By Cort Reynolds
Ada raced to an early 3-0 lead and went on to decisively defeat league rival Columbus Grove 8-2 and win the Div. IV Elida district softball championship Saturday.
The historic win sealed the first regional berth in the history of the Ada softball program.
The second-seeded purple and gold improved to 17-8 with the win, while Grove ended their season at 18-5 with the defeat.
Ada scored three runs in the top of the first inning against former teammate and CG hurler Teyah Sautter, and never trailed. Senior shortstop Olivia Alexander led the game off by stroking a double down the left field line.
Senior catcher Sydney Newland singled her home for a quick 1-0 lead. Classmate third baseman Maddie Gossard then drilled her ninth home run of the season over the fence in left field for a 3-0 cushion.
Sautter responded by knocking a solo home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the first frame to cut the lead to 3-1.
But Ada answered with a run in the second inning when Alexander's grounder to the charging Grove shortstop was misplayed, allowing fleet junior Alexis Ennis to score.
The Bulldogs tacked on another run in the top of the third inning when Sidney Gossard dropped a clean single into left field, driving Kaiti Newland home for a 5-1 bulge.
Grove cut the deficit to 5-2 on an RBI single by Sautter in the third inning.
But Maddie Gossard punctuated a three-run rally in the fourth frame with a two-run double that put Ada squarely back on top, 8-2.
Poised freshman hurler Leona Dalton then shut Grove out over the final four innings to earn her 14th win. She struck out eight, walked two and scattered eight hits.
In the Grove seventh inning, center fielder Kaiti Newland showed off her defensive skills by chasing down two drives. Maddie Gossard snagged a liner as well to close out CG. The Ada senior slugger drove in four runs with a homer and double.
Syd Newland collected two RBI on two hits to aid Gossard. Alexander ignited the offense with a double and single. Ace junior bunter Raina England added two singles.
Ennis and senior Nicki Lehsten each contributed a double. Sidney Gossard also singled twice as Ada out-hit CG, 12-8. Ada's trademark small ball offense worked as they executed four sacrifice bunts, two bunt hits and two other infield hits.
Sautter drove in both CG runs with a home run and single.
CG was seeded first in the 10-team district, one spot ahead of second-seeded Ada. Ada also beat Grove convincingly 10-4 on the road May 3.
123 456 7 R H E
Ada 311 300 0 8 12 1
CG 101 000 0 2 8 2
WP-Dalton (14-8) LP-Sautter
2B-Alexander (A), M. Gossard (A), Watt (CG), Ennis (A), Lehsten (A), Hardeman (CG)
HR-M. Gossard (A), Sautter (CG)
Ada will now face Defiance Tinora, which edged crosstown rival Defiance Ayersville 6-5 in the Bryan district finals. The win avenged a 3-2 loss at Ayersville April 12.
The Ada/Tinora Div. IV regional semifinal will take place in Findlay Wednesday, May 23 at 5 p.m. at the Marathon Diamonds.
Tinora (15-6, 6-1 GMC) captured the Green Meadows Conference title and has won 11 of its last 13 games. Four of their losses have been by one run, and their last defeat was at Wauseon by a 3-1 count.
Against their three common opponents with Ada, the Lady Rams went 3-1. They split a twinbill with Patrick Henry (won 20-1, lost 8-7), crushed Continental 21-1 and whipped league foe Wayne Trace 14-1.
Ada lost 18-3 to PH early in the season, beat Continental 13-4 in the sectional finals and defeated WT 4-2 in the district semis.
The Ada/Tinora winner will face the North Baltimore/Gibsonburg victor in the regional finals at Findlay at noon on Saturday, May 26. NB and Gibsonburg play in the first regional semi at 2 p.m. May 23 in Findlay.
