By Cort Reynolds

PANDORA __ The visiting Ada High School baseball team lost a 3-1 pitcher’s duel to Pandora-Gilboa in the Div. IV sectional semifinals Wednesday evening, May 15.

The game was postponed from Tuesday.

P-G scored first in the bottom of the second, but Ada tied it one-all by plating its lone run in the top of the third.

Junior shortstop Levi Green tallied the Bulldog run that knotted it up, 1-1. 

The Rockets regained the lead with a run in the home third, then added an insurance run in the fifth to go ahead 3-1. The hosts held Ada scoreless over the final four innings despite being out-hit, 9-6.

CONTINUES

“Our improvement over the course of the season was tremendous,” said second-year Ada head coach Toby Smith of his young squad. “We now understand how to play the game and put ourselves in position to win.

“The next step is to get stronger and get more at-bats, and more experience,” he added.

Ada starting pitcher Mason Wibley singled twice in three at-bats, and stole two bases. He hurled four innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out three.

Promising freshman Brody Rister pitched two innings of one-hit, shutout relief. He walked two and struck out a pair of Rockets. 

Freshman catcher Andrew Allen contributed two hits. Allen and Puerto also reached base when hit by a pitch.

Green singled, drew a walk, scored a run and stole one base. Max Puerto, Wes Mowery, Blake Zoladz and Kaine Fisher added a single apiece. 

Ada ended its season 2-16 with the loss.

P-G improved to 8-16 after the win and advanced to the sectional finals.

Winning pitcher Owen Huffman threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and no earned runs. He struck out four and walked one. 

Rocket senior Colin Harris earned the save by recording the final five outs. He allowed one hit and whiffed two.

At the plate, Harris doubled, scored two runs and walked twice. He also stole four of the nine bases P-G swiped.

Green and Fisher also stole a base for Ada, which swiped four bags. 

Ada stranded seven runners, while P-G left 10 on base. Both teams committed one error.

WP-Huffman LP-Wibley Sv-Harris

2B-Harris (PG)