By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School softball team played perhaps the biggest regular season game in program history when they hosted perennial power Crestview in a first-place showdown between unbeaten league foes before a big crowd Thursday evening, April 27, at War Memorial Park.
For the first four innings, the teams battled to a 0-0 tie in a taut pitcher’s duel. Ada sophomore hurler Jenna Bassitt retired the first 12 Knight hitters, allowing just one hard-hit ball.
But Crestview came up with three huge two-out runs in the fifth inning to break open the tense battle, and the Knights went on to post a 7-0 win.
“Ada has an outstanding young team,” said veteran Knight head coach Carl Etzler. “I was really pleased with our baserunning. I thought we forced them into some mistakes.
“Hats off to our freshman catcher, Dakota Thornell,” he continued. “She threw out Jenna Bassitt, who is a tremendous player, twice. That was very big.”
Featuring six seniors, the battle-tested Knights beat the younger Bulldog squad, who start six sophomores and a freshman. Big-game experience helped the visitors prevail.
The Bulldogs had a chance early to jump on top in the first frame and get the momentum before a loud home crowd, but were unable to capitalize.
“We made too many errors–five–which I think is the most we have had in a game all season,” said Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt. “We competed, but you have to bring your A game against a team like Crestview. The errors hurt us.”
With their second loss this week, Ada dropped to 14-3 overall and 5-1 in the NWC. The Knights improved to 13-4 and are in sole possession of first in the NWC at 7-0. They clinched at least a share of their 21st league crown with the win.
Crestview can secure an outright NWC title by winning at arch-rival Lincolnview, which is tied for second with Ada at 5-1, in their finale next Thursday.
A Knight loss to the 10th-ranked Lancers could pave the way for a three-way tie for the title between Ada, Crestview and Lincolnview. The Bulldogs beat the Lancers in the NWC opener.
All eight Knight hits at Ada came in the last three innings as their bats came alive late.
Bassitt struck out six of the first 12 Knight hitters, including the side in the first frame, as she mowed down Crestview early with good control and a strong fastball.
But in the top of the fifth, the Knight hitters started to make solid contact. Thornell led off with a single to left field for the first Crestview hit. Olivia Heckler laid down a sacrifice bunt.
Bassitt whiffed Micaela Lugabihl to get the second out, but the third proved elusive. Third sacker Laci McCoy broke the scoreless tie by ripping a double off the left field fence to make it 1-0.
She went to third on a wild pitch, then scored on Kaylee Mollenkopf’s single to left field that doubled the lead to 2-0.
Nevaeh Ross then lifted a long fly to left field that was dropped to extend the lead to 3-0. All three damaging runs came with two outs.
Ada sophomore Tess Griffith started the home fifth by stroking a single to center field. After a fielder’s choice grounder by Belah Price, Marley Bulerin hit a soft liner up the middle.
Shortstop Katelyn Castle snared the ball near second base and rifled a throw to first to double off the runner and end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Katie Sawmiller led off with a single to left. Castle grounded out and Thornell flew out to Griffith in center. But Crestview scored another crucial two-out run when Ada misplayed a grounder, and Sawmiller sprinted home to extend the lead to 4-0.
In the home sixth, Bassitt was hit by a pitch leading off. But she was thrown out trying to steal second by Thornell, who fired a perfect peg to Castle covering the bag.
Knight hurler Olivia Heckler then caught a pop-out and struck out a Bulldog to end the frame.
Crestview tacked on three more big insurance runs in the seventh. McCoy singled hard to left past the Ada shortstop, and advanced to second on a fielding error. Ross beat out an infield single.
A throwing error on a play at third base let in the fifth Knight run. After a sacrifice bunt, Megan Mosier singled to left field to extend the margin to 6-0.
One out later, Castle hammered a triple to right field to plate the seventh run.
Bulldog sophomores Karley Wagner and Griffith each singled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. But Ross recorded the final out on a fly ball to center field to preserve the shutout.
“We won another piece of an NWC title, but we don’t want to share it,” said Etzler afterward. “We executed the bunts when we had to.”
“We competed, but the miscues took us out of the game,” said Bassitt. “They only had seven or eight hits, we had five. It was anybody’s game through four innings.”
The gutsy Bassitt struck out seven and did not walk a batter in seven innings as she suffered just her third loss in 15 decisions.
Heckler struck out nine and did not walk a batter in posting a shutout. “I thought Heckler did a nice job, especially after pitching six innings the night before against Bath,” Etzler offered.
Ada’s best chance to take the lead came in the opening frame. Mollenkopf dropped Bassitt’s long fly on the first at bat of the game. Aidra Preston then slugged a long fly to left field that Mosier hauled in.
Heckler hit Katie Sizemore above the elbow to put two runners on base. But she wriggled out of trouble by posting two key strikeouts, then settled into a rhythm.
Ada freshman Marley Bulerin made a nice running catch charging in for a backhand grab to record the last out of the Knight second in left field.
Heckler whiffed two Bulldogs in the home second. In the Ada third, Bassitt rifled a one-out single to center field. But she was thrown out stealing second by Thornell on a close play where the throw tailed into the runner as Castle made a good tag.
Natilyn McClain singled to center field leading off the Bulldog fourth. But the sophomore catcher was stranded after a foul-out to Thornell, and two Heckler strikeouts.
McCoy doubled and hit a single to pace the Knights. Castle tripled for the other extra base hit.
Bassitt singled and was hit by a pitch once. Griffith slapped out two singles. McClain singled once, as did Wagner. Sizemore reached as she was hit once.
Lone Ada senior Kayla Wince was honored before the game.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Cvw 0 0 0 0 3 1 3 7 8 1
Ada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5
WP-Heckler LP- Bassitt (12-3)
2B-McCoy (C)
3B-Castle (C )
Ada’s non-league game at Fostoria Tuesday was rained out. The Bulldogs resume league play Monday, May 1 at Leipsic (4-8, 1-5 NWC).
Ada hosts Kenton on Wednesday, May 3, then visits Spencerville (3-12, 1-5 NWC) in the league finale May 4.
