By Cort Reynolds
DEFIANCE - The Ada tennis team finished a close second in the six-team Northern Buckeye Tennis League tournament at Defiance College's George M. Smart Athletic Center on Friday.
Bryan ended the two-year Bulldog hold on the league title when Jay Fortner captured the first singles championship over Ada senior Cade Mullins.
Freshman Fortner won the decisive match for the NBTL crown and first singles championship 6-2, 6-1 to ensure Bryan's first NBTL title in five years.
Bryan (13-1) edged Ada 13 points to 12. The Bulldogs won the 2018 NBTL title outright, and finished in a four-way tie for first in 2017.
Ada junior Isaac Spar won the NBTL crown at second singles. Bulldog sophomore Miranda Wills also took first in the third singles flight.
The Bulldog doubles teams both advanced to the semifinals. The tandem of Morgan Swick and Dexter Woods made it to the first doubles flight semis before falling.
Gabe Hasan and Hunter Wells also lost in the semis of the second doubles bracket.
Ada (12-4) hosts Upper Sandusky Monday evening. They entertain Clyde May 8 at ONU in round two of the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association tournament.
Mullins was seeded first at the Div. II singles sectionals slated for May 9/11 at UNOH in Lima. He received a first round bye in the 33-player field.
Spar was seeded fourth and will play Riley Fricke of Elida in round one. Wills faces Kenny Lovett of Bluffton in her first round match. If she advances, she would likely play second seed Tyler Christoff of Elida in round two.
Players must advance to at least the semifinals at sectionals to qualify for the Bowling Green district.
Lady Bulldogs earn 1st NWC win over Bearcats
By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Visiting Ada scored three early runs and went on to defeat Spencerville 6-1 in a Northwest Conference softball game Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Bulldogs improved to 9-10 overall and 1-5 in league play with the victory. Meanwhile, last-place Spencerville fell to 5-16 and 0-6 in the NWC with the defeat.
It was the first game Ada had been able to play in 10 days due to rainy weather.
Bulldog sophomore Leona Dalton hurled a complete-game five-hitter to even her record at 9-9. She struck out 10 and walked one, permitting just one earned run. Dalton had a shutout going into the final inning before Sierra Baumgartner doubled home Krista Market.
Ada tallied three runs in the top of the first inning to seize control. The Bulldogs plated two more in the fourth frame and another run in the fifth to build a 6-0 cushion.
Freshman Lexi White led the offense with three hits, three stolen bases and two runs scored. Senior Raina England tripled home two runs in the first and scored the other run.
Sophomore catcher Lexi Waugh singled home two runs in the fourth. Brenna George contributed a double and a run. Sernio Alexis Ennis had a hit, stole a base and scored a run.
Sophomore Aubrey Madison added a hit and one RBI. Kiersten Cortez also scored a run. Tori Green and Dalton each executed successful sacrifice bunts.
Ada out-hit Spencerville, 8-5. Losing pitcher Kenzie Brown gave up eight hits and four earned runs in seven innings. She struck out three and walked two.
Ada left three runners on base while the Bearcats stranded five. The Bulldogs and the Bearcats were each charged with one miscue.
Ada improved to 2-5 on the road this spring with the win.
123 456 7 R H E
Ada 300 210 0 6 8 1
Svl 000 000 1 1 5 2
WP-Dalton (9-9) LP-Brown
2B-George (A), Baumgartner (S), Butoric (S)
3B-England (A)
Ada (7-5 home) hosts Marion Local Monday, May 6 in Div. IV first round sectional action. The game is set to start at 5 p.m.
