Hauser’s Paige McDaniel fires a pitch to the plate against Columbus East April 9 at Columbus East High School.
The Republic file photo
When her senior season ends later in the spring, Paige McDaniel will be highly touted as one of the best to ever to step foot inside the circle for Hauser softball.
McDaniel has broken many pitching records throughout her career. She’ll look to add more titles and records as the season winds down.
“I normally don’t say it a lot, but I’m really proud of myself. I came really, really far,” McDaniel said. “I still have a lot to learn. I still have further to push, and college season is going to be better.”
As much success as McDaniel has seen her softball career, she got to witness success when she was in elementary school. She grew up watching the likes of Tessa Sims dominating the mound and intimidating batters at the plate. Sims led the Jets to a state title as a freshman in 2015, to the final four her sophomore year and a regional title her senior year.
McDaniel realized during her time with the program that she’s grown into her own type of pitcher.
“I’ve been compared to Tessa when I first started, but I really wanted to go out and be my own person, and I felt like I accomplished that,” McDaniel said. “I wasn’t expecting to get any records. I just wanted to play good ball and make a statement.”
McDaniel sure did. This season, she’s made some career milestones.
McDaniel became only the second pitcher in school history, along with Sims, to record at least 500 career strikeouts. She also broke Sims’ career wins record of 65 during a game with Waldron last month.
McDaniel was honored with a ceremony prior to the April 24 doubleheader with North Decatur with a couple plaques that were presented by Hauser athletics director Tyler Phillips and principal Kris Fortune on reaching the milestones.
“My hat’s off to her. She’s a good kid. She puts in the work. She’s had a really good team behind her. It’s fun to be a part of the 500 strikeouts,” Hauser coach Andy Brunner said. “All the respect in the world to Tessa because Tessa worked her butt off for those wins in her tenure, but Paige has, as well. A couple of absolute monsters on the mound. It’s awesome to be a part of it. She works, and she wants to get better. The fun part about Paige is that she’s always going to be Paige. It’s really cool to be a part of it.”
Hauser’s Paige McDaniel fires a pitch to the plate March 25 against Jennings County at Hauser High School.
The Republic file photo
While she has had success in the circle, going 10-4 with a 1.87 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 75 innings, McDaniel also is enjoying her best season at the plate. She leads the 12-4 Jets with a .564 batting average, three home runs and 19 RBIs.
McDaniel has helped Hauser to three Mid-Hoosier Conference championships, three sectional titles and three regional titles and has advanced to the state’s Final Four in Class A in 2022 and in Class 2A in 2023. The Jets lost to the eventual state champion in both those years.
“It gives me a lot of confidence for college that I’m going to do good things,” McDaniel said. “I’m really excited for next year. I’m excited that I’m going to be out here (at Hauser) a lot and support my teammates.”
Paige McDaniel
It will be bittersweet when McDaniel’s time at Hauser comes to a close, but a new chapter awaits. She will be continuing her softball career at Oakland City.
McDaniel hopes to add another conference title, sectional title and more as the curtain of her illustrious high school career begins to close.
“It’s a small college. Hauser’s really small. I like the small school vibes, and it was a no-doubter,” McDaniel said. “I wanted to have a life outside of softball. I do love softball, but I also love doing other things in my free time, so I didn’t make my entire life softball because I felt I could get burned out if I did.”
