By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School varsity baseball team used solid pitching and good defense to defeat Cory-Rawson 4-1 in the home opener Thursday evening, March 30.
Ada improved to 2-0 with the non-league victory. C-R is 0-1 after dropping their opener.
The Bulldogs jumped on top early as they scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, and made them stand up.
Bulldog senior Spencer Wall saved the victory for starting hurler Levi Sousley. Wall escaped a key bases-loaded jam in the top of the fifth inning to help preserve the win. The Hornets threatened with an infield hit and a walk to put runners on first, second and third with just one out.
But Wall induced a pop-out to first baseman Max Puerto, then whiffed a Hornet batter on a called third strike to keep Ada comfortably ahead 4-1.
Wall singled in the bottom of the fifth but was stranded. In the home half of the sixth, Ada loaded the bases yet couldn’t add any insurance runs.
In the top of the seventh, Wall got a fly out to left field, then struck out the final Cory hitter to end the game with a flourish.
“We played good defense again and made them earn their run,” said new Ada head coach Toby Smith. “Our issue going forward is going to be becoming more productive on offense.
“We are making too many unproductive outs,” he continued. “We will make that a point of emphasis in practice going forward.”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R
Ada 4 0 0 0 0 0 x 4
C-R 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
WP-Sousley (1-0)
Save-Wall (1)
The Bulldogs visit Waynesfield-Goshen (2-0) Friday, weather permitting, in a non-league game. The improved Tigers swept Upper Scioto Valley 10-2 and 13-12 early this week.
Ada then plays a doubleheader at rival USV (0-3) Saturday. New Knoxville beat the Rams 8-2 Thursday.
