Reagan Johnson
HOPE — The Hauser softball team wasted no time in defeating visiting Morristown 17-0 in five innings to claim the outright Mid-Hoosier Conference title Monday night.
The Jets can go unbeaten in the conference in back-to-back seasons if they win against the Yellow Jackets again tonight.
Monday also was senior night for Hauser seniors Reagan Johnson, Kylie Mack, Kyra Meister and Hannah Taylor. This is the third straight title for the seniors after missing their freshman year because of the COVID pandemic.
“We were definitely hyped about it. We were ready to go,” Johnson said. “Coming into this, we were all super sad. We were crying in the dugout before the game. It really hyped the team up for tonight, and getting the win was even better heading into postseason.”
The Jets (18-6, 11-0) put away the game early by scoring nine runs in the first inning and adding another six runs in the second. They scored a run in the third and fourth innings. Everyone in the Hauser dugout got some playing time and an at-bat in the win.
For the game, Paige McDaniel finished 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, Lucie Asher went 3 for 3, Taylor was 2 for 3 with a double, Izzy Brunner went 2 for 3 and Johnson was 1 for 1 with a double.
Hauser outhit Morristown 16-1. McDaniel and Reagan Mack combined on the one-hit shutout.
“It’s been good,” Johnson reflected about playing for the Jets. “It was a lot of emotions, obviously, playing with the girls made me a better teammate, made me a better individual. I love all the girls individually and as teammates. They’re awesome.”
Hauser wraps up the regular season today at Morristown, then hosts East Central on Wednesday and plays at Columbus North on Thursday. The Jets will begin sectional play May 23 against Switzerland County at Brownstown Central.
“I’d like to have the COVID year back, but these kids for three years have been a huge piece. We’ll be in the same situation here again in a couple years with the sophomore class. They come in waves, and this wave is a tremendous one,” Hauser coach Andy Brunner said. “I’m going to miss these kids, but we have a whole lot of ball left to play. Sectional starting next week, they’ll be some really good games there, and I feel like we hit our stride, and I’m excited to go play it.”
