HOPE — Hauser seniors Hailey Lange and Ali Hoover had plenty of reason to celebrate Monday when the Class A No. 3 Jets clinched the outright Mid-Hoosier Conference title with a 15-1 five-inning victory against Morristown.
Lange already was in a prestigious class at Hauser by winning MHC titles in three different sports. Lange now has accomplished that feat in one year, with volleyball and basketball as the other two.
“It’s an awesome feeling, and I’m so excited right now,” said Lange, who will play at Evangel University. “It is great to see the results from all the hard work we’ve been putting in. I’m proud to be a part of Hauser’s teams and play with all the girls that I played with. It was not about luck. It took a lot of years to put that together in every sport to be successful.”
The moment was special for Hoover, as well. She wasn’t on the field for the second half of last season because of a torn ACL. She broke her hand this year and was playing in a cast earlier in the season. She is hopeful the injury bug is behind her so she can finish her athletics career healthy.
“I’m really, really excited, but at the same time, it is kind of emotional knowing that I am playing my final games here with Hauser,” Hoover said. “It’s cool that we won conference, and it has really been a fun season. It’s been a good year. I get to finish playing with Hailey after we’ve grown up together. Hopefully, we can keep things going.”
Hauser coach Craig Sims says it is nice to win the conference but hopes his girls can prepare for upcoming competition Thursday against Columbus North and in the sectional opener against Jac-Cen-Del Monday at Rising Sun.
“It is a small step towards a bigger platform that we want to accomplish,” Sims said.
Lange finished with a double, single and two RBIs. Tessa Sims finished with a double, single and an RBI. Mykenzie Ault tallied three singles and three RBIs. Hoover collected three singles and an RBI. Lauryn Starnes had two singles. Hunter Crain had a double, two singles and two RBIs.
Sydney Schoen pitched a complete game and allowed only three hits and struck out six to earn the win for the Jets.
