March 29, 2024

Marnins relish time together at state baseball

DES MOINES — Nodaway Valley assistant baseball coach Allen Marnin took a minute to compose himself last Friday night.

He stared out over the playing surface at Principal Park in Des Moines.

What happened over the previous few hours left a mark on him and the rest of the Wolverines baseball program.

Sure, the game didn’t go exactly how they wanted it. A powerful Newman Catholic team flexed its muscles in a 12-2, six inning win.

For Marnin, this game had an extra-special meaning.

It was the final time for him to coach his son, Sam, a senior.

“If you have to end it some place, what a great place to end your career,” he said, pausing for a few moments.

As he wiped a few tears away from his eyes, a proud father reflected about what those moments down inside the lines at Principal Park meant.

“Sam’s had some opportunities to golf and play basketball at the state level. There, I’m a fan,” Allen Marnin said. “Here, I get to coach.”

For the father, it was the conclusion to many years of coaching his son playing baseball. Allen coached Sam and others when they played American Legion ball in fourth, fifth and sixth grade.

“It’s something I enjoy,” he said.

Sam Marnin appreciated what his father has done over the years helping them on the diamond.

“It’s pretty awesome having him,” Sam said.

Dan Jameson’s top lieutenant saw the senior and junior class help lead the baseball program to places it has never been. Nodaway Valley reached its first-ever substate game, and a few days later its first-ever state tournament game.

“We’ve got some nice seniors and a nice group of juniors behind them,” Allen Marnin said. “The younger guys have learned a lot from them about being competitive, hanging together and never giving up.”

The upperclassmen’s desire to win has rubbed off on those who’ve seen it.

“The younger guys have learned a lot about them from being competitive and hanging out together,” Allen Marnin said. “That’s been the most satisfying for me.”

This senior class is diverse in their athletic talent. They reached state basketball two years ago and the substate game this year. Baseball marked the second straight sport the Wolverines have been to state at, following a trip to the boys state golf tournament, where it placed third in Class 1A, this spring.

“They’re pretty solid all the way around,” Allen Marnin said. “Of course, everybody’s got their favorite, which one is a little more of a strength.”

The link holding the boys together is a desire to excel, no matter what the activity is.

“What everybody has in common is that competitiveness regardless of what sport it is and try to have them do things the right way,” Allen Marnin said. “It’s got us to where we are today.”

The man behind the success can be traced back to cross country, boys basketball and track and field coach Darrell Burmeister.

“Coach B’s got a great thing going on and has for a long, long time,” Allen Marnin said. “He’s outworked and outscouted people for years. These guys have been a big part of that. It’s been cool for the rest of us to see what’s been successful. You can’t beat that.”

As for the game itself Friday, stepping foot onto the grass at Principal Park as Allen hit fungoes to the outfielders and Sam took ground balls at third base from Jameson was when it finally sunk in for both.

“It was kind of surreal,” Allen Marnin said. “To play that first round of catch, all of the sudden it gets real in a hurry. You just try to enjoy it.”

He hit his fly balls like normal. He and Jameson visited like they customarily do when the other team is taking infield.

“I tried to approach things as we normally do,” Allen Marnin said. “We got to go out and enjoy it.”

The game started well for the Wolverines. Nodaway Valley scored two in the top of the first.

Newman Catholic’s bats took over in the bottom of the first. The Knights scored five in the first, three in the second and three more in the third.

“Newman is a tremendous team,” Allen Marnin said. “My goodness, they’ve got the bats.”

Still, the Wolverines kept giving it a go.

“I liked how we battled,” Allen Marnin said. “We didn’t give up. We competed the entire game.”

As the game ended, father and son soaked it up even more in their final baseball game together.

“It’s a good experience,” Sam Marnin said. “It means a lot being the first time here. It’s all real fun. It’s been real good.”