By Cort Reynolds
Visiting Kenton put together two seven-run innings to defeat the Ada baseball team 16-5 in a county rivalry battle Wednesday evening.
The Bulldogs fell to 8-9 with the non-league defeat, and the Wildcats improved to 4-9 with the win.
Kenton broke up a scoreless game with seven runs in the top of the third inning, then scored seven more in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Ada plated two runs in the home fourth. Phillip Coulson stole two bases and came around to score the first Bulldog run. Connor Frazier looped a single to center field to cut the deficit to 7-2.
The Wildcats tallied a run in the top of the fifth frame. Ada threatened in the bottom of the fifth. But with two and one out, a line drive to the outfield was turned into a twin killing as the runner strayed too far away second base and was doubled off.
In the top of the sixth, Wildcat Seth Creamer legged out a triple and scored on an RBI single from Garrett Thomas to extend the lead to 9-2.
The Bulldogs scored two times in the home sixth. The first run came home from third on a high, errant throw. Jaylin Burkhart then drove in a run with a solid single.
But the next two batters went down on strikes and on a force-out grounder to end the threat, still down 9-4.
In the seventh, Kenton took advantage of three errors to go ahead 16-4. A walk, two errors and a two-run single started the big rally.
Another misplay set the stage for a second two-run single up the middle. A walk, steal and an RBI grounder built the lead to 12.
In the Ada seventh, Coulson sliced a double to right just under the glove of the Wildcat outfielder. Ethan Hall singled him home, but a groundout to second base ended the game.
Brandon Hull singled twice and scored a run from the leadoff spot for Ada. Coulson swiped three bases, scored twice and drove in a run. Frazier had two singles and one RBI.
Burkhart collected a hit and one RBI, while Tyler Jameson walked and drove in a run. Austin Amburgey walked twice and scored a run.
Luke Fackler led the Wildcat offense with three hits, three RBI, two steals and a run. Creamer tripled, singled, scored three runs, swiped two bags and had one RBI. Bobby Halsey drove in three runs.
Kenton's Ace Baum singled twice, had two stolen bases, scored a run and drove in one.
Thomas and Halsey combined to scatter eight hits and allow three earned runs. The duo struck out five. At the plate, Thomas walked twice, scored twice, singled and drove in one run.
Kenton out-hit Ada, 12-8. Each team drew four walks.
Both teams left seven runners on base. The Bulldogs made six errors and the Wildcats committed three miscues.
123 456 7 R H E
Ken 007 011 7 16 12 3
Ada 000 202 1 5 8 6
WP-Thomas LP-Blankenship (2-3)
2B-Halsey (K), Coulson (A)
3B-Creamer (K)
The Bulldogs (1-4 NWC) are scheduled to visit Spencerville (4-13, 2-3 NWC) Thursday, April 25. The Bearcats knocked off Allen East 5-3 Monday in league play to move into a fifth-place tie, just ahead of seventh-place Ada.
