Zach Houy capitalizes on chance to start as Marion shuts out Burlington

MARION — Zach Houy didn’t get much rest on the eve of his third start of the season.

The Marion senior left-handed pitcher was excited for the chance to take the mound again.

“It was hard to go to sleep last night,” Houy said with a laugh. “I was champing at the bit. I was ready to go. I was wired last night.”

Houy capitalized on the opportunity, throwing more than six shutout innings in a 1-0 victory over Burlington in the opening game of the 17th Terry Heald Baseball Tournament on Saturday at Marion.

He earned his first win of the season, going 6 1/3 innings and nearly doubling his inning total this season.

“I wanted to get on the mound,” Houy said. “Just having fun today was the goal. Everything was there. … I felt really good today going into it. I had a great defense behind me. That’s really what it was.”

Houy has carved his niche in the Wolves pitching staff. He serves as a quality lefty reliever and non-conference starter. Houy has embraced the role and contributed to Class 3A No. 3 Marion’s 21-1 record.

“He’s a great young man,” Fish said. “He does everything for the program. I was very happy to see that. I was hoping to see him hold on, get a win and do his job like that.”

A recent scheduled start was rained out and his last was May 31 against West Liberty.

Houy was effective and efficient against Burlington. He allowed just three baserunners all game, facing just 22 batters. Houy didn’t allow a baserunner to reach third, striking out five and walking none. He retired the Grayhounds in order for four innings before Cole Goodrich recorded the final two outs for the save.

“Coach Fish has all the confidence in the world in me,” Houy said. “He gave me the ball. I put the ball where I wanted to.”

Houy knows Fish demands strikes from his pitchers. He spent the morning hitting his spots, stifling Burlington’s batters.

“Attack,” Houy said about his mentality on the mound. “Fill up the zone. Pitch to contact.

“I don’t have the velo like (teammate) Payton Hodges or what (former Wolves all-stater) Myles Davis had. Pitching to contact, fill up the zone. Attack. Attack. Attack.”

Fish described the outing as awesome. Houy provided exactly what the Wolves needed, especially with them being short a few starters due to injury.

“He’s composed,” Fish said. “He keeps it around the plate. You give him six innings like that. He did his job.”

Marion managed just five hits against Grayhound starter Ian Mason. The Wolves used small ball to score their run in the third. Pinch hitter Jasper Hancox led off with a base hit. Austin Goodrich followed with a perfectly placed bunt down the first-base line for a single. Jake Miller made it three straight hits with a bunt single to load the bases. Isaiah Scott’s sacrifice fly chased home Hancox.

“In a time of metrics and everyone wants to elevate and celebrate, our guys understand you’ve got to be able to bunt,” Fish said. “I joke, ‘if you can’t bunt, you might as well get a pool pass’ because we have to be able to bunt, especially in tight games. We have to be able to go to plan B, whether it’s a backside approach. I want my kids to be able to hit in any type of situation.

“You have to be able to bunt and they did it. It was very good to see.”

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Burlington fell to Davenport Central, 14-4, in five innings.

Marion closed the memorial tournament with an 8-1 victory over the Blue Devils. The Wolves received another strong start. This time it came from Tate Rahe, who pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.

Marion broke the game open, sending 14 to the plate in the eight-run third. Isaiah, Isaac and Elijah Scott hit consecutive RBI singles. Grady Dettbarn added a two-run double and Trey Franck had a two-run hit. All but one starter reached base and scored at least once in the frame.

The Wolves return to action Monday at Clear Creek Amana.

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Photos: Marion baseball vs Davenport Central (June 15, 2024)

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com