By Cort Reynolds

MT. BLANCHARD – The visiting Ada High School baseball team fell behind big early, then rallied late, but came up short 9-5 to new Blanchard Valley Conference rival Riverdale on Monday evening, April 28.

The Bulldogs tallied a run in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. But the Falcons responded with three runs in the bottom of the first to gain the lead, and never trailed again.

The Falcons plated three runs in the third and added three scores in the fourth to build a 9-1 cushion. Ada tallied two runs in the fifth, plus single runs in the sixth and seventh, to cut the final deficit to four. 

“We had quality at bats that gave us more runs than we have scored in a few games,” said Ada head coach Toby Smith. “That is encouraging. 

“We only made one defensive error, so that is also something to build on,” he added.

Ada dropped to 3-11 overall and 2-5 in the BVC with the defeat. Riverdale improved to 8-5 and 4-1 in BVC play after the victory.

The Falcons out-hit Ada 9-8 and drew eight walks. The Bulldogs also coaxed eight walks. 

Bulldog sophomore catcher Andrew Allen singled twice, walked two times and scored two runs. He also stole two bases.

Ada senior shortstop Levi Green singled, scored a run and swiped three bases. 

Senior center fielder Kaine Fisher hit a double and had one RBI. Tyler Stauffer singled in a run. Wes Mowery hit a single and scored a run.  

Thad Smith added a single and a walk. Blake Zoladz singled, scored a run and walked two times. Zoladz stole three of the 11 bases Ada swiped.

Brody Rister started and pitched the first inning to get the loss. He gave up three hits, three runs and a walk while striking out one. He drove in two runs.

Blake Zoladz hurled 1.2 innings of relief, followed by 1.1 innings from Tytler Stauffer. Levi Green hurled a scoreless inning of relief with three walks and no hits.

Mason Wibley tossed a scoreless sixth with two whiffs while allowing two hits.  

Justin Gonzales hit a double, three singles and drove in five runs to pace the Falcons. Kydin Reed knocked in three runs with a double and a single, and he scored two runs.

Three Riverdale hurlers combined to strike out 10 Bulldogs. The trio gave up eight walks, eight hits and five earned runs. 

The Bulldogs committed just one error, while Riverdale made a pair of miscues. Ada stranded a dozen runners, while the Falcons left eight men on base.

Ada plays at former league foe Delphos Jefferson (1-13) Tuesday, April 29. DJ earned its first win last Thursday at Waynesfield, 17-0.

The Bulldogs resume league play Wednesday at home vs. Arcadia (4-7, 2-5 BVC) Wednesday.

123 456 7 R H E

Ada 100 021 1 5 8 0

Rdl 303 300 x 9 9 2

WP-Reiter LP-Rister 

2B-Fisher (A), Reed (R ), Gonzales (R ), Phelps (R )