By Cort Reynolds

ADA __One big inning spelled the difference in a taut battle of 10-0 softball unbeatens on a warm Monday, April 13 at War Memorial Park.

Visiting Elmwood broke open a scoreless battle with a four-run fifth inning and held on for a 4-0 victory over the Ada High School softball team in a Blanchard Valley Conference showdown to hand the Bulldogs their first loss.

A pivotal three-run home run by Trinity Sander in the fifth gave the Royals a 4-0 lead. The Bulldog girls were unable to muster much offense against the Royals and pitcher Addi Hoffman, who induced some clutch strikeouts in key situations with runners on base.

Ada dropped to 10-1 overall and 2-1 in the BVC with their first loss in 10 home games.

First-place Elmwood improved to 11-0 overall and 4-0 in BVC play after the important road win. 

“It was a good, hard-fought game between two undefeated teams,” said Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “We didn’t get the hits when we needed them. We left too many runners on base.

”Elmwood made some phenomenal defensive plays,” he offered. “It is a learning game for us. Tea pitched a good game.”

Ada had a chance to score first in the second inning. Tea Griffith singled and Shay Smith reached on a sacrifice bunt to give the Bulldogs two baserunners with none out.

But hurler Hoffman retired Reese Jordan on a fly ball to left field, then struck out the next two batters to wriggle out of trouble.

Leading off the top of the third, MacKayla Casey battled back from an 0-2 count to work a walk. But Smith threw her out trying to steal with a fine peg to second base. Smith then made a nice catch of a foul pop-up.

First baseman Summer Wibley executed a nice back-handed stab of a low throw off a grounder to shortstop that finished the frame.

Leading off the Ada third, Alainee Buxton hit a looping liner to center field, yet the Royal defender made a nice sliding catch to thwart her bid for a hit. After a strikeout, Sophie Fleming lined a change-up into left field for a single.

But a big strikeout ended the Ada threat.

Griffith retired Elmwood on just four pitches via two grounders and a line drive back to her in the fourth.

In the bottom of the fourth, Smith reached first on a ground ball error by the second baseman. Aubry Jordan hit a grounder back to the pitcher, but Hoffman’s slow throw to second in an attempt to force out the speedy Smith was just late, as was the relay to first.

But once again, the Royal hurler reared back and came up with key consecutive strikeouts to get out of trouble and preserve the 0-0 tie.

Elmwood then broke the game open in the top of the fifth. Maddy Campbell led off with a sharp ground ball single up the middle to start the rally.

A sacrifice bunt and a passed ball advanced Campbell to third. A bunt single in front of home plate by Jillian Main, followed by a steal, put runners on second and third.

Casey drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to lead the bases. Then came an unusual play. Bristol Evans looped a foul ball behind first base, where Wibley made a nice over the shoulder catch. 

Campbell broke for home and by the time Wibley was able to turn around and throw, the Royal runner raced home to score ahead of the peg home for a short sacrifice fly and a 1-0 lead.

Before the dust settled on the next pitch, Sander launched a three-run homer over the fence in right-center field to completely swing the momentum to the Royals at 4-0.

Griffith regrouped to retire the last batter on a grounder to shortstop Emily Shanks, but the damage had been done.

Buxton singled on the first pitch leading off the Ada fifth. But the Bulldogs hit into a double play to erase her from the basepaths. On the heels of the four-run Royal fifth, it seemed to deflate Ada a bit.

The Elmwood catcher then made a fine catch of a Fleming foul ball up the first base line to end the frame.

Campbell beat out an infield single to shortstop with two out in the Elmwood sixth. But she was cut down stealing on another strong throw by backstop Smith to conclude the inning.

Griffith roped a single to center field with one out in the Ada sixth. Pinch courtesy runner Gabby Fleming advanced to second on a wild pitch. Smith then hit a grounder to shortstop, who threw the runner out at third trying to advance.

Freshman Aubry Jordan ripped a hard line drive but it went right to the Royal shortstop.

Main drew a one-out walk in the top of the seventh. But a ground-out and a pop-up to shortstop ended the frame.

Wibley led off the bottom of the seventh with a grounder to shortstop, and she was safe at first when the throw pulled the stretching first sacker off the bag.

However, Hoffman again came up big with consecutive strikeouts. A last-gasp fly-out to left field ended the game.

Griffith collected two of the four Ada hits. Sophie Fleming and Buxton singled for the other Bulldog hits.

Freshman Griffith also hurled all seven innings. She allowed four hits and four earned runs, with two walks and one strikeout.

Hoffman pitched a complete-game shutout to earn the win. She allowed no runs and four hits while striking out eight.

Sander knocked in three runs with the game’s biggest hit, a home run in the fifth. It was the only extra-base hit in the pitcher’s duel.

Campbell and Main hit singles. Main drew one walk, and Casey coaxed a pair of bases on balls as she scored a run.

Ada left seven runners on base.  

The Bulldogs have outscored their opposition 141-27 over 11 games so far.

The Ada girls resume league play at Arlington (1-6, 1-1 BVC) on Wednesday, April 15. The Red Devils lost 10-1 at Van Buren on Monday.

Later in the week, the Bulldogs play at Columbus Grove (4-7) on Thursday and at county rival Ridgemont (3-4) on Friday.

On Saturday, Ada faces a high noon showdown at tough Lincolnview (7-3) and ace sophomore pitcher Isla Hughes.

WP-Hoffman LP-Griffith (3-1) 

HR-Sander (E)