By Cort Reynolds

ADA __ Playing just their second home game of the season, the Ada High School softball team soundly defeated Blanchard Valley Conference foe Arlington 10-0 on Wednesday, April 16.

Senior catcher Natilyn McClain smacked a triple and two doubles to pace the Bulldog offense as she drove in three runs.

Ada senior pitcher Jenna Bassitt hurled a five-inning shutout to win her ninth game. She struck out nine and allowed just two hits with one walk. 

“It was good to see us get back on the winning track,” said fourth-year Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “Natilyn hit and caught well, and Jenna pitched well. Our defense was solid.”

Ada improved to 9-2 overall and 3-2 in the BVC with the victory. Arlington fell to 1-6 and 0-3 in BVC play after the defeat.

The Bulldog girls out-hit the Red Devils, 9-2. The Devils committed three errors, while the Bulldog defense made no miscues.   

The Bulldogs broke open a scoreless game with three runs in the bottom of the third. Bassitt sliced a triple to right field leading off. Emily Shanks was hit by a pitch and stole second.

McClain lifted a two-run triple over the right fielder’s head to start the scoring. Senior center fielder Tess Griffith beat out an infield grounder to shortstop to bring McClain home and provide a 3-0 lead.

Bassitt gave up a leadoff walk in the fourth, but came back with two strikeouts and a line-out to second base.

Ada then exploded for seven runs in the home fourth to put the game out of reach. A walk and a Bassitt single to right preceded a two-run triple drilled by Shanks over the left fielder’s head.

McClain pulled a hard grounder down the line that bounced off the third base bag for a double. A left field throwing error on the play allowed her to scamper all the way home for a 7-0 margin.

Griffith singled to left and Aidra Preston walked. Bassitt singled two runs home to make it 9-0. Bassitt then sped home on a wild pitch and slid under the tag when the ball bounced back to the catcher for a short throw on a close play at the plate for the final run.

Shanks made a nice play on a pop-up in the hole at shortstop to start the fifth. A called third strike got Ada within one out of victory. Arlington looped a single to right, but Bassitt invoked the mercy run rule with a final whiff.

Bassitt tripled, singled and scored two runs with two RBI. McClain scored twice and drove in three with three extra base hits. Shanks smashed a triple and drove in two runs while scoring twice.

Griffith singled twice and had one RBI with one run scored. Reese Jordan singled, scored a run and drove in two.

The Bulldogs host ex-league foe Columbus Grove (2-6) Thursday, and entertain Hardin County rival Ridgemont (2-5) Friday. 

Defending Northwest Conference champion Lincolnview (8-1) comes to Ada Saturday for a high noon showdown between last season’s top two NWC squads. 

WP-Bassitt (9-2)

2B-McClain 2 (A)

3B-Shanks (A), McClain (A), Bassitt (A)