Hauser celebrates its regional victory over Indianapolis Lutheran Tuesday May 31, 2022 at Hauser.
Greg Jones | For The Republic
HOPE — Heading into Tuesday’s regional softball game between Class A No. 2 Hauser and Indianapolis Lutheran, the host team in this regional had come out on the losing end every year since 2014.
The Jets broke that homefield curse.
Hauser left no doubt in anyone’s mind by tallying 17 hits to rout the Saints 17-2 in five innings to claim back-to-back regional titles.
“It’s really exciting, especially with this new team. We have a really strong lineup all the way through, and I’m glad that we could do it again this year,” Hauser junior shortstop Hannah Taylor said.
The Jets (22-4-1) move on to face Trinity Lutheran, which upset co-No. 7 West Washington 5-2 on Tuesday, in the North Daviess Semistate semifinals at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. No. 1 Tecumseh will take on co-No. 7 Clay City in the second game, and the winners will meet for the semistate championship at 7 p.m.
“It’s definitely exciting,” said junior third baseman Kyra Meister, who went 4 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. “I’m proud of my teammates and loved how the team worked throughout the season.”
Hauser wasted no time getting on the board when it put up six runs in the bottom of the first inning to lead 6-0. Meister had an RBI-single, Maley Jordan had a bases-loaded walk to drive in a run, Kenze Bostic delivered a two-run double and starting pitcher Paige McDaniel slapped a two-run single for the 6-0 lead.
After the Saints picked up a run in the top of the second, Taylor and Reagan Johnson each hit doubles in the bottom half of the inning and later scored to extend the lead to 8-1.
The Jets put the game away with six runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth.
“Every time they come out, they fight, they figure it out. They work through adversity,” Hauser coach Andy Brunner said. “It was a really, really awesome job. We’re performing well. Saturday is going to be a tough day. I would not want to go into either one of those games with anybody other than these 12 players.”
For the game, Bostic was 3 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs, Johnson was 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs, Taylor was 2 for 3 with a double, Izzy Brunner was 2 for 4, Jordan was 1 for 2 with two RBIs and Taylor was 1 for 3 with a double. McDaniel and Kaydence Gates combined on an eight-hitter.
Andy Brunner mentioned that his team has been more disciplined at the plate the past two games, combining for only one strikeout.
“You put the ball in play, you make the defense make the plays, eventually you’re going to win some and that’s what it boils down to,” he said. “Keep putting pressure on the defense, keep playing clean defense on our side.”
Hauser now turns its attention to Trinity. The teams played each other during the regular season with the Jets winning 10-0 in five innings on May 10.
“We can’t overlook anybody. We have to show up, we have to get our jobs done and execute on both sides of the ball,” Andy Brunner said.
