Jeff Yoder

Your Prep Sports

MARION – Despite giving up 10 hits, Solon was able to avoid a devastating blow from fourth-ranked Marion through 6 2/3 innings of play in the 3A substate final on Wednesday.

The last hit was a knockout punch.

Owen Puk came through with a two-out walk-off single to lift Marion to a 2-1 win over the Spartans.

A pair of intentional walks loaded the bases for Puk.

“Cam (Miller) had been locating all night, and we were kind of counting on getting ahead (in the count),” Solon coach Keith McSweeney said. “Give the kid credit, he put two or three balls hard in play and obviously he gets the big hit.”

Solon starter Cam Miller pitched with runners on base in every inning, but limited the damage to two runs. Each of the first four innings ended with a strikeout, and he finished with eight total. 

“I felt like we minimized a lot tonight,” McSweeney said.

“I’m never going to say we were lucky to be in anything because we made all those plays and made all those pitches. But we had to minimize in probably three or four innings and obviously in the seventh they were able to push that run.

“Cam pitched great, obviously he’s a huge competitor. He’s our best and we wouldn’t want anyone else out there except for him in that situation.”

Puk put Marion on the scoreboard with a one-out single to left in the third inning.

Solon took advantage of a couple hit batsmen in the top of the fourth when Jackson Pipolo lined a ball into centerfield for a double, scoring Adam Bock.

Miller, Bock and Ryan Geistkemper each had a hit as well.

The Spartans were caught on the base paths three times during the substate game.

“They forced the issue there, obviously they’re picking us, they’re not mistakes,” Sweeney explained.

“Not that that necessarily was the difference in the game. They executed. They executed at the plate. They executed when we had guys threatening in scoring position. So hats off to them.”

Solon finishes the season with a record of 22-18. Marion advances to the state baseball tournament at 32-5.

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