batter in the order belted a pitch that reached the road beyond the left field fence, bringing in Jack Casey for a 2-0 lead.

“I was just thinking to myself see the ball,” Morio said. “Just be free with my swing and be on time with it. The first swing was really early so I told myself to step up in the box two inches and be on time with it.

“He threw me a curveball inside. I was able to be on time with it and stay through the ball. It went over the fence and that felt good.”

Morio has homered in two straight games four a team-high four this season, hitting a similar shot in a 3-0 win against Davenport Assumption in Tuesday’s regular-season finale. He has heated up with the summer, batting .571 with a .655 on-base percentage. He’s also hit eight doubles and knocked in 15 RBIs during that stretch that has lasted almost a month.

“When he’s thinking line drive and middle of the field, he’s really good and he’s been really good at that lately,” Halter said. “I’m really proud of the progress he’s made, especially these last couple weeks.

“The big one is going to come if you’re just thinking line drive, be on time and let the ball get to you. He’s doing that.”

Morio added an RBI single in the second and beat out a run-scoring infield single the following frame for a 10-1 lead after three. He leads Xavier in numerous offensive categories with 41 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, homers, 27 RBIs, 21 walks, a .406 batting average and a .663 slugging percentage. He has matured since his trail-by-fire in the Mississippi Valley Conference as a freshman.

“He’s becoming an anchor,” Halter said. “A guy you want in the middle of the order to drive in runs. The key is controlling the moment and not making it too big.”

Morio has a simpler approach to his role with the Saints. The goal is to do whatever the teams at the plate, behind the dish or encouraging them from the dugout.

“My role is to just do my job whether I’m catching or as the DH (designated hitter) in the dugout cheering on my teammates,” Morio said. “My role is to be a good teammate or do my job every time I step to the plate or when I’m catching.”

A gold Iowa Hawkeyes headband with a black Tigerhawk stretched across his forehead. Necessary for the high humidity. Morio committed to Iowa in eighth grade and is looking forward to that opportunity in the future with Coach Rick Heller and his staff.

“I feel blessed to be committed to Iowa,” Morio said. “My thought process is that I’m trying to be the best version of myself. Right now, these are building steps until I get to college. I’m just working on the best person I can be and in three years from now at Iowa.”

Tate Proskovec handled things on the mound. He worked four innings, limiting the Bloodhounds to an unearned run on just two hits. Proskovec improved to 6-2 and dropped his earned-run average to 2.23.

“Tate threw great early and his pitch count was efficient,” Halter said. “He got a little sideways there in the fourth with his pitch count but he’ll get that straightened out.

“Our defense made plays behind him. We were clean that’s all you can ask for.”

Every Xavier starter had a hit or scored a run. Casey and Morio led the way with three hits and Zander Murray and Jack Downey had two each. Casey scored three times and joined Proskovec and Mac Driscoll with two RBIs apiece.

“Tate pitched an awesome game,” Morio said. “He pounded the zone, throwing strikes. The whole team hit. We were getting big hits in important situations.

“Zander threw a good inning and Mac and Jack turned a nice double play to end it, which is awesome to see as a catcher. Overall, a great team win.

Reece Huey had a hit, an RBI and scored for the Bloodhounds, who end the season at 7-22.

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