By Cort Reynolds
ADA __ The Ada High School softball team dodged several threats to defeat visiting Delphos Jefferson 5-3 in a key Northwest Conference contest Monday, April 22.
The Bulldogs improved to 11-2 overall and 4-0 in the NWC with their sixth win in a row.
Ada is first in the league standings after Allen East upset defending champion Crestview 5-4 Monday on a game-winning home run by Mustang catcher Savana Brooks.
DJ fell to 9-8-2 overall and 2-2 in the NWC after the defeat.
“Delphos hit the ball well,” said third-year Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt. “We never really got the bats going but it is nice to get another win.”
CONTINUES
Ada junior pitcher Jenna Bassitt worked out of multiple jams to win her 10th game in 12 decisions.
The Bulldog girls were out-hit by the Wildcats, 8-5. But some timely defense and clutch pitching by Bassitt in key situations helped Ada keep Delphos at bay.
Wildcat Besinger doubled to deep center field leading off the game. DJ then loaded the bases following a walk and a hit batter.
But Bassitt got out of the frame unscathed with a pair of strikeouts.
In the home first, Bassitt walked and stole second. Aidra Preston smashed a hard grounder that skipped to the wall in right-center field, and she motored to third with an RBI triple.
Natilyn McClain hit a grounder to third that was misplayed on a backhanded effort, allowing Preston to score while she reached second.
DJ hurler Kystin Moore wriggled out of trouble by retiring the next three batters to keep the score at 2-0.
The Wildcats threatened in the second inning. A one-out pop-up dropped in for a single. After a strikeout, Besinger’s fly ball to right field was lost in the sun and dropped.
But Bulldog outfielder Alainee Buxton recovered and made a strong throw home to nail a sliding Violet at home plate as McClain applied the tag.
Ada went out in order in their second, and DJ then scored in the top of the third. Carolyn Mueller smacked a leadoff double to left field. Eberle doubled her home with a liner to center that cut the Ada lead to 2-1.
However, she was out trying to stretch her hit into a triple at third. After a strikeout, Lee and Stokes each lined two-out singles to center field. A passed ball moved the runners into scoring position at second and third.
But Bassitt avoided further damage by inducing an unassisted ground-out to Preston at first base to end the threat.
Bassitt led off the Ada third by lining a sharp single to center field, and she swiped second again. Preston laid down a good sacrifice bunt, and Bassitt sped home to score by sliding feet first at home. She cut her knee on the play at the plate, but was able to continue pitching.
In the top of the fourth, DJ threatened again with a walk and a Besinger infield single. Bassitt came back to whiff the next two hitters to get out of trouble and keep Ada ahead, 3-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Ada scored a run. Reese Jordan walked, stole second and scored when Daicy Robinson lined a singled to center to provide a 4-1 lead.
In the Wildcat fifth, the visitors put runners on the corners with a hit batter and a Kunz single. But Bassitt induced a pop-out to third sacker Katie Sizemore to end the inning.
Bassitt looped a double to shallow right field down the line leading off the Ada fifth. She moved to third on a Preston ground-out to the right side. McClain then laid down an RBI bunt that she beat out to plate Bassitt and extend the lead to 5-1.
DJ cut their deficit in half with two runs in the sixth. Moore was hit by a pitch, and Mueller drilled a double to left field to drive home the Wildcat pitcher.
Avery Rahrig then stroked a run-scoring single to right field to bring DJ within 5-3. Shortstop Karley Wagner ended the inning with an unassisted putout at second base.
The Wildcats put together a minor last-gasp effort in the seventh. Bassitt struck out the first two batters, but then Jones reached base on a spinning grounder to third base that was misplayed.
But Moore, representing the potential tying run, popped up a bunt in front of home plate. Bassitt pounced on it and narrowly threw her out at first to end the game.
Bassitt struck out 11 and scattered eight hits, allowing three earned runs. She had two hits, and scored three runs with two steals.
Aidra Preston tripled, drove in two runs and scored a run.
McClain drove in two runs and had a bunt hit. Senior Robinson singled home a run. Freshman Jordan scored a run and stole a base.
Mueller doubled twice for DJ, while Eberle and Besinger hit one double each. Moore struck out four in a complete-game, five-hit effort.
Weather permitting, Ada will host Fostoria (1-5) in a non-league game Tuesday, April 23.
“We have to keep getting better at the small things,” said Bassitt.
Ada was scheduled to entertain traditional rival USV in a makeup contest Wednesday, April 24. But that was canceled due to injuries to the short-handed Rams.
Ada will host Arcadia (6-6) Friday.
SCOREBOARD
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
D J 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 8 3
ADA 2 0 1 1 1 0 x 5 5 2
WP-Bassitt (10-2) LP-Moore
2B-Bassitt (A), Mueller 2 (DJ), Besinger (DJ), Mueller 2 (DJ), Eberle (DJ)
3B-Preston (A)
