Elite 8 match vs. Gibsonburg, May 30

By Cort Reynolds

FINDLAY – The Ada High School softball team built a lead on pitching and power, then held off a late rally to defeat Montpelier 6-4 in a Div. VI regional semifinal battle Wednesday afternoon, May 28, at Findlay’s Marathon Diamonds Flag City complex.

The Bulldog girls went ahead 6-1 behind late home runs from senior sluggers Tess Griffith and Natilyn McClain. 

The Locomotives rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and had the tying run at the plate, but Ada got the last two outs to preserve the lead and secure the win.

The Bulldog girls improved to a program-best record of 22-4 with the victory that snapped a 14-game Locomotive win streak. Montpelier ended its season 18-6 after the defeat.

Ada advances to play Gibsonburg (18-7) in the regional finals Friday evening, May 30 in Findlay. The Golden Bears edged Bucyrus Wynford 3-2 in nine innings at the second regional semifinal on Wednesday. 

“It was a great team win,” said Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “We played well offensively and defensively. Everyone who played contributed.”

Senior ace Jenna Bassitt ignited the offense and earned her 22nd win as she scattered five hits over seven innings, and allowed three earned runs. She struck out four and walked five, with two hit batters.

“We started off the game strong and got the momentum,” Bassitt noted.

Bassitt smacked a double off the fence leading off the first inning against hard-throwing Locomotive hurler Madelyn Hopper. Hustling freshman shortstop Emily Shanks beat out a bunt single when the first baseman pulled her foot off the bag.

Bassitt then scored the first run of the game on a passed ball.

One out later, Griffith drove Shanks home with a ground-out to second base that doubled the Ada lead to 2-0.

“Scoring two runs in the first inning was huge,” said Bassitt. “The girl pitching for Montpelier was good, she can throw 64 miles per hour.”

In the Loco half of the first, Bassitt gave up a single and struck out a batter. Ada committed an error, and a batter loaded the bases. Then came a big defensive play to stem the momentum.

Montpelier’s Jada Uribes hit a liner to center field which Griffith caught, and she then threw to Shanks at second base to double off the straying Loco runner and end the threat.

“That was a big play by Tess,” said Bassitt. 

In the top of the second, Hopper struck out the side. In the Loco second, Bassitt pitched around a walk to keep it 2-0.

In the Bulldog third, Shanks stroked a two-out single. McClain singled her to third, but the inning ended on a ground-out.

Montpelier loaded the bases again in the third frame on two walks and a hit batter. But Bassitt got out of the jam with a fly ball to right fielder Alainee Buxton.

Ada went out in order in the fourth, and Montpelier also failed to threaten in the bottom of the inning.

In the top of the fifth, Dailah Preston doubled to left field and Buxton walked. Bassitt then drove Preston home with a long sacrifice fly to the center field fence to extend the lead to 3-0.

In the home fifth, Hopper slammed a solo home run over the right field to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Griffith then answered by roping a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning. She rode a high 0-1 Hopper fastball over the center field fence to restore the lead to three runs at 4-1.

“We built off that homer,” said Bassitt.

Aidra Preston singled and Dailah was hit by a pitch, but the inning ended with a popout.

In the Loco sixth, a single was erased on a key double play executed by senior second baseman Karley Wagner. She fielded a grounder, tagged the baserunner and threw the hitter out at first to complete the twin-killing. 

Bassitt walked leading off the Ada seventh. After a Shanks bunt, McClain hammered a two-strike, two-run home run over the center field wall to stretch the lead to 6-1. 

Wagner singled, but was stranded.

The insurance runs provided by McClain’s homer proved to be key since Montpelier rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh. “Natilyn’s homer was crucial,” Bassitt agreed.

Two outs from defeat, the Locos started their last-gasp rally. They drew a walk, and a two-base error put runners on second and third. Hopper promptly doubled both runs home to slice the Ada lead to 6-3. 

Kelsie Bumb then laced a double to score Hopper and cut the deficit further to 6-4.

But with the tying run at the plate, Bassitt recovered to retire the next batter on a ground-out to third baseman Reese Jordan. She got the last Loco hitter out on a short fly ball that Buxton snagged.

“We are very happy to move on to the regional finals,” Bassitt said. “It was a total team effort. It was a big win off one of the top two pitchers we have faced all season.”

The Ada girls out-hit Montpelier, 8-5.

Bassitt drilled a double, drove in one run and scored twice. 

Dailah Preston stroked a double and scored a run. Griffith homered and drove in two runs. She also scored once.

McClain crunched her ninth home run of the season and had two hits. She drove in two runs and scored one run.

Wagner hit a single. Shanks had a hit and scored one run. Aidra Preston singled once, while Buxton coaxed a walk.

Ada left six runners on base, while Montpelier stranded seven.

Locomotive Hopper pitched all seven innings and gave up three earned runs on six hits. She recorded seven strikeouts and walked two. 

Hopper smacked a home run and a double as she drove in three runs. Bemb doubled in a run. Maggie Jacob singled and scored a run. Lyla Mahan stole a base and scored a run.

Ada committed two errors, while the Locos made three miscues that led to three unearned Bulldog runs. 

The five Bulldog seniors have now combined to win 62 games over their four seasons.  

123     456     7     R     H     E

Ada 200 011 2 6 8 2

Mont 000 010 3 4 5 3
WP-Bassitt (22-4)   LP-Hopper
2B-Hopper (M), Bumb (M), D. Preston (A), Bassitt (A) 

HR-Griffith (A), McClain (A), Hopper (M)

MORE: Preview of Bulldog softball regional final