By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School softball team recorded its most important regular season win since 2018, by decisively defeating two-time defending league champion Lincolnview 12-5 in the Northwest Conference opener at the Ada Park on a chilly Thursday evening, April 6.
The undefeated Bulldogs improved to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the NWC with the historic victory. The Lancers dropped to 2-3 and 0-1 in the NWC after the defeat.
“We had a total team effort,” said Ada second-year head coach Jeff Bassitt. “Jenna (Bassitt) settled down and came on strong after the first inning.
“It took a team effort to beat a team like Lincolnview,” he added. “Our hitting, pitching and defense were good. It was a nice win against a good team.”
The Lancers jumped in front with three runs in the top of the first inning, but Ada responded with a big four-run home half of the first to establish control and build confidence.
CONTINUES
After a walk to start the game, Lancer Addysin Stevens doubled in the first frame, followed by another free pass. Braxton Sherrick then singled home two runs, followed by another walk.
But Bassitt reared back and got two big strikeouts to prevent further damage.
Ada roared back in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Aidra Preston hit a single, followed by a ringing double off the bat of soph Natilyn McClain.
Preston then slid home just ahead of the tag on a wild pitch for the first Bulldog run. Daicy Robinson walked and Katie Sizemore hit a bunt single to inch within 3-2.
Senior Kayla Wince moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt.
Shortstop Karley Wagner then sliced a big two-run single to center field to put Ada ahead, 4-3.
Bassitt whiffed two Lancers in the second. The Bulldogs added on two runs in their half of the second. Senior speedster Raeya Finn beat out a bunt single.
Lincolnview dropped a throw at first base, and then missed a pop-up in shallow left-center field to let two runs scamper home for a 6-3 lead. Ada capitalized on the Lancer miscues to consolidate its lead.
Bassitt, throwing hard, struck out the side in the top of the third. Wagner kept the pressure on by drilling a double to right-center field leading off the Bulldog third.
The Lancers misplayed a ground ball to second base, and Bassitt drove in a run with a ground-out. The Lincolnview defense continued to falter when they dropped a pop-up to put Ada in front, 8-3.
Bassitt retired the Lancers in order in the fourth frame. Lincolnview made a diving catch in left field to open the home fourth. Junior Katie Sizemore then hammered a long drive down the right field line that bounced just in front of the fence, and she legged it out for a triple.
Wince walked and Wagner delivered a sharp RBI single to right-center to provide a 9-3 margin. A run-scoring grounder off the bat of Tess Griffith extended the lead to 10-3.
Sophomore Belah Price then singled home another run with a sharp single to center. Stevens stroked a double to right-center in the Lancer fifth. Price then made a fine running catch along the right field line, but Stevens tagged up and scored from second to make it 11-4.
Ada went out in order in the bottom of the fifth.
In the Lancer sixth, Bassitt pitched around a leadoff walk with two strikeouts.
Ada tacked on another run in the home sixth. Birthday girl Wince singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Wagner then smoked an RBI double over the left fielder’s head to make it 12-4.
In the top of the seventh, MaKayla Jackman sliced a lead-off double to left field. Stevens flew out to Griffith in center field. Lainey Spears ripped a run-scoring double into the gap to cut the deficit to 12-5.
Price then made a fine catch on a short fly to right field, ending up on her knees to make the grab.
Wince then snared a soft line drive to second base to end the game, touching off a Bulldog celebration.
“Belah Price came in and contributed a lot on defense and got a big hit,” said Bassitt, who inserted her into the game in the fourth inning. “She made some critical defensive plays. Lincolnview is very well-coached.”
Wagner cracked two doubles and a single to pace the 13-hit Ada offense. Sizemore hit a triple and added two singles. Preston and Wince each hit two singles, and McClain doubled.
Stevens hit two doubles to pace the Lancers, who collected six hits. Jackman and Spears also smacked a double apiece. Sherrick slapped two singles.
Bassitt struck out 11 Lancers in a complete-game effort, and allowed four earned runs to improve to 5-0 this season. She gave up just two runs over the final six innings to the defending state runner-up.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Ada 4 2 2 3 0 1 x 12 13 1
Lvw 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 6 4
WP-Bassitt (5-0)
LP-Post
2B-Stevens 2 (L), Jackman (L), Spears (L), Wagner 2 (A), McClain (A)
3B-Sizemore (A)
Ada is slated to host a twinbill Saturday vs. Arlington (1-2). Wednesday’s home game vs. Perry was rained out.
Lincolnview plays at Leipsic (1-2, 0-1 NWC) Monday, April 10.
