Paige McDaniel
By Rob Deweese
For The Republic
RISING SUN — In a battle that saw two Class A top-five ranked teams going toe to toe for a sectional championship in Rising Sun Saturday afternoon, it was No. 2 Hauser outlasting No. 3 Rising Sun to capture its second straight crown 4-3.
“That is a very good ball team that we beat today. They are solid all around, infield, outfield and pitching,” Hauser coach Andy Brunner said. “If we are No. 2, then they are definitely No. 3.”
Jets hurler Paige McDaniel gave up two earned runs, scattering nine hits in the complete game victory. That was a drastic improvement over her performance against the Shiners earlier in the season, where she gave up five earned runs in an 8-6 loss.
“It was definitely warmer today, and that makes a difference. I was also hitting my spots consistently. Coach Brunner has told me to pitch for outs, not to blow people away,” McDaniel said. “I have confidence in my defense, and today, they played great.”
Hauser (22-4-1) got on the board early. After an infield hit and a stolen base by Lucie Asher, cleanup hitter Kenze Bostic laced a ball up the middle that bounced off of the Rising Sun pitcher and rolled all the way between first and second base. That allowed Asher to score from second and give the Jets an early 1-0 lead.
After McDaniel had escaped some early trouble in the top of the first when Rising Sun (21-3) put runners on first and second, she cruised through the second and third innings with no trouble. Unfortunately for Hauser, so did Shiners pitcher Cora Poling, who held the Jets at bay.
McDaniel ran into more trouble in the fourth. Poling led off with a double to the gap in right-center. However, on the very next play, Rising Sun’s Ella Eldridge grounded to third, and Poling wandered too far
from second. Jets third baseman Kyra Meister threw behind Poling, who was then tagged out trying to run back to third. From there, McDaniel retired the next two batters to keep the Shiners scoreless.
Reagan Johnson
Hauser did not break through for a run again until the fifth. Raegan Johnson led off with a double to left-center. Haylin Campbell came up next and promptly singled home courtesy runner Madison Hollman to give the Jets a 2-0 lead. Following a groundout, Izzy Brunner singled home Campbell to give Hauser a 3-0 lead heading into the sixth.
Rising Sun then came to life in their half of the sixth. Poling singled for her second hit of the game. Eldridge then grounded to third, but Meister’s throw pulled Brunner off the bag, giving the Shiners runners at first and second with nobody out. But once again, McDaniel got herself out of trouble, inducing a ground ball that turned into a double play. The next hitter singled home Poling, but that is the only run Rising Sun would get in the inning, and Hauser maintained a 3-1 lead.
The Jets would answer, however, in their half of the sixth, scoring what would end up being the decisive run. Following two quick outs, Johnson came through again, smashing her second double of the game. Campbell again followed with her second hit of the game, moving courtesy runner Hollman to third. Asher then singled home Hollman, giving Hauser a three-run cushion heading into the final inning.
“I was seeing the ball well today, and I felt comfortable. It doesn’t matter where we are in the order. Coach Brunner is confident in all of us. Order only matters the first time through,” said Johnson, who batted eighth in the order.
After a quick groundout, the Shiners’ Josie Hall singled. The next batter, Nora Powell grounded to Brunner at second, who quickly fired to Jets’ shortstop Hannah Taylor for what appeared to be the
second out of the inning. Hall was called safe however, and in the confusion, ran to third. Rising Sun’s Ella Eldridge then singled sharply, scoring Hall and Powell and cutting the Jets’ lead to 4-3 with still only one out.
But, as she had done all game long, McDaniel came through in the clutch and retired the next two hitters, ending the game and giving Hauser the championship victory.
“Paige threw well and hit her spots, with the exception on one pitch today. We have 12 girls that can crush the ball and put the ball in play. If we keep putting pressure on the defense, good things happen, and our team can do that,” Brunner said.
Taylor, Johnson and Campbell all finished 2 for 3 for the Jets. Asher went 2 for 4.
Up next for Hauser will be the regional championship game against Indianapolis Lutheran on Tuesday at Hauser.
