By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The host Ada baseball team ran out to a big early lead and held off rival Bluffton 13-10 in the Northwest Conference opener on a cool, windy Thursday evening.
The Bulldogs improved to 4-3 and 1-0 in the NWC with the league victory, while the Pirates fell to 1-5 and 0-1 with the loss.
Bluffton was the home team even though the game was switched to the Ada park diamond.
The purple and gold scored three first inning runs, then added six more scores in the second frame to build a big 9-0 early lead.
Bluffton scratched back with two runs in each of the second and third frames to pull within 10-4.
In the top of the fifth, Ada pushed across another run on a two-out shortstop error to make it 11-4.
Bulldog junior hurler Bryce Paul retired the Pirates in order in the bottom of the fifth. Junior shortstop Phillip Coulson snared a soft liner for the first out. He then made a diving snag to his left off a line drive up the middle to end the frame.
In the top of the sixth, Paul singled down the left field line and moved up when Daniel Mattson's sacrifice bunt was misplayed.
But both runners were stranded when Pirate pitcher Gabe Colley retired the last two batters on a foul pop-out and a grounder back to the mound.
In the bottom of the sixth, Bluffton rallied with five runs behind multiple errors, five stolen bases and two infield hits.
A one-out walk was followed by an infield hit and two stolen bases. After an infield error, another infield single to second base cut the Ada lead to 11-6.
Another steal and a Bulldog error allowed two more runs to scamper home, slicing the lead to 11-8. A pickoff error and a misplayed flyball helped the Pirates inch within 11-9.
However, Paul recovered to retire the next two batters on a fly out to left field, and on a strikeout to preserve the two-run margin.
In the Ada seventh, the Bulldogs scored two insurance runs with the aid of some walks. Coulson relieved Paul in the seventh and got the save, allowing one run on two walks and a hit before nailing down the last out of a 25-pitch inning.
Paul struck out three Pirates in 3 2/3 innings of relief to earn the pitching victory. He gave up three earned runs and five hits while striking out three.
Colley pitched 5 1/3 innings of solid relief for the Pirates. He scattered nine hits, struck out seven, walked four and allowed four earned runs.
Sophomore outfielder Zac Swaney scored three runs, had two hits and swiped three bases to ignite the Ada offense. Sophomore second sacker Brandon Hull contributed two hits, three runs batted in and two runs.
The Bulldogs out-hit Bluffton, 17-7.
Coulson rapped out three hits, scored two runs and drove in one. He also stole two bases. Austin Amburgey singled twice, scored two runs and drove in a run.
Junior Landon Blankenship smacked a double and drove in three runs. Senior Ethan Hall had a hit, scored twice, drove in a run and walked twice. He also stole two bases.
Senior Jaylin Burkhart contributed two hits, one RBI and a walk. Paul drove in two runs and had a single, plus two steals. Sophomore Mattson singled twice and scored a run. Senior Connor Frazier added an RBI and a steal.
Frazier struck out three, walked six and allowed four earned runs as the starting pitcher over 2 1/3 innings.
Tucker Neff collected two hits, two RBI and a run scored for Bluffton. Teammate Cayden Rayle drove in a pair of runs, scored twice and singled. Rayle also stole four bases while Neff swiped two bags.
Brett Basinger rapped out two hits and drove in a run. Sean Casemier singled, scored one run and stole a base. Cole Koenig knocked in two runs and scored a run. Logan Rhodes scored two runs and walked twice.
Ada commited four errors on the raw, wet evening while the Pirates made two miscues. The Bulldogs left 11 runners on base while Bluffton stranded seven.
123 456 7 R H E
Ada 361 010 2 13 17 4
Blf 022 005 1 10 7 2
WP-Paul (1-1) LP-Koenig
2B-Blankenship (A)
Ada (3-0 home) is slated to entertain county rival Ridgemont Friday, April 5.
Bluffton visits Liberty-Benton Saturday at noon.
Lady Bulldogs fall to Pirates in league lidlifter
By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The visiting Ada softball team lost an 11-3 decision at Bluffton in the Northwest Conference opener on a chilly Thursday evening.
The purple and gold dropped to 2-3 and 0-1 in the NWC with the defeat. Bluffton improved to 4-1 and 1-0 in league play with the victory.
The Pirates scored in all six frames they batted. They tallied two times in the first and three more in the second to take a 5-2 lead. Two runs in each of the third and fourth frames extended the margin to 9-2.
Ada plated two runs in the second inning, and one in the fifth.
Bluffton added single runs in the home half of the fifth and sixth innings to provide the final margin.
Libby Schaadt hurled a complete game five-hitter to earn the win for Bluffton. She allowed no earned runs and struck out seven while walking two.
Schaadt also aided her own cause at the plate with three hits and two runs batted in. Brinkley Garmatter stroked a double and two singles to help pace the 12-hit Pirate attack.
Pirates Riley Busch and Mara Minnig each contributed two hits. Katie Prater added a triple and scored two runs with an RBI. Averey Rumer singled, scored twice, stole one base and drove in a run.
Katie Prater singled, scored two times and knocked in a run. Madison Fleece singled, scored two runs and collected two RBI. Alivia Koenig was hit three times and scored a run. Lauren Swartzwalder added an RBI hit, while Riley Busch amassed a hit and a run.
Raina England pitched all six innings for Ada in her pitching debut. The senior allowed 12 hits and seven earned runs. She struck out one and walked two.
Sidney Gossard knocked out two hits and scored a run to lead the Ada offense. Alexis Ennis, Lexi Waugh and Brenna George each had a hit
The Bulldogs left six runners on base while Bluffton stranded 10. Bluffton committed four errors while Ada made six miscues.
123 456 7 R H E
Ada 020 010 0 3 5 5
Blf 232 211 x 11 12 4
WP-Schaadt LP-England (0-1)
2B-B. Garmatter (B)
3B-Prater (B)
Ada (2-0 home) is slated to host Hardin County foe Ridgemont Friday, April 5 in a non-league game. Arlington is also scheduled to play at Ada Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m.
Bluffton plays host to Pandora-Gilboa Friday.
Bulldog netters down Wapak
By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The Ada tennis team defeated Western Buckeye League foe Wapakoneta 4-1 at the Ohio Northern University Marmon Courts Thursday evening.
The Bulldog netters improved to 4-1 with their third win over a WBL squad this season. Wapak fell to 4-2 with the loss.
"I was very pleased with today's outcome," said Ada head coach Cody Hurley. "We played our most complete match from top to bottom as a team this season, and we picked up a great win as a result.
"Cade and Miranda were very impressive in singles, winning in straights sets. Isaac battled to the end and finished strong after 2.5 hours sweeping singles for us.
"We tried some new doubles tactics today and it worked for both the first and second doubles teams. All of the hard work we have put into doubles is finally paying off," he added.
Mullins and Spar each improved to 4-0 this season with their singles wins. Wills upped her record to 4-1 with a straight-sets win after a tough first set at third singles.
Gabe Hasan and Dexter Woods earned the second doubles win.
Ada 4, Wapakoneta 1
Singles results:
1. Cade Mullins (A) def. Curtis Hughes (W) 6-0, 6-0
2. Isaac Spar (A) def. John Doll (W) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Miranda Wills (A) def. Austin Hancock (W) 7-5, 6-0
Doubles:
1D. Noah Kirby/Jesse Mackenzie (W) def. Reece Evans/Morgan Swick (A) 6-1, 2-6, 6-1
2D. Gabe Hasan/Dexter Woods (A) def. Alvaro Guerrero/Logan Shirk (W) 6-1, 6-1
Ada is slated to play at Van Wert Friday and at state power Lexington Saturday.
