Hauser’s toughest game en route to a semistate final appearance last softball season came in the first round of the sectional.
The Jets, who were coming off the Class A state championship, squeaked out a 1-0 win against Jac-Cen-Del and its standout pitcher, Morgan Carroll.
Carroll, who has committed to Cedarville (Ohio), is back this year, and she’ll get another crack at Hauser. The Class A No. 3 Jets will open sectional play against the Eagles again this season the week of May 22 at Rising Sun.
“Jac-Cen-Del has a great pitcher,” Hauser coach Craig Sims said after the IHSAA tournament draw was posted Friday night. “I think Carroll can keep a team from scoring or hold them to one run, and we’re going to have to find a way to match that. Their center fielder and leadoff batter is a quick kid that does a great job, too.”
South Decatur will play host Rising Sun in the sectional opener the same night, and the winner of that game will meet the winner between Hauser and Jac-Cen-Del in the semifinals. Oldenburg Academy and Madison Shawe will meet in the other semifinal.
Meanwhile, Columbus North will play Bloomington South in the opener of the Class 4A Bloomington North Sectional, which will be at Winslow Park. The Bull Dogs (0-14) will visit the Panthers (2-10) May 9, then could see them again May 13 in the Conference Indiana Tournament.
“I like our first game,” Columbus North coach Ron McDonald said. “We’ll get a good chance to look at them here in the next couple of weeks. We match up with them pretty well, I think.”
Bloomington North and East Central will play in the second first round game, and the winner will meet the Columbus North-Bloomington South winner in the semifinals. Columbus East and Shelbyville drew first-round byes and will meet in the second semifinal.
Shelbyville beat the visiting Olympians 3-2 on April 21.
“If you’re drawing it up, I think that’s as good as you could do. We’re anxious to play Shelbyville again and get another shot at them. If you get into that championship game, it’s anybody’s ballgame.”
McDonald said his team’s chances hinge on the health of pitcher Madisyn Prince, who is recovering from an ACL injury.
“I think Bloomington North is the favorite,” McDonald said. “Their pitcher, Kensey Ridge is just an unbelievable pitcher. Our whole thing is how healthy Madisyn will be. If she’s fully healthy, we have a shot to compete with a lot of good teams.”
Jennings County will play 4A No. 5 Bedford North Lawrence in the opening round of the Floyd Central Sectional. The winner will face Seymour or Jeffersonville in the semifinals. Floyd Central and New Albany will meet in the other semifinal.
In Class 3A, Brown County will play Owen Valley in the opening round of the Sullivan Sectional. The winner will face Northview or Edgewood in the semifinals. Sullivan and West Vigo will meet in the other semifinal.
Edinburgh will play Southwestern (Shelby) in the first round of its own Class A sectional and would meet Morristown in the semifinals. Greenwood Christian Academy and Waldron will meet in the other semifinal.
Also in Class A, Trinity Lutheran will play West Washington in the semifinals of the West Washington Sectional. Orleans will meet Crothersville in the other semifinal.
Dates and times for the sectional games have yet to be determined.
