A line drive off of a change-up pitch that flew right into the right leg of Hauser pitcher Sam Meek earlier in the season was almost the defining moment in the final year of Meek’s high school baseball career.
The senior pitcher was sidelined for the remainder of that game against Lawrenceburg, and he said it felt fine during the Jets next game against Southwestern (Shelby). However, he felt some pain when running after the game that caused him to believe something might be wrong.
Meek visited the doctor about two weeks after the hit to find out he had a fractured right fibula that originally was supposed to sideline him for the rest of the season.
“It was awful,” Meek said of the news. “I felt bad the rest of the day. I just thought I let my team down, and I wanted to do anything to come back to them.”
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Eventually, Meek got his chance to return. He missed the middle portion of the season before he was cleared to play after a check-up appointment with his doctor. Meek showed no rust at the mound on April 26 when he struck out 21 Morristown batters — the most in a game in the state since current Minnesota Twin Lance Lynn struck out 22 for Brownsburg in 2005.
But a re-aggravation to his leg while running the bases put Meek out for the rest of the regular season. Fortunately for Hauser, Meek rejoined the team a second time to pitch a full game in a 10-0 opening-round Jac-Cen-Del Sectional victory against Oldenburg Academy. He did it again Monday to lead Class A No. 2-ranked Jets to a 7-2 win against North Decatur in the semifinals.
Meek didn’t hit in the sectional, and played only first base for part of the time during Monday night’s sectional championship win against Jac-Cen-Del. He will return to the mound for the first round of the Morristown Regional against No. 10 Shakamak at around 12:15 p.m. Saturday.
The Bluffton University baseball commit is done batting for the year, and Hauser coach Nate Long is limiting his running as much as possible. Meek doesn’t participate in any team sprints, but visits school trainer Amy Shipp every day to complete stretches and exercises that will help keep him in game shape. He’ll complete some elastic band activities, lower body, upper body and slight jogging workouts with the trainer.
Although Meek isn’t able to compete in the full capacity that he is used to as a pitcher and hitter, Long said still being able to have Meek as a pitcher is a big deal for the team.
“When you have your ace on the mound, everybody tends to relax a little bit and play a little bit better,” Long said. “They’re usually in their normal spots in the infield and outfield. When you can do that for a small school like us, it gives us a chance to really play. There is a comfort level there, and there is an experience level there (and) you can’t teach that.”
Meek said he does feel a little bit of pain from time to time when he is running, but it doesn’t affect his ability to pitch. He doesn’t even notice he has an injury while on the mound. He also said that he felt like jumping for joy when he first heard he would be able to return to pitching and was happy he was able to be a part of Hauser’s first sectional championship team since 2007.
“That is something I’ll always remember for the rest of my life with the story I’ve had,” Meek said.
Meek also likes the Jets’ chances of making it past the regional if they continue to compete like they have been.
“I feel like this team is good enough that if we play like we should, we can beat anyone,” he said.
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Morristown Regional
Saturday
10 a.m.: Indianapolis Lutheran (14-10) vs. University (25-6)
Noon: Hauser (20-8) vs. Shakamak (19-9)
7 p.m.: Championship
Admission: $7 per session or $10 for both sessions
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