By Cort Reynolds
HARROD __ The Ada High School baseball team lost 12-2 at local rival Allen East in a Northwest Conference game on a warm Thursday evening, April 18.
The Bulldogs fell to 0-7 overall and 0-3 in the NWC with the defeat. AE improved to 5-4 and 2-0 in the NWC after the win.
“We had much better hitting and defense,” said Ada head coach Toby Smith. “We just have to throw more strikes so we can keep runners off base.”
Ada led 1-0 early after scoring a run in the top of the first inning. But AE gained the lead with a three-run first, then plated three more in the second to build a 6-1 margin.
The Bulldogs edged within 6-2 with a run in the third, but the Mustangs answered with two in the home half of the third frame to lead 8-2.The score stayed that way into the bottom of the fifth
A two-run single gave AE a 10-2 margin. The Mustangs then added two more runs in the sixth to invoke the 10-run mercy rule.
AE senior Donovan Kennedy hit two singles and drove in three runs to pace the hosts.
Sophomore Jackson Thompson hit a solo home run and walked. He also scored a run and drove in one.
Braden Clum contributed a hit, an RBI and a walk. Caden Hendrick had a hit, scored a run and drove in a run. Trey Hensley added a single and a walk.
The Mustangs stole 20 bases and took advantage of 16 walks issued by Ada pitching. The Bulldogs swiped four bags.
Levi Clum started and pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run. He struck out two. Ethan Hershberger relieved and hurled 1 1/3 innings of hitless ball with three whiffs.
Brady Brooks finished up by pitching the last two innings, allowing two hits while striking out five.
Wes Mowery started for Ada and gave up three earned runs. Aiden Rithcie hurled 1 2/3 innings of two-run relief, followed by Tyler Stauffer, who pitched 2 1/3 innings of one-hit ball. He allowed two runs.
Blake Zoladz pitched one inning and gave up two earned runs and three walks. Junior Ethan Lawence got two outs and gave up two runs with three walks.
Levi Green singled and scored twice out of the leadoff spot for Ada. He also stole two bases.
Junior Max Puerto hit two singles, and sophomore Mason Wibley also stroked two singles. Ritchie contributed an RBI single. Mowery added the other Bulldog hit.
Ada out-hit the Mustangs, 7-6.
Ada plays at Arlington (1-9) Friday, then visits LCC Saturday in a pair of non-league games.
SCOREBOARD
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
ADA 1 0 1 0 0 0 x 2 7 1
A E 3 3 2 0 2 2 x 12 6 1
WP-L. Clum LP-Mowery
HR-Thompson (AE)
