By Cort Reynolds

ADA__The undefeated Ada High School softball team methodically defeated visiting Blanchard Valley Conference foe McComb 9-0 on Wednesday evening, April 8.

The Bulldog girls limited the Panthers to just one hit in the shutout victory. Ada scored three runs in the second inning, one in the third, three in the fifth and two more in the sixth to win decisively. 

Ada improved to 8-0 overall and 2-0 in the BVC with the victory. McComb fell to 2-2 and 0-2 in BVC play after the loss.  

“Both of our pitchers threw the ball very well,” said fifth-year Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “Tea and Shay hit the ball well. It was nice to get another conference win.”

Freshmen hurlers Aubry Jordan and Tea Griffith combined to post the one-hit shutout.

Freshman Shay Smith started the three-run rally in the second inning by lining a shot to right field that skipped under the Panther outfielder to the fence. The speedy Smith rounded the bases and beat the relay throw home to put Ada ahead, 1-0.

Aubry Jordan lined a single to left field, followed by a fine sacrifice bunt from Alainee Buxton. Jordan alertly raced to third base just ahead of the tag. Dailah Preston ripped a single to center field to drive in the second run.

After a passed ball, she scampered home safely on a close play after a single by Gabby Fleming to extend the lead to 3-0. 

Jordan struck out the side in the Panther the top of the third. In the Ada third, Griffith’s pop-up fell behind the shortstop with two outs. Smith beat out an infield hit to shortstop and stole second. 

A wild pitch plated Griffith, but Smith was caught in a rundown between third and home and was tagged out by the catcher to end the inning with Ada on top, 4-0.

Leading off the top of the fourth, sophomore Alyvia Shaheen singled sharply to left field for the lone McComb hit. But Jordan retired the next three hitters easily to end the threat.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases with three two-out walks in the home fourth, but stranded three on a fly-out to center.

Griffith relieved in the top of the fifth and struck out the first batter. The third out was recorded when Brooke Koenig lined a long fly to center field that Jordan ran down and gloved nicely in front of the fence.

In the bottom of the fifth, Griffith ripped a one-out single to left-center field and stole second. Smith dropped down a sacrifice bunt, and the pitcher’s throw to first was low and wide, which allowed Griffith to come home.

Aubry Jordan then rifled a double off the base of the fence in left field to increase the lead to 6-0. Buxton stroked a solid single to center that placed runners on the corners.

Preston laid down a nice bunt and Jordan sped home safely on a nice slide to make it 7-0.

Griffith whiffed the first two hitters in the sixth, followed by an unassisted ground-out to first base.

Sophomore shortstop Emily Shanks launched a long shot leading off the sixth that glanced off the center fielder’s glove and then the fence for a double. Maycie Dewese advanced her to third with a grounder to second.

Griffith roped an RBI single to center to stretch the lead to 8-0. Brooklyn Roberts then grounded a hard single up the middle to center to drive in the last run.

In the seventh, Griffith retired McComb in order on two grounders and a strikeout.

Griffith smacked three hits, scored three runs, stole a base and had one RBI.

Smith batted 3-3 with two runs, one RBI and a sacrifice bunt. Jordan swatted a double, singled, scored two runs and drove in two. Shanks hammered a double, scored a run and walked once.

Preston singled, had two RBI and scored a run. Buxton singled and had a sac bunt. Gabby Fleming singled.

Jordan earned the pitching with four innings of no-run, one-hit hurling. She struck out six. Griffith threw three perfect innings and whiffed three. She also made a couple of good plays on comeback grounders to the circle.

Ada out-hit McComb 12-1, and capitalized on several Panther errors.

The Bulldog girls entertain former NWC rival Spencerville (1-2) Thursday, April 9.

The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 104-21 in their eight victories. Their first nine games are at home. 

The slated BVC opener at Liberty-Benton, which was rained out, is rescheduled for Thursday, April 16, early in a stretch of eight away games.

WP-A. Jordan (3-0) LP-Sebring 

2B-A. Jordan (A), Shanks (A)