By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The Ada softball program looks to continue trending upward under second-year head coach Rebecca Dicke behind several experienced returning starters and letter winners.
Coach Dicke is optimistic that the Lady Bulldogs will be improved in 2021.
"We have real good leadership with five returning seniors," said Dicke. "We have a good group of hard-working girls. We are excited to get back out there and play softball, especially after missing last season."
The team boasts five experienced seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen on its 13-player roster.
Leona Dalton
Senior workhorse hurler Leona Dalton returns to shoulder much of the team's fortunes this season. The right-hander finished 9-11 and made honorable mention All-NWC in 2019, as Dalton finished second in the NWC in strikeouts.
She fashioned a 14-9 record as a freshman when she pitched Ada to the regional semifinals for the only time in program history. She is the last starting link to that team, although several current seniors were key substitutes on that squad.
"We expect a strong performance from Leona," said Dicke. "Her arm and knee seem healthy, and she has a variety of pitches. The new OHSAA rules allowing pitchers to step back from the rubber on the wind-up should also help her gain more speed."
Dalton will be counted on to carry most of the pitching load again for Ada this spring. Maintaining health and composure is a key. "Leona is healthy and doing well," Dicke said.
"Dalton will handle the large majority of our pitching," noted Dicke. "Freshman Katie Sizemore could fill in some innings pitching, too. When she isn't pitching, Leona could probably play any other position except catcher - she is very versatile."
Dalton will also be expected to be a run-producer in the middle of the batting order.
"At the plate, Leona is a good extra-base hitter (she was one of the 2019 team leaders in doubles). She just has to be patient and wait for a pitch she can drive. She is an excellent baserunner, and will probably bat third or fourth in the order."
Alexis Waugh
Senior Alexis Waugh returns after starting in 2019 at the crucial catching position. She is also one of the team's best and most powerful hitters, and as such will likely bat in the key clean-up spot.
Waugh is a left-handed catcher who improved as 2019 progressed in her first year as a starter.
"She really came a long ways in 2019," noted Dicke. "She is our strongest long-ball threat. I was impressed with her in spring pre-season practice. We look forward to a strong performance from her at the plate.
"She is pretty experienced behnd the plate, and (former All-NWC backstop) Sydney Newland has been working with her too," added Dicke.
Brenna George
Quick senior Brenna George returns to handle the shortstop duties after starting in the middle infield in 2019.
"Brenna is a solid defender up the middle, and is a smart leader on the field," said the coach. "She gets a good read on the ball and makes difficult plays.
"She is a good contact hitter with speed. She will probably bat fifth or sixth and hopefully drive in runs for us."
Tori Green
Senior Tori Green possesses good speed, and is expected to start in center field after primarily patrolling left field in 2019.
"I anticipate Tori anchoring center field," Dicke noted. "She is pretty quick and has an accurate cannon for an arm. She is solid defensively. She has matured into a good lefty slap-hitter for us near the top of the order."
A good baserunner, Green can also serve as a third-string catcher if needed.
Kiersten Cortez
Good-hitting senior Kiersten Cortez is expected to start at the important third base position after playing mostly in the outfield in 2019.
"Her biggest asset is a real strong arm so she just needs experience playing third base," Dicke offered. "She has a pretty strong bat, too."
Underclassmen
Junior Lexi White is another returning letter winner, and is expected to start at second base. "I anticipate Lexi batting leadoff for us as a left-handed slap-hitter; she is much improved and can handle second base nicely," said Dicke.
"She has pretty decent speed and is an excellent baserunner with good instincts."
Dicke is counting on several sophomores to make significant impacts this season.
Sophomore Kayla Wince "looks like she will start in left field, and she plays infield too," said Dicke. "She is a natural left-handed thrower and hitter who has picked up slap-hitting well. She is also speedy, and will probably bat in the lower part of the order."
Sophomore infielder Madison Archer and freshman Sizemore are expected to compete for the first base position. "Both have strong bats and are above-average fielders," said the coach. "Archer could also hit DP."
Versatile sophomore Raeya Finn will see action in right field and as the backup catcher. "She caught in junior high and could play a lot for us," Dicke predicted.
Junior returnee Morgan Dirmeyer also will see time in right field. "She is a good hitter," said Dicke.
Freshman Karmen Hall was a late addition to the roster. "She is pretty fast, could play some right field and will be a utility player for us," said Dicke.
Freshman infielder Daicy Robinson completes the roster. Dicke expects the team's biggest player to contribute at designated player and as a backup third baseman.
"Offensively we are poised to hit the ball, put it in play and score some runs," Dicke said.
"There are always things to improve on," she continued. "We are stressing heads-up play, knowing where to throw the ball beforehand. We want to reduce mental errors, which will keep you in every game."
Young club finished 9-13 in 2019
A young Lady Bulldog club finished 9-13 overall and 1-7 in 2019 in the tough Northwest Conference (good for eighth in the nine-team league) during Dicke's first season. Ada then had its promising 2020 campaign cancelled by the coronavirus.
On the bright side, the purple and gold went 8-6 in 2019 non-league play.
Bluffton won its first-ever outright NWC softball crown with a perfect 8-0 league record in 2019. But Pirate NWC Player of the Year hurler Libby Schaadt graduated last spring.
Perennial power Crestview finished second in the NWC at 7-1, while Paulding came in third at 6-2. Allen East was fourth at 5-3, followed by Lincolnview (4-4). Delphos Jefferson and Columbus Grove each finished 1-6 in a rain-marred spring, while Ada went 1-7 and Spencerville finished last without a win.
"Crestview is always tough, and Lincolnview is solid," Dicke observed. "But it is hard to know how the league shapes up this year after last season was cancelled. I think we can win more games than we lose, even in a typically tough conference."
Dalton's pitching and the defense behind her appear to be major keys to that end. How well the offense hits and generates runs will likely determine if the Bulldogs can surpass the .500 mark.
"Leona has a lot of pitches: fastball, rise ball, change-up, screwball, curve - she just has to control them," said the coach. "She has solid, but not overwhelming speed. The new rules should improve her fastball speed, as well as her breaking pitches.
"Movement is the key to benefit her pitching," she continued. "Keeping the hitters off balance and not giving up big hits are our main goals."
Dicke's daughter Lauren, who played at Defiance College, returns as the pitching coach, and she also works with the infielders.
Former Ada infielder Raina England coaches infield and outfield defense, specializing among other things in playing angles and positioning. Newland also joins the staff after playing one year for Ohio Northern.
An experienced coach, Rebecca Dicke served as the head coach at the Div. I University of Dayton from 1987-91. A decade later she began coaching with the Lady Buckeye fast-pitch summer program.
Season opens at home
Ada is scheduled to open its season March 27 in a home twinbill vs. Perry. The league lidlifter is April 8 at home vs. Grove.
"The goal is to compete in every game and reduce run-rule losses," summed up Dicke. "We definitely would like to have a winning record.
"Given our pitching strength and hitting, we think that being over .500 is do-able," she added.
