Red-hot Marion looking to continue its run

MARION - Their season began with their starting pitcher getting hit in the sternum area with a comebacker. He ended up with a hospital visit.But the Marion Indians - and sophomore Cale Cannoy - have rebounded from that inauspicious debut. Marion enters Class 3A district play on a nine-game win streak and champion of its division in the Wamac Conference.The Indians (23-12) are 12-1 in their last 13 games and 16-2 in their last 18. They open with Benton Community (16-18) this afternoon at 5 at Williamsburg.“This has been one of those teams that has just continued to grow,” said Coach Steve Fish.Cannoy, by the way, has gone on to post a 4-2 record, a save and 2.53 earned run average for his white-hot ballclub. He scared everyone by getting hit, vomiting and having shortness of breath.Fish said he can tell his pitcher is still a little skittish when a ball is hit back up the middle. But he's 100-percent healthy, kind of like the team as a whole.“He has rebounded,” the coach said. “He gave everyone a great scare. If you want a testimonial on using wooden bats instead of aluminum, I'll be the first in line to give it to you.”Most of the names on this Marion team are probably familiar from other sports. The core of this group has been successful in football and basketball.Dalton Combs leads the way with a .437 batting average, followed closely by Kasey Semler at .417. Shortstop Zach Nielsen has played very well as well, according to Fish.“It's just all started clicking,” said Combs. “We played Vinton-Shellsburg (midway through the season) and lost both games. That was a real head turner for all of us.“We've all been together (in all the sports), we know who we are. We all want to compete and we all want to win.”Class 4A substate first-round games also are played tonight. In town, Cedar Rapids Kennedy hosts Davenport North and Cedar Rapids Xavier hosts Burlington.