OSGOOD — Oldenburg Academy nearly got to Hauser starter Sam Meek in the first-round sectional matchup Wednesday night at Jac-Cen-Del.
Nearly.
The Twisters loaded the bases in the first inning with one out, but Meek was able to get out of the inning with a strikeout and a pop-out to escape the jam unscathed. And from there, Meek was on cruise control, dominating the Twisters in a 10-0, six-inning victory.
Meek threw six innings, striking out nine while walking three in the shutout in his return from a chipped bone above his ankle.
Offensively, the Class A No. 2 Jets (18-8) jumped out of the gate quickly in their half of the first. Jon Hatton drew a walk and stole second. Trey Johnson then singled to bring Hatton to the plate with Hauser’s first run.
The Jets struck again in the second, with three of the first four batters drawing a walk from Oldenburg starter Andrew Oesterling, loading the bases. After Kameron Lawson scored on a wild pitch, Jacob Johnson laid down a perfect bunt. On the play, Oesterling overthrew first, allowing two more runs to score. The Jets were able to add a final run in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Sean Miller. In all, Hauser scored four runs in the inning on only one hit to take a 5-0 lead.
The Jets were able to tack another run on in the fourth, as pinch runner Hunter Hounshell stole second, causing a throwing error by the Twisters’ catcher, which allowed him to take third. A wild pitch then allowed Hounshell to score, giving Hauser a 6-0 lead after four.
The Jets put the game away with a four-run sixth. A walk and three straight singles began the inning. Jon Hatton then hit a sacrifice fly, and Johnson grounded sharply to second. The second baseman, however, overthrew home allowing Hauser to score its 10th run to end the game.
Johnson led the Jets attack with a double, two singles, and two RBIs.
Hauser will play North Decatur, which upset Class A No. 4 Rising Sun, in the semifinals at 11 a.m. Monday. South Decatur will meet Jac-Cen-Del in the second semifinal, and the championship game will be at 7 p.m. Monday.
