Desert Ridge’s Ayden Markovich drove 20 hours to play baseball
Ayden Markovich left a tragic past in Gilbert two years ago with his mother and little sister to live in Montana.
But, in January, two months before high school baseball tryouts, Markovich felt the pull to come back.
The 18-year-old hopped in his 2013 Chevy Impala and drove more than 20 hours from Missoula, to have a high school baseball season he never was able to have in Montana, one of three states that doesn’t have the spring high school sport. But Desert Ridge High School does, and that’s where Markovich headed.
“I was exhausted when I got home,” Markovich said.
Home this spring has been living with senior outfielder and friend Alex Cruz, whose father Jimmy opened up their house for Markovich.
They were childhood friends and spent their freshman year together at Queen Creek Casteel.
Now they’re at Mesa Desert Ridge, where Markovich is hitting .400 (4 for 10) and has college coaches looking at him.
“He’s a great kid,” Jimmy Cruz said. “For everything he’s been through, he’s a really good kid, very respectful.”
It’s always, ‘Yes, sir, no, sir,” with Markovich, a humble man who lost his best friend, his father, in June 2018, while they were living in the Valley.
James Markovich, who played football in college and competed in wrestling and baseball growing up in Montana, died by suicide at age 38 in a 2018 garage fire, according to Chella Markovich, Ayden’s mom.
Ayden was almost 16 at the time. His sister Asher was 12.
James Markovich coached his son in every sport.
“My children are some of the strongest people,” said Chella, who remained in Missoula with Ayden’s sister while Ayden returned to Desert Ridge. “Their dad instilled some wonderful things in them. The one thing they are determined, strong willed, continue to move forward.
“Ayden right off the bat, he said he felt his dad with him. He can feel him in his heart and his soul, his presence. He felt it right away. He has with peace with him, that he’s taking care of him.”
It was hard for Markovich to leave following his father’s death. But he knew his mother needed to surround herself with family and friends in Montana, people who were there for her growing up.
His father helped him with wrestling and MMA fighting. Ayden was big into contact sports. He played football at Montana, where he was a star running back.
Although Montana doesn’t have high school baseball, there is American Legion baseball that starts in the summer.
“Me and him were always together, one way or another,” Ayden said. “My mom really wanted to get home to family for the emotional support. I wanted
to stay because of baseball and my academics.
“I know it’s a completely different game in Montana. I knew that. My little sister wanted to stay. She had friends. She loved it down here, us kids did. But there was a point my mom needed to come home. She needed the support from her family.”
Ayden competed in football and wrestling in Missoula, and played Legion baseball in the summer. But he felt he was missing out on the high school baseball experience.
With Cruz welcoming him to return and play at Desert Ridge, Ayden jumped at it.
“It was bittersweet, to be honest,” Chella said. “It’s his senior year, but I know that if I didn’t give him the opportunity to achieve things that he hadn’t been able to do before, that would be letting him down. I said, ‘OK, this is what you want.’ We made the decision together.”
Markovich’s natural position was third base or shortstop. That spot was taken so he played first base for the first time just to get into the Desert Ridge lineup. He bats left-handed.
He had to go through all of the eligibility requirements.
“He’s playing out of position,” coach Joseph Ponce said. “He’s a physically strong kid. He’s been great for us. What a great ability for me to be a part of his process.”
Markovich and Alex Cruz ifirst became friends n the eighth grade. They were best friends. James Markovich
treated Alex like a son.
“It’s awesome to have your best friend back, after a tragedy like that,” Alex Cruz said. “Especially with how close I was with his dad.
“He’s just naturally so talented at baseball. He took a year off going to Montana. He came back. Took a week or two that it was rough. After that, now he’s one of the best hitters on this team.”
Markovich is hopeful of getting a college baseball scholarship.
If it doesn’t work out, he knows at least he tried, that he didn’t waste his senior season, always thinking back, “What could have been?”
“It was kind of sad,” he said about leaving Arizona two years ago. “I knew there’d be a long period of no baseball and I had big dreams I wasn’t able to fulfill at the time. At the end of the day, I knew that had to be done for her mental state. I bit the bullet and was by her side the whole time.”
When he said goodbye to his mom, Markovich said it was positive.
“She was really confident letting me go, knowing that I had chosen family over everyting else,” Ayden said. “She knew I had the right intentions the whole way. She felt she could trust me. I had the thought process correct. It was a great leave. Nothing too sad.”
Chella trusted her son’s instincts, his sudden move.
“This kid is invincible,” she said. “He’s the most wonderful, happy-golucky guy. It’s kind of scary for me, but this is what he wanted.”