By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School baseball team split a doubleheader with arch-rival Upper Scioto Valley Saturday afternoon, April 2, at Ada War Memorial Park.
Ada held on to win the opener 3-2, but a big Ram rally early in the nightcap paved the way for a 16-2 win. The Bulldogs ran their record to 2-1 with the split. USV is now 2-2.
In the first game, Ada held onto a 2-1 lead for most of the game after scoring two runs in the second.
The Bulldogs tacked on a crucial run in the bottom of the sixth.
In the USV seventh, Ada junior Spencer Wall relieved starting pitcher Roman Snyder. The Rams cut the lead to 3-2 on a run-scoring single to center by field by senior Kadyn Hurley.
USV then loaded the bases on a throwing error and an intentional walk. A key strikeout recorded the first out.
Then on a ground ball to shortstop, Ada got the force-out at second base but the Ram baserunner was called for interference sliding into second to cause an automatic double play, ending the game.
The critical call preserved the Bulldog win as the USV runner would likely have been safe at first even without the late slide.
In the first inning of the nightcap, USV pushed six runs across home plate before Ada recorded an out.
The Rams added two runs in the second frame and five more in the third to take a commanding lead.
Ada tallied two runs in the bottom of the first. But the Rams tacked on two scores in the second frame, and plated five more in the third to lead by 11.
G1 123 456 7 R
USV 100 000 1 2
Ada 200 001 x 3
WP-Snyder (1-0)
Save-Wall (1)
G2 123 456 7 R
USV 625 03x x 16
Ada 200 00x x 2
Ada entertains McComb Tuesday and visits Perry (3-0) Wednesday. The league opener is set for Thursday, April 7 at defending NWC champion Lincolnview (0-2).
The Bulldog game at Cory-Rawson last Thursday was postponed.
