OSGOOD — On paper, in the matchup between Oldenburg Academy and Hauser in Monday’s Jac-Cen Del baseball sectional semifinal, the Jets looked to be a clear favorite.
That wasn’t the case.
Hauser, the top-ranked team in Class A, had runners in scoring position at multiple times, but couldn’t get the extra hit necessary to push them across the plate, and saw its season come to an end with a 3-2 loss.
It wasn’t the result the Jets (19-6) wanted, but they did manage to go unbeaten in the Mid-Hoosier Conference and played a very tough out-of-conference schedule.
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“I thought we fared very well against a tough non-conference schedule,” Hauser coach Nate Long said. “We had a couple runs of five or six wins (in a row). I thought we played well throughout the season. We played very well to win a lot more ballgames because in the games we lost, we were right in it. That shows the resiliency of this group.
The Twisters got on the board first when a hit batter and a walk put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners and then a fielder’s choice netted them a 1-0 lead.
The Jets got the run back in the bottom of the third, thanks to a couple of errors by Oldenburg to make it 1-1.
The Twisters responded in the top of the fourth inning when Matt Sedler and Riley Schelber hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. A hit batter then loaded the bases, and Patrick Thompson plated two runs with a single to extend the lead to 3-1.
Hauser got one back in the bottom of the sixth when Kobe Meahl led off with a double. Kameron Lawson then walked, and a fielder’s choice put runners on first and third. Parker Eickbush then smacked an RBI-double to cut the lead to 3-2.
The Jets had one final chance in the bottom of the seventh when Meahl singled with two out and advanced to second after a walk. But a grounder to third to put away the game.
Hauser returns plenty of talent, but will lose senior starters Aaron Mee, Sean Miller, Will Trotter, Jacob Luken and Lawson.
“They led by example in the classroom, on the field and in the offseason,” Long said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group. I just wished we could have ended it on a better note for them. They play the game the right way. They play the game hard and really set an attitude and tone, and I couldn’t be prouder of that group. I’m going to take the rest of the day and spend it with my seniors and enjoy their time.”
