By Cort Reynolds
ADA__After a layoff of over two weeks due to bad weather, the Ada High School baseball team lost a seesaw 17-9 battle to visiting Botkins on Saturday, April 13.
The non-league defeat dropped the Bulldog record to 0-4. Botkins improved to 2-5 with the win.
The Trojans scored at least one run in all seven innings, while Ada tallied in five innings of the back-and-forth bout.
“If we can’t make the routine plays we are going to struggle,” said Ada second-year head coach Toby Smith. “We need to find consistency. When we do, we will have better results.”
Botkins stole 16 bases and capitalized on 11 Bulldog errors to score 11 unearned runs.
The Trojans broke open a 10-8 slugfest by plating seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to put the game out of reach.
A Botkins bloop single to right field, followed by a stolen base and passed ball helped ignite the seventh frame outburst. Two walks loaded the bases. Ada relief hurler Mason Wibley got the first out on a pop-out to third base.
The next batter hit a grounder to second base. Ada fielded cleanly and threw home for an attempted force-out, but the toss was high and popped out of leaping catcher Andrew Allen’s glove to let a run in for an 11-8 score.
A walk forced in a Botkins run for a 12-8 margin.
New pitcher Aiden Ritchie came on in relief for the Bulldogs. He retired one hitter on a grounder back to the mound when he threw home to record a force-out.
Ritchie then tried to pick a runner off second, but the Trojan runner on third broke for home and beat the throw for their 13th run.
A Botkins pop-up dropped behind first base to provide a 14-8 cushion. After a stolen base, a throwing error on a grounder to shortstop let two more runs in.
In the home half of the seventh, Ada pushed one run across the plate. Freshman Andrew Allen walked leading off. Max Puerto was hit by a pitch to put two runners on.
After a strikeout, junior Kaine Fisher hit a grounder to second base. The shortstop dropped the flip throw on the attempted force-out, but Corey Koenig recovered to tag the runner when he over-slid the bag.
Bulldog freshman Wesley Mowery then beat out an infield single to shortstop to drive in Allen with the ninth Ada run.
But a Ritchie fly out to left field ended the game.
It was Ada’s highest run output in a single game this season.
Botkins jumped in front with three runs in the top of the first frame. The Trojans tacked on a run in the second before the Bulldogs answered by scoring three runs in the home second.
Botkins added three more runs in the next two at bats to build their lead to 7-3. Ada countered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to edge within 7-6.
Both teams scored a run in the fifth to keep the margin at one. Botkins stretched the lead to 10-7 with two runs in the sixth. Ada scored a run to stay within striking distance at 10-8 after six innings.
But then the Trojans unloaded the big seventh frame to put the game out of reach.
Botkins out-hit Ada 12-8. Ada drew eight walks, compared to seven bases on balls for the Trojans.
Trojan catcher Levi Frey smacked two doubles, singled, scored four runs and drove in two to pace the victors. He also swiped two bases.
Leadoff hitter Hunter Lenhart amassed two hits, a walk, a run and one run batted in. First sacker Elijah Schuller rapped a double, singles, walked once and had two runs batted in.
Right fielder Carson Steinke contributed a double, single and scored three runs.
Ada left 13 runners on base, while Botkins stranded six. Steinke led the Trojans with five stolen bases and Lenhart swiped four.
Trojan Adrien Krouskop pitched the first four innings to get the win. He struck out six, walked four and allowed four hits with no earned runs.
Steinke hurled 1 2/3 innings of two-run relief, and Phil Hall got the final four outs. Each reliever posted one strikeout.
Freshman Brody Rister started for Ada on the mound. He gave up three earned runs in three innings. He struck out four and scattered six hits. Wibley tossed three innings in relief, allowing five hits and three earned runs. Wibley struck out four and walked one.
Wibley doubled for the lone Ada extra-base hit. He also singled, scored a run and drove one in. Shortstop Levi Green hit three singles and knocked in a pair of runs.
Second baseman Mowery had an RBI single, scored two runs and walked twice. Freshman left fielder Blake Zoladz scored two runs, walked once and drove in a run.
Freshman third baseman Connors McKean drew three walks and scored two runs. Puerto drove in two runs, walked once and scored a run. Center fielder Fisher contributed a single, a walk and one stolen base.
Freshman catcher Allen hit a single, scored a run and had one RBI.
SCOREBOARD
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
BOT 3 1 1 2 1 2 7 7 12 3
ADA 0 3 0 3 1 1 1 9 8 11
WP-A. Krouskop LP-Rister
2B-Schuller (B), Frey 2 (B), Lenhart (B), Steinke (B), Wibely (A)
Ada hosts local league rival Bluffton (2-3, 0-0 NWC) Monday in the NWC opener.
The Bulldogs then entertain Spencerville (1-5, 0-1 NWC) Tuesday in a makeup game, and visit local rival Allen East (3-4, 0-0 NWC) Thursday.
