By Cort Reynolds
VAN BUREN__After an eight-day layoff due to inclement weather, the visiting Ada High School softball team went to Van Buren Friday evening, April 5, and fell behind big early.
Ada rallied with four runs in the top of the seventh inning, but came up just short 7-6 to suffer their first defeat of the season.
The Bulldog girls fell to 3-1 with the defeat. The Black Knights improved to 3-1 after the close win.
“They are a solid team, but the errors killed us,” said Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt. “You just can’t make three innings in one inning and give up four runs and beat a good team. That big inning killed us.”
The Bulldogs had their last five games canceled due to the rain and cold.
VB scored a run in the bottom of the first inning to take the early lead with the aid of an error and a two-out single.
Ada pulled ahead 2-1 with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Alainee Buxton reached on an error when she bunted, followed by a Jenna Bassitt single. Natilyn McClain advanced both runners to scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
With two outs, junior center fielder Tess Griffith singled home both runners to put the Bulldogs ahead.
But VB pulled in front 5-2 with four runs in the home half of the third as they capitalized on three Ada errors. With one out, the Knights singled and drew a walk. A dropped pop brought in the tying run.
A Deitrick triple scored two runs and gave VB a 4-2 lead. A soft liner was dropped to let across another run.
The Black Knights added on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth frame to build a 7-2 cushion. A walk, triple and a single plated two Knights with nobody out. But Bassitt recovered to wriggle out of the inning without further damage.
Bulldog shortstop Karley Wagner singled in the sixth, but was stranded. Bassitt retired VB in order in the sixth inning.
Ada rallied with four runs in their last at bat. Senior Daicy Robinson walked to lead off, but the courtesy runner was doubled off first base on a pop-out to the catcher.
Bassitt lined a double to center field to ignite a last-ditch comeback effort with two out. Aidra Preston and McClain walked to load the bases.
Griffith singled up the middle to plate two runs, and another run scored after a misplayed throw to help pull Ada within 7-5. Wagner followed by stroking an RBI single to right field that made it 7-6.
Freshman Reese Jordan walked to put runners on first and second. But Ada fouled out to first base to end the threat and the game.
“We made a nice rally, I was happy we came back at the end of the game,” said Bassitt. “Jenna pitched a good game, and Natilyn caught a good game. We just need to clean up the errors. Van Buren is a solid team.
”Playing a good team will make us better,” he added.
Junior pitcher Bassitt hurled all seven innings and gave up three earned runs. She allowed seven his and struck out six.
Winning pitcher Stall struck out six Bulldogs.
Bassitt hit a double and single in three at bats to pace the Ada offense. She also stole two bases. Juniors Griffith and Wagner each smacked two singles. Buxton added a single.
Both teams knocked out seven hits in the close battle. The Bulldogs committed four errors to one miscue by VB.
SCOREBOARD
| 1 2 3 | 4 5 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| ADA | 0 0 2 | 0 0 0 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| V B | 1 0 4 | 0 2 0 | x | 7 | 7 | 1 |
Ada hosts non-league foe Arlington (1-2) Saturday in a doubleheader at 11 a.m.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to host Riverdale (4-0) Tuesday, April 9, and then entertain county rival Kenton (1-2) April 10.
The Northwest Conference opener is at Columbus Grove (3-1, 0-1 NWC) April 11. Ada’s scheduled league lidlifter at home vs. Spencerville (1-2) was rained out April 4. No makeup date has been set yet.
