Weather permitting, BHS baseball opens March 27 at Hardin Northern
By Cort Reynolds
After a decade under the tutelage of Jason Campbell, the Ada High School varsity baseball team has a new head coach in 2023.
Successful and experienced mentor Toby Smith takes over as Bulldog mentor after fashioning a career record of 353-124 at West-Liberty Salem, Urbana and Bellefontaine.
The fiery Smith also serves as the head Ada varsity football coach, and was the Bulldog baseball assistant last spring.
The Bulldog baseball squad returns seven starters and 11 lettermen from last year's team that finished 6-14 overall and 1-7 in the Northwest Conference.
The 13-player roster features six seniors, no juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen.
Graduated are honorable mention All-NWC pitcher Kadin Phipps and first baseman Tyler Jameson.
"We are learning how not to lose games," said veteran coach Smith. "We want to play the game fundamentally well and give ourselves a chance to win. We have a lot of learning curves.”
CONTINUES
The infield and battery will be led by experienced seniors Spencer Wall, Roman Snyder and Jacob Sutherly.
The versatile Wall will pitch, while also playing shortstop and center field when not on the mound.
“Spencer is one of our glue guys, a player who will help teach the younger kids how not to lose games,” said Smith.
Snyder returns after earning honorable mention all-conference notice in 2021 and last year. He will also play some shortstop and third base when not hurling.
Snyder batted .359 with a .556 on-base pct last spring. He also scored 15 runs and knocked out 19 hits. “He is our other experienced glue guy,” said Smith.
Snyder posted a 2-3 record with one save on the hill in 2022.
Sutherly is penciled in as the starting catcher, and can also play second base. “I felt we needed to put him in a position where he can help us the most behind the plate,” said Smith. “He has a big learning curve, but is very improved.”
His ability to move well is a key to blocking pitches and chasing down pitches with the deep backstop at the Ada diamond.
Athletic senior letterman Levi Sousley will pitch and patrol center field. “Spencer, Roman and Levi are our three starting pitchers,” Smith noted.
Athletic sophomores Kaine Fisher and Levi Green return to the lineup. Green was the team Rookie of the Year last spring after batting .290 with a .480 on-base pct. He is expected to play second base.
The speedy Fisher will man the left field position.
Sophomore Max Puerto is a solid line-drive hitter who is expected to man first base.
Junior Lester Amos will see significant action at third base with senior Zach Neiswander.
Right field will likely be a rotation between slugging sophomore Dalton Amos, Neiswander and freshman Mason Wibley.
Dalton Amos may also see action behind the plate as well.
Sophomore Ethan Lawrence (IF/P) will also compete for playing time.
Freshman Aiden Richie (OF/P) rounds out the 13-player roster. The team does not have any left-handers, lamented the southpaw Ada head coach.
"We don’t really have an identity yet," Smith admitted. "We will run if the opportunity presents itself. Hopefully by the middle of the year, part of our identity will be one of not losing games."
The Bulldogs finished eighth in Northwest Conference play in 2022, ahead of rival Allen East (0-7).
Lincolnview repeated as the 2022 NWC champion with a perfect 8-0 record. Crestview and Leipsic tied for second at 6-2. Spencerville finished fourth at 5-3.
Columbus Grove and Delphos Jefferson ended up tied for fifth at 4-4. Youthful Bluffton rallied with two outs in the seventh to upset the Bulldogs in Ada and win their lone league game (1-6) and finish seventh, just ahead of the Bulldogs (1-7).
“We are in a position where we just need to focus on us,” said Smith of the Bulldogs’ place in the NWC standings. “Every game is its own season. We want to learn every game.
“The kids are willing to listen and want to get better,” he added. “This will take time, it isn’t a quick fix. Every day we just need to focus on getting better.”
Energetic Sean Anderson serves as the Ada assistant coach.
Weather permitting, the season is set to open March 27 at county rival Hardin Northern.
The home lidlifter is March 30 vs. local non-league foe Cory-Rawson. Ada visits local rival USV April 1 for a Saturday twinbill.
The NWC opener is April 7 at defending champion Lincolnview.
The Bulldog baseballers look to be improved with their returning experience, renewed emphasis on the basic fundamentals and intense new head coach.
PHOTO CAPTION
The varsity Ada baseball team, from left: Kaine Fisher, Aiden Ritchie,
Max Puerto, Levi Green.
Middle: assistant coach Sean Anderson, Ethan Lawrence, Dalton Amos,
Mason Wibley, head coach Toby Smith.
Back: Jacob Sutherly, Spencer Wall, Levi Sousley, Lester Amos, Roman
Snyder, Zach Neiswander.
PHOTO CAPTION
Returning Ada baseball lettermen, from left, front: Levi Sousley, Kaine
Fisher, Levi Green, Jacob Sutherly, Zach Neiswander.
Row two: Spencer Wall, Ethan Lawrence, Dalton Amos, Max Puerto, Roman
Snyder.
