By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Host Ada got blanked 5-0 by local traditional arch-rival Allen East in a Northwest Conference softball game marred by wind and cold Thursday evening.
The Lady Bulldogs fell to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in the NWC with the defeat. AE improved to 9-5 (2-0 NWC) with the shutout victory.
AE sophomore Nikki Thaxton hurled a complete game shutout.
The Lady Mustangs scored a run in the top of the first frame.
In the top of the second, freshman catcher Savana Brooks drilled a two-run homer over the fence in right-center field to build a 3-0 lead.
AE continued to threaten with a single and a two-out Bulldog error on a slow roller up the first base line. But Ada senior Leona Dalton pitched around the miscue by fielding a grounder back to the rubber for the third out.
In the Ada second, Kiersten Cortez walked and Daicy Robinson singled to right field to lead off the inning with promise. But Brooks snared a foul pop behind home plate, and then Thaxton got out of trouble with consecutive strikeouts to preserve the three-run margin.
In the top of the third Dalton struck out the first two Mustang batters. But then junior Alex Rodriguez singled hard off the glove of Cortez down the left field line, and advanced to second base on a wild pitch.
Pitcher Thaxton then smoked a line-drive single right back through the box into center field to drive in Rodriguez with the fourth Mustang run. Dalton recovered to whiff the next AE hitter.
In the home third, Ada senior catcher Alexis Waugh drew a two-out walk. Dalton drilled a solid single to center field to keep the inning alive. But with two out and two on, Cortez grounded out to Thaxton to end the Bulldog threat.
Dalton struck out the side in the Mustang fourth, sandwiched around a walk.
Ada was retired in order in the bottom of the fourth. Dalton pitched around a leadoff walk to get AE out in the fifth.
AE tacked on one more late run to provide the final margin.
123 456 7 R
AE 121 000 1 5
Ada 000 000 0 0
WP-Thaxton LP-Dalton (5-4)
HR-Brooks (AE)
Ada hosts Ridgemont (6-1) Friday at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs then visit USV (2-8) and also play Botkins (1-7) in a non-league triangular doubleheader Saturday at 10 a.m. and noon.
AE hosts struggling Cory-Rawson (0-7) in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday.
Ada Baseball
ADA - The homestanding Ada baseball team lost 17-0 to backyard rival Allen East in Northwest Conference action on a windy and chilly Thursday evening.
Ada's record dropped to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the NWC with the shortened, five-inning defeat. AE improved to 9-3 (2-0 NWC) with the blowout victory.
The Mustangs took the lead with a two-run first inning and were never threatened. AE plated four runs in each of the second and third frames to build a 10-0 cushion.
The Mustangs then put the game far out of reach with a seven-run fourth inning outburst.
AE's Bradden Crumrine struck out eight Bulldogs over five innings to earn the pitching win. He allowed only two singles and no runs.
At the plate Crumrine doubled, singled, scored four runs and drove in one to aid his own cause.
Mustang Jordan Motter smacked two triples and collected six runs batted in while also scoring twice.
Carter Young had one hit and two RBI. Trey Hensley contributed a two-run single, while Nathan Ketchum amassed a hit, two RBI and two runs scored.
AE out-hit the Bulldogs nine to two, and committed no errors to one miscue by Ada.
123 456 7 R H E
AE 244 70x x 17 9 0
Ada 000 00x x 0 2 1
WP-Crumrine LP-Ennis
2B-Crumrine (AE)
Ada hosts Hardin County foe Ridgemont (3-4) Friday at 5 p.m.
AE entertains slumping Cory-Rawson (1-6) in a non-league doubleheader Saturday.
