Dusty Albaugh hit running backs Monday morning, then hit baseballs Monday night.

It was a long, hot and busy day for the Marion High School senior, but he enjoyed it.

Albaugh went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs Monday night as the Indians belted Union, 16-2, in five innings to win a Class 3A district title at Marion.

Marion (25-16) will face Williamsburg (19-19) in the substate finals Wednesday night at Benton Community High School in Van Horne for a berth in the Class 3A state tournament next week.

Albaugh began the day in Ames, practicing with the North squad for the annual Shrine Bowl football game that will be held at Jack Trice Stadium this Saturday night.

He practiced football in pads for 2 1/2 hours Monday morning in sweltering heat in Ames - "It was hot," he confirmed - then scooted home to prepare for Monday night's baseball game.

"I came down here and hit right away (for batting practice)," he said. "There's really no break."

Albaugh said he felt fine after the game.

"Not too bad, actually," he said. "I'm sure tomorrow morning it will be going against me and what my mind is telling me to do."

His mind will be telling him to stay in bed and enjoy the air conditioning, but that's not the game-plan. He returned to Ames Monday night for two-a-day workouts with the North football team on Tuesday as a defensive back.

"I'm going to hit the shower and hop in the car," he said. "Maybe watch a movie on my I-Pod and try to relax."

His parents, sister and cousin have been his chauffeurs between Marion and Ames since Friday, when the odyssey began.

Albaugh will practice with the football team on Tuesday and again Wednesday morning, then join the Indians for Wednesday night's battle with Williamsburg for a berth in the state tournament.

Marion swept a Wamac Conference doubleheader from Williamsburg in June, 7-2 and 10-3, but Williamsburg beat top-ranked Solon in a ballgame on July 7 and will be seeking revenge against the Indians.

Marion lost in the substate finals in 2008, 2009 and 2010, missing the state tournament by one victory each time. Coach Steve Fish doesn't want his players thinking about the past, however.

"I told them this is a different team," he said. "It's nice we've been here four years in a row, it's nice you've won four district championships now, but now it's just one game."

Marion never gave Union (14-16) a chance to breathe Monday night. The Indians were the visiting team and scored four runs in the top of the first inning to take control.

Marion put crooked numbers on the scoreboard in every inning. The Indians scored twice in the second inning, five times in the third, three times in the fourth and two times in the fifth.

It was 16-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, when Union scored two unearned runs. Sophomore Levi Lochner went the distance for Marion and was in command from start to finish.

Kasey Semler went 3-for-3 for the Indians and scored three runs. Mitch Wagner was 2-for-3 and scored four runs. Zach Nielsen slugged a three-run homer in the fourth inning.

Andrew Charipar went 3-for-4 and scored twice. Josh Davila hit a two-run homer in the third inning.

Marion reached the Class 3A state tournament for the only time in school history in 2006. The Indians got off to a slow start this season due to injuries and problems with the pitching staff, but they're poised for a trip to Des Moines.

"It would be a special accomplishment," Fish said. "It would mean a lot. It would be nice."

MARION (16)
Semler, 2b, 3 3 3 1, Wagner, 3b, 3 4 2 0, Nielsen, ss, 3 2 1 3, Albaugh, rf, 4 1 3 3, Biery, 1b, 4 1 1 3, Johnson, c, 2 0 0 0, C. Cannoy, cr, 0 1 0 0, Andrew Charipar, cf, 4 2 3 0, Fish, dh, 3 1 0 0, Lochner, p, 0 0 0 0, Davila, lf, 3 1 1 2, McGarvey, ph, 1 0 0 0. Totals 30 16 14 14.

UNION (2)
Zempel, ss, 2 1 1 0, Feldpouch, 2b, 3 0 1 1, Prestemon, c/p, 3 0 0 0, Clark, p/1b, 3 0 1 0, Reiter, lf, 3 0 0 0, Kruckmeyer, rf, 2 0 1 0, Crees, cf, 2 0 0 0, Murphy, 1b, 1 1 1 0, Peters, p/3b, 1 0 0 0, Rottinghaus, 3b/c/p, 2 0 0 0, Holschlag, cr, 0 0 0 0. Totals 22 2 5 1.

Marion   425 32 - 16 14 4
Union    000 02 -  2   5 3

Lochner and Johnson. Clark, Peters (2), Prestemon (3), Rottinghaus (4) and Prestemon, Rottinghaus (3), Prestemon (4). W - Lochner. L - Clark. 2B - Semler, Clark, Kruckmeyer. HR - Nielsen, Davila. SB - Wagner, Charipar, Fish.