By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Host Ada whipped Hardin County rival Ridgemont 10-0 in a non-conference softball game Friday evening.
The Lady Bulldogs improved to 6-4 overall with the victory. The Lady Gophers dropped to 6-2 with the five-inning, run-rule shortened defeat.
"Leona Dalton pitched well, she was throwing hard," said Ada head coach Rebecca Dicke. "We put the ball in play, moved runners, and put pressure on the defense. We took advantage of their errors and created chaos on the bases."
Dalton struck out 12 of the 15 Gophers she retired over five innings. She walked one and allowed no runs in the complete game shutout.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning. Dalton delivered a two-run double, then scored herself when Gopher hurler Whitney Bailey dropped a high, twisting pop-up off the bat of Brenna George.
Ridgemont senior Nikki Freshcorn led off the top of the fourth by lining a double to left-center field. But Dalton reared back and struck out the next three batters to strand her.
In the Ada fourth, senior center fielder Tori Green grounded a two-out single into right field and stole second base. But she was left there after a pop-out ended the frame.
In the top of the fifth, Dalton struck out the first two Gophers. Emma Smith singled to center field, and Brooke Nelson reached when her tough spinning grounder to third base was played into an error.
But Dalton ended the threat with a clutch strikeout of Bailey to keep the lead at four runs.
In the bottom of the fifth, senior catcher Alexis Waugh led off with a walk. Dalton roped her second double down the left field line to drive her battery mate home.
Freshman Daicy Robinson laced a double just over the left fielder's head to plate Dalton and build the lead to 6-0. George reached base on a bunt that was misplayed at first base.
Sophomore Kayla Wince pulled a run-scoring single through the hole into right field to make it 7-0. Freshman Katie Sizemore beat out an infield single that the diving second baseman knocked down but could not find before George sprinted home for an 8-0 margin.
Raeya Finn looped a single to left field to load the bases. Green then slapped a grounder to second base. The fielder tagged Finn out going to second, but her hurried throw to try and double up Green sailed wide. Runs nine and 10 streaked across home plate to end the game.
Dalton collected three RBI with two doubles to pace the Bulldog offense. Finn and Green each singled twice. Robinson hit a double, while George added a single in the second frame.
Emma Smith hit a double and single, while Freshcorn doubled to account for the three Gopher hits.
123 456 7 R H E
Rmt 000 00x x 0 3 4
Ada 004 06x x 10 9 2
WP-Dalton (6-4)
2B-Dalton 2 (A), Robinson (A), Freshcorn (R), Smith (R)
Ada girls upset by Wildcats
DELPHOS - Visiting Ada lost 12-8 to Delphos Jefferson in a Northwest Conference softball matchup Monday evening.
The Lady Bulldogs fell to 8-5 overall and 1-3 in the NWC as their three-game win streak was snapped with the defeat. The Lady Wildcats improved to 3-13 (1-2 NWC) with the upset win.
Wildcat hurler Kendall Schrader pitched a complete game and allowed six hits with no earned runs.
Avery Rahrig collected four hits and three runs to help pace the Wildcat offense. Lillian Baugh hit a home run, two singles and drove in four runs. Noel Warnement contributed two hits, three RBI and scored two runs.
F
Ada 8
DJ 12
WP-Schrader LP-Dalton (8-5)
HR-Baugh (DJ)
Ada hosts former league foe Lima Central Catholic Thursday, April 22. LCC lost 5-4 to Shawnee Monday.
In a late addition to the schedule, Ada also plays at non-league powerhouse Minster (11-3) Friday, April 23 under the lights at 6 p.m.
"We can always use good competition to improve our game," said Dicke.
