By Cort Reynolds

MT. BLANCHARD – The streaking Ada High School softball team broke a late tie and beat Blanchard Valley Conference foe Riverdale 7-5 on a warm Monday evening, April 28.

Ada improved to 15-2 overall and 6-2 in the BVC with their seventh straight victory. The Bulldog girls have outscored their opponents 69-6 during the win streak.

The Falcons dropped to 6-6 overall and 2-3 in BVC play after the loss.

“We hit the ball hard but a lot of them were right at the defense,” said Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “It was a good ballgame.”

The Bulldog girls out-hit the Falcons 11-5, and overcame four errors. The hosts committed two miscues.  

Ada led 3-1 after the first frame, but the Falcons took a 4-3 lead with three runs in the home half of the third.

Jenna Bassitt singled to lead off the first, followed by an error on a bunt that allowed Bassitt to speed home. Tess Griffith singled and Karley Wagner doubled to make it 3-0.

The Bulldogs tied it with a run in the fourth on a bunt by Alainee Buxton that scored Aidra Preston. Ada then grabbed the advantage for good with two big tie-breaking runs in the fifth. 

With the score tied 4-4 in the top of the fifth inning, Ada second baseman Wagner drilled a line drive through the glove of Riverdale second baseman Brooke Durenberger, which drove in Griffith with the go-ahead run.

Preston then stroked a fly ball to the warning track for a double which plated Wagner to give Ada a 6-4 lead.

Falcon Addi Manns singled home Addie Farmer in the bottom of the fifth inning, but they were unable to plate any more runs after that.

Senior Jenna Bassitt singled, stole two bases and then came home on a passed ball to give Ada a key insurance run and a 7-5 lead in the top of the sixth inning.

In the home seventh, she pitched around a leadoff walk and ended the threat with two strikeouts.

“We played a couple of close games with them the last few years, so it was nice to get a win,” said Bassitt. “Karley hit the ball well.”

The Falcons edged Ada 2-1 last spring.

Bassitt went the distance to earn her 15th win of the season. She struck out 11 with two earned runs allowed on five hits over seven innings. She also had two hits and two steals.

Wagner and Buxton each drove in a run for Ada. Wagner drilled a double and singled. Griffith stroked three singles and scored two runs. Aidra Preston smacked a double and a single, while Reese Jordan and Emily Shanks added one hit apiece.

Carly Karcher led Riverdale with three RBIs, two hits and one run. Eden Morris drove in a run. Farmer recorded three hits and three runs. 

Farmer took the loss despite striking out 12 with four earned runs allowed on 11 hits. She also knocked out a double and two singles.

“Farmer changed speeds a lot and moved the ball around,” said Bassitt.

Ada plays at former league foe Delphos Jefferson (11-5) Tuesday, April 29. “We will have to come ready to play,” said Bassitt.

The Bulldogs resume league play at home April 30 vs. tough Arcadia (9-5, 5-2 BVC).

123 456 7 R H E

Ada 300 121 0 7 11 4

Rdl 103 010 0 5 5 2

WP-Bassitt (15-2) LP-Farmer

2B-Farmer (R ), A, Preston (A), Wagner (A)