Paige McDaniel
By Rob Deweese
For The Republic
ELNORA — Class A No. 2 Hauser ran into a buzzsaw in the semistate championship game Saturday night at North Daviess in the form of the Tecumseh Braves, falling 10-3, one game short of playing for a state championship.
The top-ranked Braves flexed their muscles from the top to the bottom of their lineup, banging out 16 hits in the game, three of which were for extra bases.
“That is by far the best team we have played this year. They are solid from top to bottom,” Hauser coach Andy Brunner said.
After allowing two runs in the first inning, Hauser pitcher Paige McDaniel settled down and held the Braves scoreless for the next two innings. The Jets (24-5-1) were able to cut the lead in half, 2-1 after Lucie Asher reached on an infield single. Izzy Brunner than grounded to third, but the throw to first ended up in right field, allowing Asher to score from first.
McDaniel seemed to have the Braves shut down in their half of the fourth, getting two quick outs. However, Tecumseh exploded from there. The Braves rapped five straight hits to score four 2-out runs to open up a 6-1 lead.
“I went to the mound to talk to the girls because we had this happen last year against Clay City where we allowed nine runs with two outs. I told them it wasn’t going to happen again,” Brunner said. “We gave up two more after my talk, but eventually got out of it.”
Six runs would be all Braves’ hurler Ashtyn Green would need. She kept Hauser off-balance all game long, specifically with her rise ball, not allowing the Jets any solid contact.
“She spins the ball really well. She did it in their first game this morning, and she continued to do it tonight. She and that team were solid in every aspect of the game tonight,” Brunner said.
Unfortunately for the Jets, the Braves were able to tack on two runs in each of the next two innings to put the game away and advance to Saturday’s Class A championship game.
Asher and McDaniel led Hauser at the plate, each with two hits for the game. Brunner collected the RBI for the Jets.
In the semifinals, Hauser benefitted from some shaky Trinity Lutheran defense and a dominant pitching performance from McDaniel to defeat the Cougars 4-1. Trinity committed three costly errors, allowing the Jets to score three unearned runs.
McDaniel handled things from there. She threw a complete game one-hit shutout while striking out 11 and walking only one. Asher and Brunner led the offensive charge for Hauser. Asher has two hits and scored two runs. Brunner had three hits, stole three bases and also scored two runs to lead the Jets to the victory.
This is the second straight year the Jets have fallen in the semistate round, but they will still have everyone coming back next year to make another run, as they have no seniors on their roster.
“I told the girls after the game that we have a unique opportunity to come back again. We will work hard, get bigger, stronger, and better and be ready to go,” Brunner said.
