By Cort Reynolds
Playing at home, the Ada High School softball team dodged the rain long enough to run-rule visiting Kalida 11-1 in a non-league contest Wednesday evening, April 10.
The Bulldogs improved to 6-2 with the shortened, five-inning win. Kalida fell to 0-4 with the loss.
“It was nice to get back in the win column,” said third-year Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt. “I thought we hit the ball hard.”
The Bulldog girls out-hit the Wildcats, 10-4.
Ada jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning and never trailed. Leadoff hitter Jenna Bassitt singled and stole a base, then later came around to score the first run.
In the top of the second, Kalida catcher Kassidy Hipsher doubled and tallied the lone Wildcat run to tie the game briefly at one-all.
In the Ada second, Karley Wagner singled and made it to third base on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Katie Sizemore singled, and was later driven home by a single off the bat of Alainee Buxton for a 3-1 lead.
The Bulldogs tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third. Wagner doubled, while Reese Jordan and Sizemore both walked to load the bases.
Daicy Robinson delivered an RBI infield single off the pitcher’s glove. Buxton lined a run-scoring single to center field that put the Bulldogs up by four.
Bassitt drilled a line drive to center field, but it was caught. A ground-out ended the frame with Ada on top, 5-1.
The Wildcats threatened in the Kalida fourth. A single to right field was followed by a Hipsher bunt hit that died along the third base line. With two out, Kalida singled but left fielder Dailah Preston made a strong throw to nail the runner at home plate. Catcher Natilyn McClain applied the tag to the non-sliding runner to keep Ada ahead, 5-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, McClain drew a leadoff walk. Tess Griffith singled to center field, and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position.
Wagner walked to load the bases. Jordan flew out to short center field. Sizemore then roped a two-run double to the gap in left-center field to extend the lead to 7-1.
Robinson walked, and Buxton delivered an RBI ground-out to second base for an 8-1 advantage. Bassitt stroked a liner but again it sailed to the center fielder to end the frame.
Bassitt retired the side in order in the Kalida fifth, striking out the last two batters.
In the home fifth, McClain looped a one-out single to shallow center field. Griffith blooped another single just onto the grass behind second base. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third.
Wagner grounded out to the pitcher, but drove home McClain in the process to make it 9-1. Jordan walked again, and Griffith scampered home on a wild pitch for a 10-1 margin.
Jordan was then caught in a rundown between home and third base, but when the third sacker dropped the toss from catcher Hipsher, the Ada freshman scurried home to tally the game-ending run.
Ada took advantage of nine walks issued by Kalida pitching, as well as several wild pitches.
Bassitt struck out 11 Kalida batters in just five innings. She allowed four hits and a run to earn her fifth pitching win.
Sizemore batted 2-2 with two walks, a run and two RBI. Buxton collected two hits and three RBI. Bassitt had a hit and one run with a steal. Wagner had two hits, three runs and one run batted in.
Griffith singled twice and scored two runs. Jordan walked three times and scored twice. Robinson singled in a run.
In its delayed league opener Thursday, Ada is scheduled to visit Northwest Conference foe Columbus Grove (4-2, 0-1 NWC), weather permitting.
The Bulldog girls were also slated to visit county foe Ridgemont (2-3) Friday.
Ada hosts league rival Bluffton (0-2) Monday, and is expected to entertain Spencerville (2-3, 1-0 NWC) in an NWC makeup game next Tuesday, April 16.
The Waynesfield-Goshen game at Ada slated for April 16 has been moved to a later date.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
KAL 0 1 0 0 0 x x 1 4 2
ADA 1 2 2 3 3 x x 11 10 0
WP-Bassitt (5-2) LP-Nienberg
2B-Wagner (A), Hipsher (K), Sizemore (A)
