By Cort Reynolds
Playing at home, the Ada High School softball team defeated local rival Allen East 7-3 in a key Northwest Conference contest Wednesday evening, April 19.
With the victory, Ada remained tied for first in the conference standings with perennial power Crestview at 4-0.
The Bulldogs record improved to a sparkling 13-1 overall after the win. The Mustangs dropped to 5-6 overall and 1-1 in NWC play with the loss.
The game was played at a high intensity level between the backyard foes on a warm evening before a big crowd.
“It was definitely a big win,” said Ada second-year head coach Jeff Bassitt. “I thought we hit the ball well all-around. It was another good team win.”
AE standout junior catcher Savana Brooks stroked a double in the top of the first inning, but the Mustangs did not score.
In the home first, leadoff hitter Jenna Bassitt was retired on a line drive to center field. Aidra Preston singled in the hole to left and came in to score on a looping hit by Natilyn McClain for a 1-0 Bulldog lead.
Yet AE hurler Nikki Thaxton wriggled out of any more damage to get the last two outs.
In the top of the second, Bassitt struck out the first two batters before Aniya Prowant lifted a single into left-center field.
But spunky Ada freshman Marley Bulerin made a nice snag of a fly ball to left field off the bat of Sondra Clum to retire the side.
In the Bulldog second inning, Karley Wagner reached on a one-out error off her ground ball to third base. Tess Griffith smashed a long fly to center field that was caught. Thaxton then got a strikeout to end the frame.
Speedy Mustang Aubrey Young laid down a bunt single to open the AE third. Audrey Rex dropped a sacrifice bunt that Bassitt fielded cleanly and threw to first to get her out, while Young sprinted all the way to third.
Thaxton struck out, then Brooks was walked intentionally and stole second base. But Bassitt struck out Maggie Wanamaker to strand two runners in scoring position and keep Ada on top by a run.
Bassitt led off the home third by singling just inside the third base line. She stole second, and Preston singled hard off the pitcher’s glove as the ball bounced to the shortstop.
McClain walked to load the bases. Daicy Robinson then pulled a sharp ground single just inside the third base line to score two runs and give Ada a 3-0 lead.
After a strikeout Kayla Wince bunted to third, but McClain was out sliding at the plate on a good play when she collided hard with Brooks at home, tearing the catcher’s inside pant leg.
The Mustangs finally came alive offensively in the fourth inning. Taylor Nickles led off with a single to center field, and Peyton Hulsmeyer was hit by a pitch.
The runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball third strike. Clum then swatted a line drive two-run double into the gap to pull AE within 3-2.
Young bunted and was safe on a fielding error at first base, and meanwhile Clum scored on the miscue to tie it 3-3.
Rex struck out but Thaxton singled to left field to keep the Mustang line moving. With two on, Brooks was again walked intentionally to fill the bases.
Bassitt reared back and struck out Wanamaker on a critical punch-out to leave the bases full and keep the score tied.
Ada then bounced back to regain control with a key two-run fourth. Griffith cracked a long single off the fence in left-center field leading off. Bulerin flew out to left field.
Bassitt then rifled a triple to the gap in right-center field to give Ada the lead back for good, 4-3.
Preston plated the speedy Bassitt with a groundout to shortstop on a close play at first. McClain then lifted a sky-high fly to center field to end the inning with Ada back in charge, 5-3.
Bassitt retired the first two batters on strikeouts in the AE fifth. She then got the side out in order on a pop-out to shortstop Karley Wagner.
In the bottom of the fifth, Ada consolidated its lead. Robinson led off with a single to right field, and Katie Sizemore walked. After an out, Griffith’s high blooper into shallow center field fell in to make it 6-3.
Bulerin smoked a line single to center field to extend the margin to 7-3 as the hosts plated two big insurance runs.
In the top of the sixth, Bulerin made a nice running basket catch charging in to grab Clum’s liner to left. Young bunted but was thrown out, pitcher to Wince covering first. Rex then grounded out to third sacker Sizemore.
Wanamaker relieved Thaxton to pitch the bottom of the sixth. Preston drove a 3-2 pitch to deep left field, but it was caught. The next two batters went down in order.
Bassitt retired Thaxton on a pop-out to Wagner to open the last Mustang stand in the top of the seventh. Brooks drew another walk, and Wanamaker bounced into a force play at second base.
Nickles then popped up near first base, and Preston gloved it in foul territory to end the game.
Bassitt struck out 12 Mustangs and walked four, two intentionally. She gave up two earned runs and six hits to improve to 11-1.
On offense she collected a triple and a single, one run batted in and a stolen base.
Preston knocked out two hits, scored two runs, had one RBI and stole a base. Robinson contributed a pair of hits.
McClain hit an RBI single. Griffith smacked two hits and had one RBI with one run scored. Bulerin added a run-scoring single.
Sizemore scored a run and walked once. Wagner tallied a run.
Brooks doubled and walked three times to lead the AE offense. Clum also hit a double.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
AE 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 6 2
Ada 1 0 2 2 2 0 x 7 10 2
WP-Bassitt (11-1) LP-Thaxton
2B-Brooks (AE), Clum (AE)
3B-Bassitt (A)
First-place Ada visits Delphos Jefferson (5-6, 1-2 NWC) Thursday in another key league contest. The Bulldogs have to maintain focus if they want to stay atop the NWC.
AE entertains league co-leader Crestview (9-4, 4-0 NWC) Thursday evening.
PHOTO
Bulldog Natilyn McClain slides into home but meets the roadblock of
AE catcher Savana Brooks in the 7-3 Ada win over the rival Mustangs
Wednesday
