By Cort Reynolds
The Ada varsity baseball team lost 14-2 to powerhouse Lincolnview in the Northwest Conference opener Thursday evening, April 6, at Ada Park.
The second-ranked Lancers trailed upset-minded Ada 2-1 after three innings, but blew the game open with an eight-run fourth frame.
“When we took the lead into the fourth, our youth and inexperience showed as we did not do what we needed to do in order to hold that lead,” said Ada head coach Toby Smith.
“I am very proud of the kids who played today and fought hard throughout,” he added.
Ada dropped to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the NWC with the defeat, while the Lancers improved to 5-0 and 2-0 in the league after the win.
The Bulldogs trailed 1-0 after the first inning to the defending state runner-up. But spunky Ada took a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the home third.
Jacob Sutherly singled to score Levi Green and tie it 1-1. His hit advanced Levi Sousley to third, and placed runners on the corners. Ada then took the lead on a double steal when Sousley broke from third and sped home as the catcher threw to second, only to have it cut off.
Lincolnview loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth. A wild pitch plated Cal Evans, then Holden Price beat out an infield hit to score a run.
Dane Ebel then hammered a two-run triple over the center fielder’s head to provide the visitors with a 5-2 edge.
Another wild pitch extended the lead to 6-2. An Austin Bockrath triple to right-center drove home another run.
Ada pitcher Mason Wibley relieved starter Sutherly, who hurled the first 3 2/3 innings. Wibley went the rest of the way.
Singles by Aiden Hardesty and Jack Dunlap were followed by a walk. Evan Miller then stroked a two-run single to center field to cap the eight-run inning.
When the smoke cleared, the Lancers led 9-2.
Lincolnview plated five more runs in the sixth to build a 12-run lead. Luke Bollenbacher swatted an RBI double in the sixth, and Ebel smashed a solo home run. They finished the game an inning early by the 10-run rule.
Bockrath got the win by pitching the first three innings. He aided his own cause with three hits. Ebel drove in six runs with a homer and a triple, and he also scored three runs.
Bollenbacher pitched the fourth and fifth frames, striking out six batters and walking one. Dalton Ellerbrock pitched the sixth and final frame and struck out two.
The Lincolnview staff held Ada hitless over the final three innings.
Ada got out-hit, 11-4. The Lancers stranded seven runners compared to five left on base by the Bulldogs.
Green, Sutherly, Sousley and Ethan Lawrence collected the Ada hits.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Ada 0 0 2 0 0 0 x 2 4 2
Lvw 1 0 0 8 0 5 x 14 11 0
WP-Bockrath
LP-Sutherly
2B-Bollenbacher (L)
3B-Ebel (L), Bockrath (L)
HR-Ebel (L)
LOB--LINCOLNVIEW 7, ADA 5.
E--Levi Green, Max Puerto.
2B--Bollenbacher.
3B-- Ebel, Bockrath.
HR-- Ebel.
HBP-- Dunlap, Overholt, Hanf, Levi Green. SACB-- Hanf.
SB-- Ebel (2), Hanf, Bockrath (3), Levi Sousley, Jacob Sutherly.
LINCOLNVIEW IP H R ER BB SO HR
Bockrath 3.0 4 2 2 0 4 0
Bollenbacher 2.0 0 0 0 1 6 0
Ellerbrook 1.0 0 0 0 1 2 0
ADA
Jacob Sutherly 3.67 6 9 5 4 2 0
Mason Wibley 2.33 5 5 5 1 1 1
PB-- Hardesty, Zach Neiswander. SO--Farris, Hardesty,
Overholt, Levi Sousley, Mason Wibley (2), Levi Green, Ethan
Lawrence, Zach Neiswander (3), Max Puerto (2), Dalton Amos
(2). BB-- Miller, Ebel, Renner (3), Mason Wibley, Lester
Amos.
Wednesday’s scheduled home game vs. Perry was rained out. Ada hosts NWC foe Columbus Grove (4-1, 0-0 NWC) next Monday.
