By Cort Reynolds
VAN WERT – The Ada High School softball team fought hard in a Northwest Conference title showdown at Lincolnview, playing in a light mist on Tuesday evening, May 14.
Both teams entered the fray undefeated in league play, with the Lancer girls 7-0 and Ada 6-0. The Bulldogs sought their first-ever conference softball title in their last year as a NWC member.
The Bulldog girls led 1-0 into the sixth inning, but Lincolnview rallied late to win 3-1 and capture the elusive league championship.
Ada still has a makeup game to play at Columbus Grove on May 16 to finish its NWC slate, but is assured of finishing second for the second straight year. Crestview finished third at 5-3.
CONTINUES
The Bulldogs dropped to 17-4 overall with their second heartbreaking loss in as many nights. New Bremen nipped Ada 3-2 in the district semifinals Monday to snap their 12-game win streak.
“We hit the ball hard off (Taylor) Post,” said Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt of the NWC Player of the Year. “We only struck out twice. Jenna pitched well. We put up a hard fight, but came up just short.
“We just couldn’t come up with that big hit to break it open,” he added.
Junior first baseman Aidra Preston lined a solo home run over the center field fence in the top of the first inning to give Ada a lead they held for most of the game.
Natilyn McClain then singled and Tess Griffith reached on an error by pitcher Post. But with runners on second and third, a strikeout and fly-out ended their chance to extend the lead.
Preston made a diving catch of a foul ball in the home first against the fence. “That was an awesome catch,” said Bassitt. Post slugged a two-out double, but was stranded.
In the top of the second inning, Ada loaded the bases yet couldn’t score.
Bulldog Jenna Bassitt pitched around a single and a walk in the Lancer second to keep the hosts scoreless.
Bassitt led off the top of the fifth with a single and stole second, but was stranded there.
In the home fifth, a one-out Lancer single by Addysen Stevens led to an inning-ending double play on a good defensive effort by the Bulldogs.
Ada right fielder Alainee Buxton caught a line drive and fired to first base to double up the straying Lancer runner.
“That was a heads-up play by Alainee,” said Bassitt.
In the top of the sixth, senior Katie Sizemore slapped a two-out single but was left on base.
The Lancers then put together the winning rally in the sixth. A single and a walk, plus a sacrifice bunt, put Lincolnview runners on second and third with one out.
A catcher throwing error trying to pick Post off third brought her home with the first Lancer run to tie it up. Senior Sydney Fackler then doubled in two runs with a big hit to break the tie for a 3-1 lead.
Bassitt struck out the next two batters to escape further damage.
In the top of the seventh, Buxton led off by lining out to center field. Bassitt struck out and Preston smacked a clutch two-out double to center field to keep Ada alive.
That hit brought the tying run to the plate, but McClain popped out on the infield to end the game.
Bassitt struck out seven and scattered seven hits, while giving up one earned run.
Preston hit a homer and a double to pace the offense. Both teams had seven hits.
Sizemore singled twice. Bassitt singled and stole a base. Daicy Robinson and McClain each hit a single.
Lincolnview improved to 23-4 overall with the win.
Ada can still set the school record for wins in a single season by beating Columbus Grove Thursday for their 18th victory. They are currently tied with the 2018 team that won the district title and finished 17-8.
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | R H E | |
| ADA | 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 1 7 3 |
| LINCOLNVIEW | 0 0 0 0 0 3 x | 3 7 2 |
WP-Fackler LP-Bassitt (16-4)
2B-A. Preston (A), Fackler (L), Post (L)
HR-A. Preston (A)
