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I am pleased I made that rather long drive to cover the last game of the Shawe Memorial Sectional #60 featuring the Hauser Jets and the Trinity Lutheran Cougars, and I know other faithful Hauser fans feel the same. It was a well-played game by both teams with an ending that will be etched in memories for a long time.

Fortunately, Trinity left the bases loaded without scoring in the top of the 2nd They had two hits and a walk but there was a pop up and two strike outs.

In the top of the 3rd, Trinity scored first with one run with a triple followed by a single. A walk started the inning; however, the runner was picked off first base. That was a key out since they would have scored two runs. Hauser scored two runs in the bottom of the third with two consecutive well-placed bunt hits starting the inning followed by a line drive hit to right field scoring one run and a throw to home advancing the other runners. A ground out then scored the other run.

In the top of the 4th, Trinity had two hits with a walk. They would have scored but a runner was thrown out trying to steal second. In the bottom of the 4th , Hauser had a hit, and a balk sent that runner to second. There was a ground out play to first that developed, and the Hauser runner from second was cut down at the plate while being aggressive and hoping to catch Trinity off guard.

In the bottom of the 5th, Hauser had a walk, but that runner was picked off first or would have scored due to a hit and an error. Then, Trinity plated two runs in the top of the 7th with a base hit followed by a home run taking the lead 3-2. There was rightly a major celebration by the Cougars at home plate. I was wondering how Hauser would react. Then again, nine (9) seniors, as well as the ten (10) underclassmen, did not want their season to end. Hauser started the bottom of the seventh with a ground out. Then, there were three consecutive hits with a fielding error that resulted in two runs and another celebration in the home plate area with the Jets pulling out the 4-3 victory.

The Shawe Memorial All-Sectional Team was named with Hauser well represented by RJ Foster, Kameron Blair, Stryker Gill, James Oliver, and Brady Miller. That's quite the honor, and I know they give much credit to their teammates, coaches, and family.

I stayed behind to observe Hauser players surrounded by family and friends on the field for photographs. This special moment will rightly be placed in the history of Hauser sports and remembered fondly by all there.

Afterward, I had a chance to chat with Hauser's head coach, Mike Flack. Years ago, I had Mike as a student in fifth grade. I asked if he ever thought he would be on the technology staff at Hauser and the head baseball coach when in fifth grade. Coach Flack said, “I certainly didn't think about that then, even later. It just happened! Hauser needed a technology technician in 2012, and I was also given the opportunity to be a part of the baseball program.”

Then, I asked how it felt to have two Sectional Championship Teams in his first two years of coaching varsity when such a feat is never easy to accomplish. Coach Flack said, “I am blessed and must give a lot of credit to Coach Schoen and Coach Long. They established a great program that of course starts well before high school, so others deserve credit too.”

Finally, I asked him how proud he was of this team. Coach Flack stressed, “It would be impossible to find enough words to express all my praise and thankfulness for this group and the ones before. It's not very often a coach has nine (9) seniors, and I don't really want to say goodbye to any of them. Hopefully, we can find a way to win the regional this time, even go beyond.”

Please try to support them in the regional as they will compete against North Decatur at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6 at Jennings County. It is a relief for the Jet Nation that we don't have to travel the distance as required for the basketball regional.

Note: I asked Mike if he ever played basketball in the famous Burney Barn that his grandparents owned and allowed others to play in as long as they followed a few simple rules. I even played there in my younger years when teaching at Hope Elementary. He said, “Oh yes! My brother, Tony, and I spent lots of time there going at it. Mom would know immediately where we had been when entering the house. Once, I even broke my wrist. You might say we were somewhat competitive.”

Mike's competitiveness obviously continues today, and he is very appreciative for the position he's in and all those who he is surrounded by.