Jets Dominate the Twisters and Celebrate First Sectional Championship in Seven Years

It may be Mike Flack’s first year as the Jets baseball skipper, but he’s no stranger to Hauser baseball. He may have seen more Hauser Varsity and JV baseball games in the past 30 years as anyone. The 1996 Hauser grad played four years, then followed his younger brother Tony during his four-year stint. Since 2012 he’s been a volunteer assistant for the Varsity and Junior Varsity squads before taking over the helm. Flack is a quiet leader, but his players respect and work hard night in and night out.

Hauser entered their sectional as the favorite with a 16-3 regular season record and undefeated in the Mid Hoosier Conference. Jets pitchers (Simeon Wasil and Kameron Blair) only surrendered one run the entire sectional. Wasil blanked host Jac-Cen-Del 6-0 while Blair shut out Rising Sun 13-0.

The only run came in the top of the first inning in Monday night’s Championship game against Oldenburg Academy. Twister’s lead-off batter Zack Hoff reached base on an infield error, but was quickly eliminated as Weber grounded into a double play. Wasil then walked his pitching counterpart Jacob Stenger on four pitches. Stenger immediately scored when Twister cleanup hitter Connor Holder drilled the first pitch he saw for a triple.

Hauser didn’t waste any time getting to work at the plate. RJ Foster reached on an infield error, and then advanced to second base on an error by Stenger. Jets catcher Stryker Gill then put down a perfect bunt for a hit sending Foster to third. Wasil’s single scored Foster and moved Gill to third. Following a Holden Pittman strikeout, Blair grounded out to shortstop scoring Gill as Wasil went to third. Lucas Christian singled to center to plate Wasil and gave Hauser a 3-1 lead.

Gill’s two out solo homerun shot over the left field fence put Hauser up 4-1. The only two scoreless innings for Hauser were in the third and fourth.

In the bottom of the fifth Foster singled, and moved to second on an error. Gill singled to left to drive in Foster. Gill stole second, and then moved third on a passed ball. Wasil jumped into the homerun game when he drilled a Stenger fastball to right field to increase the lead to 7-1.

Hauser played add-on in the bottom of the sixth. After the first two batters were retired, Kase Meister, Foster, and Gill hit consecutive doubles putting the Jets up 9-1. In the top of the seventh, Twister’s Ecstein lined out to Pittman at first.

Wasil finished things himself by striking out the last two Twisters to take home the Championship. Wasil was the winning pitcher going seven innings, struck out 10, and only allowing one earned run. Hauser had nine runs on 11 hits. The Jets defense came up big as they picked off Oldenburg base runners during crucial times during the game.

Afterwards, the team celebrated on the field with family and some fans for pictures. Coach Flack was taking everything in watching his team.

“This team, and this championship means more than some may realize,” said Flack. “It’s special because it’s my first as a head coach, but more importantly because of this group of kids”.

An assistant is usually in the dugout to build players up who may have gotten torn into by the head coach. Many times, the assistant builds that trusting bond with the players, which is where Flack has been since 2012.

“They are my kids, my family,” Flack said.

The Jets are currently riding a 14-game winning streak with a record of 19-3 overall. They will face Knightstown (23-4) in the one game Regional at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mitchell High School.  

Four Jets players were named to the All-Sectional Team; Kameron Blair, RJ Foster, Stryker Gill, and MVP Simeon Wasil.

An interesting side note. Flack is the second head coach in his family to win a Sectional at Hauser. His Uncle, Joe Burney, was the first coach in Hauser history, leading the girls basketball team in 1982. (Single class tournament.)