Daicy Robinson (left) and Katie Sizemore were recognized before the 6-0 Bulldog home win over Leipsic Wednesday as part of Senior Night.
By Cort Reynolds
ADA __ The Ada High School softball team blanked visiting Leipsic 6-0 in a key Northwest Conference makeup game Wednesday, May 8, to keep its win streak alive and stay first in the league as they head down the homestretch.
With the decisive Senior Night win, the Bulldogs improved to 16-2 overall and stayed in a tie with Lincolnview atop the NWC at 6-0.
Ada is riding an 11-game win streak. The Bulldogs have won 13 of their last 14 NWC games.
Leipsic fell to 11-8 overall and 3-3 in the NWC after the loss.
Ada banged out 11 hits and scored two early runs to seize control, and never trailed.
“We hit the ball hard,” said third-year Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt. “We had a chance to open the game up a few times but couldn’t.”
Junior ace pitcher Jenna Bassitt improved to 15-2 by hurling Ada to the win. She struck out 13 Vikings in seven innings. She allowed just two hits and no runs in the shutout.
Bassitt pitched around a walk and an error in the top of the first inning. In the home first, she reached on an error and stole second base. Aidra Preston then lined a double to center field to plate Bassitt with the game’s first run.
Two outs later, Karley Wagner stroked a line-drive single to center to bring Preston home with the second run.
Bassitt struck out two Vikings in the second. Ada went out in order in the bottom of the second. Bassitt again whiffed two Vikes in a quick third frame.
In the home third, Preston and Natilyn McClain smacked consecutive one-out singles to center field. But with two out, Wagner’s line drive was caught in center to end the threat.
In the top of the fourth, Preston authored a fine play on a hard grounder along the first base line and made an unassisted putout. Steingass singled on a hard one-hopper to left field. But Bassitt ended the frame with another strikeout.
Ada added to its lead in the fourth. Reese Jordan roped a single to left and stole her way to third base. Daicy Robinson then looped a single to shallow center field to score Jordan and provide a 3-0 lead.
Bassitt set Leipsic down in order in the top of the fifth. With one out in the home fifth, McClain launched a solo home run over the fence in center field to stretch the lead to 4-0.
Bassitt made it seven Vikings retired in a row in the top of the sixth. The Bulldogs then put the game out of reach with two big insurance runs.
Jordan led off with a single to left and took second on an error. Katie Sizemore singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. Robinson smacked an RBI double to center to make it 5-0.
Alainee Buxton then pulled a double just inside the third base line to extend the margin to 6-0.
Leipsic escaped further damage as hurler Ali Hermiller retired the next three batters.
In the top of the seventh, the Vikings threatened to score. Olivia Tussing sliced a leadoff double over the right fielder’s head. Steingass struck out but reached when the third strike got away.
Bassitt whiffed Cupp, followed by a long fly to left field where the runners held at second and third.
Bassitt then struck out the final batter looking to end the threat and game.
Preston smacked a double and a single, scored a run and drove in one.
McClain hit a homer, singled and scored a run with one RBI.
Wagner hit an RBI single and lined out hard twice. Jordan singled twice and scored two runs.
Sizemore singled and scored a run. Robinson doubled, singled and scored two runs. Buxton ripped an RBI double.
“Both of our seniors have been good leaders and good kids,” said Bassitt of Sizemore and Robinson.
The Bulldogs out-hit the Vikes, 11-2.
“It was nice to get another win, but we have to be ready to play St. Henry, they are a very good team,” said Bassitt. “Both teams can hit well.”
Seeded second, Ada will host a sectional final tournament game vs. St. Henry Thursday, May 9 at 5 p.m. SH (7-13) beat Waynesfield-Goshen 10-0 in the first round Monday.
The fourth-seeded Redskins knocked Ada out last year in the sectionals.
Ada has a makeup league game at Columbus Grove (10-7, 3-3 NWC) Saturday, May 11, followed by a potential league title showdown at Lincolnview (18-4, 5-0 NWC) May 14.
“We have to take care of business Saturday,” said Bassitt.
SCOREBOARD
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | R H E | |
| LEIP | 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 2 2 |
| ADA | 2 0 0 1 1 2 x | 6 11 1 |
Ada
WP-Bassitt (15-2) LP-Hermiller
2B-Tussing (L), Preston (A), Buxton (A), Robinson (A)
HR-McClain (A)
