It's easy for Zach Nielsen to get overlooked among the top shortstops in the Metro area, but Marion Coach Steve Fish appreciates what Nielsen gives the club.

He's hitting approximately .500 after going 3-for-4 against Xavier Wednesday night and has improved his defense a great deal as a senior after struggling at times last season.

The Saints beat Marion, 16-6, in six innings in a non-conference game at Ken Charipar Field.

Nielsen has been a three-year starter for the Indians, but he's playing for a Class 3A school while all the other top shortstops are playing for 4A clubs. Blake Helms of Xavier, Griffin Michael of Kennedy and Ben Larison of Linn-Mar have enjoyed good careers, but so has Nielsen.

"We're coming out of a pretty good class," he said.

Helms (Kirkwood), Michael (Southeastern Community College) and Larison (Kirkwood) will be joining college baseball teams next season. So will Nielsen, who belongs in the conversation as one of the Metro's top shortstops in the Class of 2011.

Nielsen has committed to Century College, a two-year school that's located in White Bear Lake, Minn.

Nielsen acknowledged he feels overlooked at times, but he doesn't seem bothered by it too much. He knows the Class 4A shortstops are going to get more local recognition.

"They're at the bigger schools, they get better looks and everything," he said. "It will all play out, I guess, and be how it's supposed to be."

Nielsen committed 26 errors at shortstop last summer, but he's in single digits this year after 33 games.

"It's 100 percent better," Fish said. "Last year I think he rushed some things, but he's attacking the baseball now (on defense)."

Fish has enjoyed watching Nielsen improve the past three years.

"He's someone you appreciate with time," Fish said. "He has a huge heart and he plays the game hard. And he's really improved a lot. The growth he's had from his sophomore to senior year has really been impressive."

Nielsen has been a four-sport athlete at Marion High School with football, baseball, soccer and bowling, although he did not bowl this year. Fish is anxious to see what happens once Nielsen concentrates on baseball in college.

"If he gets some time to focus on baseball and gets around some good coaching, who knows what he can do," Fish remarked.

Nielsen hit .390 last season, but he's tacked more than 100 points onto his batting average this year. "I feel like I'm seeing the ball a little better," he said. "I feel it's just coming to me now."

Nielsen did his part against Xavier Wednesday night, but the Saints were too tough for the Indians.

Mack Mattke went 3-for-3 and drove in five runs for Xavier with an RBI single, sacrifice fly, two-run double and another sacrifice fly. Corbin Woods was 3-for-3 with a double and RBI. Eric Zenisek and Colby Brecht drove in two runs.

Dusty Albaugh, Addison Johnson and Josh Davila had two hits apiece for the Indians.

Marion played an unsual day-night doubleheader on Wednesday. The Indians lost the completion of a suspended game at Solon, 3-1, Wednesday afternoon before meeting Xavier Wednesday night.

MARION (6)
Semler, 2b, 3 1 0 0, Wagner, 3b, 4 1 1 0, Nielsen, ss, 4 1 3 1, Albaugh, rf, 4 0 2 2, Biery, 1b, 2 0 0 0, Stekl, 1b/p, 2 0 0 0, Johnson, c, 3 0 2 0, C. Cannoy, cr, 0 2 0 0, Charipar, cf, 2 0 0 0, Fish, dh, 3 0 1 0, Schneiders, p, 0 0 0 0, Hedtke, 1b, 0 0 0 0, Davila, lf, 3 1 2 2. Totals 30 6 11 5.

XAVIER (16)
Helms, ss, 4 2 1 0, Woods, 3b, 3 3 3 1, Sodawasser, pr, 0 1 0 0, Even, 2b, 5 1 2 0, Mattke, 1b/p, 3 2 3 5, Tipton, pr, 0 1 0 0, Ries, cf, 3 1 1 1, Mehring, lf, 1 1 0 1, McNeal, lf, 0 1 0 0, Hosch, p, 1 0 0 0, Hines, p, 2 0 1 1, Sodawasser, cr, 0 1 0 0, Zenisek, rf, 2 2 1 2, Brecht, c, 3 0 1 2, Brown, cf, 0 0 0 0. Totals 27 16 13 13.

Marion     050 010 -  6 11 4
Xavier     416 131 - 16 13 1

Schneiders, Stekl (5), Wagner (6) and Johnson. Hosch, Hines (3), Mattke (6) and Brecht. W - Hines. L - Schneiders. 2B - Johnson, Davila, Woods, Mattke. 3B - Albaugh. SB - Davila, Zenisek.