Wed - 23 Jul
Written by Jim Ecker
MAQUOKETA - Marion High School seniors Quinn Cannoy and Logan Fuller were ready to scrap their planned vacation to Mexico next week so they could play in the Class 3A state tournament, but that won't be necessary now.
Davenport Assumption crushed the Indians, 10-0, in five innings in the substate finals in Maquoketa Wednesday night to make the state meet and send the Indians home for the summer.
Cannoy and Fuller are glad they won't have to eat the $1,300 they invested in plane fare and lodging in Cabo San Lucas, but they're sad they won't be going to Des Moines with their teammates instead.
It would have been expensive state tournament for the two buddies.
"Yes, it would have, but going to state would have been the better thing," said Cannoy. "You can take a vacation anytime you want, but a state tournament only comes around once in a lifetime."
Cannoy and Fuller made their vacation plans early in the season, when it appeared the Indians might be in for a tough year with a young club. At the time, they did not expect Marion to reach the substate finals and come within one victory of the state tournament.
"This team definitely exceeded our expectations this year," said Cannoy.
Marion (24-16) got off to a promising start in the top of the first inning Wednesday when it loaded the bases with one out, but John Carstensen bounced into a twin-killing on a smart play by Assumption third baseman Ryan Belk to end the threat.
Belk gloved the grounder, tagged the runner coming to third and wisely tossed to second base for the double-play. That was the beginning of the end for the Indians.
Davenport Assumption began hitting in the bottom of the first inning and never stopped. The Knights (23-15) scored two runs in the first inning, two more in the third, two more in the fourth and four more in the fifth to win by the mercy rule.
Cannoy, who had allowed only 13 earned runs in 67.2 innings coming into the game, was charged with 10 runs in five innings Wednesday.
"That is by far the best team we've played this year," said Cannoy. "Their bats, 1 through 9 ... Normally in a lineup you're going to have one or two guys down there that have been struggling.
"But these guys, everyone you pitch to is going to put the bat on the ball. In my eyes, they're a contender for the state championship this year. There's no doubt about it."
Assumption collected 13 hits with eight singles, four doubles and a triple. All of the balls were hit hard as Cannoy got smacked around.
"If there's a better team in 3A, I'd like to see them. Holy smokes," said Marion Coach Steve Fish. "What do you say?"
The Indians were struggling with an 8-and-9 record a month ago, but they caught fire and enjoyed a good season.
"If you had told me at the beginning of the year we'd win 24 games and make a run like we did at the end of the year ...," Fish said, not needing to finish the sentence.
He praised his guys for their good work this year and complimented them for reaching the substate finals.
"Out of the last nine years, we've been in seven substate final games. Seven," he noted. "I said (to the players), not a lot of teams do that."
Marion reached the state tournament in 2006 and 2011 for the only two trips in school history.
Jay Campbell (7-2) pitched a six-hit shutout for Davenport Assumption. The Knights will face Harlan in the opening round of the state tournament Tuesday.
Marion 000 00 - 0 6 2
Assumption 202 24 - 10 13 0
W - Campbell (7-2). L - Cannoy (7-3).
