By Cort Reynolds
Playing at home, the Ada High School varsity softball team dug a big early hole and lost 15-5 to visiting Fostoria Tuesday evening, April 26.
The Lady Bulldogs dropped to 3-9 after the defeat. The visitors improved to 3-4 with the win.
Fostoria plated five runs in the first inning, then added four more in the top of the second to build an early 9-1 lead.
"We had a slow start and never recovered," said Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt.
The Lady Redmen hit four singles in the top of the first, and their outburst was capped by a home run to left field off the bat of Marisol Bernal.
Ada got one run back in the home half of the first. Jenna Bassitt led off with a single, stole second and advanced on a fielder's choice. She then kept coming home on an overthrow to make it 5-1.
Fostoria extended its lead to 9-1 in the second. Bassitt scored again in the Ada third. She singled to center field leading off. Aidra Preston then sliced a sharp double to right-center field to drive home the speedy Bassitt, making it 9-2.
Daicy Robinson singled through the hole but a rare 1-3-5 double play stymied the Bulldog rally.
In the top of the fourth, freshman pitcher Natilyn McClain retired the Redmen in order. Tess Griffith drew a walk in the Ada fourth but was stranded.
In the top of the fifth, Fostoria scored five more runs. Two walks and a hit batter were sandwiched around a strikeout. Amijah Poole then ripped a two-run double to left field.
Bernal smacked an RBI triple to build the margin to 15-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Ada kept competing and plated three runs. Morgan Dirmeyer drew a one-out walk, and Jenna Rodrigues hustled to beat out an infield grounder to second base.
"That was nice to see Jenna get a hit," said Bassitt.
McClain then stroked a two-run triple down the line to cut the deficit to 15-4. Katie Sizemore followed with a sharp RBI single to center field to make it 15-5.
Raeya Finn smacked a hard grounder off the leg of the Fostoria shortstop, but the ball ricocheted away and rolled directly to second base for an improbable game-ending force-out.
Preston doubled in a run while Bassitt scored twice while hitting a double and a single. Sizemore stroked a double and a single.
Robinson singled, while McClain legged out a two-run triple. Finn added a hit.
Fostoria out-hit Ada, 13-8. Sierra Kleinmark struck out six and walked four Bulldogs to earn the win.
Freshman hurler McClain whiffed seven batters and walked four in five innings.
123 456 7 R H E
Fos 541 05x x 15 13 3
Ada 101 03x x 5 8 2
WP-Kleinmark LP-McClain
2B-Preston (A), Sizemore (A), Poole (F), Groves (F)
3B-Bernal (F)
HR-Bernal (F)
Ada (1-3 NWC) plays at league leader Crestview (15-1, 5-0 NWC) Thursday, April 28.
Saturday's non-league game at county rival Kenton (3-7) was moved up to Wednesday, April 27.
Monday's non-league game at LCC was rained out.
