Baseball story at the bottom of this story -
By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Homestanding Ada was blindsided by an 11-run fourth inning en route to a 22-2 loss at the hands of Lima Central Catholic in non-conference softball action Thursday evening.
The Lady Bulldog record dropped to 8-6 with the defeat. The Thunderbirds improved to 7-6 with the lopsided victory.
"The 11-run inning definitely took the wind out of our sails," said Ada head coach Rebecca Dicke. "We made way too many errors. They hit the ball hard, but we have to make plays defensively."
LCC scored once in the top of the first inning, then plated six runs in the second to grab a 7-0 lead.
After a scoreless third frame, LCC blew the game open with the fourth-inning onslaught. Winning pitcher Jaylen Roehm pulled a shot down the first base line, and legged out an inside-the-park home run to ignite the outburst.
After a one-out walk, the T-Birds beat out a fielder's choice. Anna Badea ripped an RBI double down the third base line that extended the lead to 9-0. Consecutive run-scoring singles by Madeline Quatman and Abby Watkins made it 11-0.
Another run scored on a fielder's choice, and an Ada error loaded the bases. Pitcher Leona Dalton induced a grounder to third sacker Kiersten Cortez, who threw home to catcher Alexis Waugh for a forceout at the plate.
Batting around, Roehm roped a two-run double off Bulldog second basemen Kayla Wince's leg. Sophia Luchini's soft liner over third base brought home two more baserunners for a 16-0 margin.
Kennedy Parker then crushed a two-run homer well beyond the left field fence to cap the 11-run explosion. After another error, Dalton ended the inning with a strikeout.
Leading off the home fourth, Waugh stroked a solid single to left field. Dalton then lined a home run over the fence in right-center field to provide the Ada runs.
Brenna George reached on a third strike passed ball, followed by a sharp single by Katie Sizemore off the diving T-Bird second baseman's glove.
Morgan Dirmeyer laid down a pinch-hit sacrific bunt to put runners on second and third base. Lexi White then topped a ball in front of the plate and appeared to be safe at first but was called out on a close play to end the threat.
In the top of the fifth, two Ada errors and a hit batter loaded the bases with none out. Catcher Mary Kate Dee and Roehm stroked RBI singles, followed by a two-run double into the gap off the bat of Badea.
After a baserunning out, Bulldog center fielder Tori Green snared a line drive and doubled the LCC runner off first base with an accurate throw to end the half inning.
Cortez walked but was stranded in the bottom of the fifth to finish the run-rule shortened game after five innings.
Waugh singled twice and Daicy Robinson added a single for Ada. Dalton drove in both Bulldog runs with her fourth home run of 2021.
The Bulldogs were out-hit 12-4 by the T-Birds. Parker and Roehm each smacked two home runs for LCC.
"We need to put the ball in play more at the plate, and get more movement on our pitches," Dicke noted.
123 4 56 7 R H E
LCC 160 11 4x x 22 12 1
Ada 000 2 0x x 2 4 5
WP-Roehm LP-Dalton (8-6)
2B-Luchini (L), Badea (L)
HR-Roehm 2 (L), Parker 2 (L), Dalton (A)
Ada's makeup game at Waynesfield Wednesday, April 21 was snowed out and will likely not be made up.
The Bulldogs visit non-league power Minster (12-3) Friday, April 23 under the lights at 6 p.m. Minster was ranked seventh in the latest Ohio Div. IV coaches poll.
"We can always use good competition to improve our game," said Dicke. "We are entering a tough portion of the schedule."
The Bulldog girls host league-leading Crestview (14-4, 5-0 NWC) Monday, April 26.
Ada also will make up the season-opening doubleheader at home vs. Perry (1-8) on Saturday, May 8.
Ada boys fall to LCC
ADA - Visiting Lima Central Catholic pulled away late to beat the Ada baseball team 11-1 in a non-conference contest Thursday evening.
The Bulldog record fell to 5-7 with their second straight defeat.
LCC took the lead with two runs in the top of the first frame and never trailed. The Bulldogs cut the deficit to 3-1 after the fourth frame.
But the Thunderbirds plated a run in the top of the fifth, then blew it open with a six-run sixth inning. They tacked on one final tally in the seventh.
Ada senior Jake Poling singled and scored the lone Bulldog run in the fourth inning on a run-scoring hit by junior Tyler Jameson.
Senior Cameron Bober singled and freshman Aiden Boulanger doubled for the lone Bulldog extra-base hit.
Ada senior Trent Ennis started on the mound and pitched 5 2/3 innings before being relieved by sophomore Levi Sousley in the sixth inning.
LCC out-hit Ada, 7-4.
The Bulldogs committed two errors and LCC was guilty of one miscue.
123 456 7 R H E
LCC 200 116 1 11 7 1
Ada 000 100 0 1 4 2
WP-Yarr LP-Ennis
2B-Boulanger (A)
Ada's scheduled visit to winless non-league foe Waynesfield for a makeup game Wednesday, April 21 was snowed out, and will likely not be made up.
Ada (1-3 NWC) is slated to host Northwest Conference foe Crestview (7-5, 2-3 NWC) Monday, April 26.
