Team sets program record for wins in a season

By Cort Reynolds

SHELBY__It took multiple days, but the determined Ada High School softball team staved off rain delays and a late rally to beat Colonel Crawford 11-10 in a wild Div. VI Northwest district final that finished on Monday, May 25.

The Bulldogs led 11-8 when the game was stopped by rain at a crucial point three days earlier, in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Eagles had the bases loaded with nobody out when play was halted.

When the game restarted, freshman Aubry Jordan struck out the first two CC batters swinging. Speedy Olivia Friley then smacked a two-strike double to right field to drive in two runs and cut the Ada lead to 11-10.

With the tying run on third and the lead run on second, Jordan was able to induce a flyout to left fielder Shay Smith that ended the threat and preserved the precarious lead.

“Once we got out of that inning with the lead, you could see that took the wind out of their sails,” said Ada fifth-year head coach Jeff Bassitt. 

Leading off in the bottom of the seventh, Jordan struck out senior Riley Hoepf looking. Pitcher Audrey Betts flew out to right fielder Alainee Buxton. Jordan then retired freshman Adalyn Bond on a swinging third strike to clinch the title.

WP-Griffith LP-Betts Sv-A. Jordan

2B-S. Fleming (A), Shanks (A), Friley (CC)

HR-R. Jordan (A), Griffith (A), Friley (CC)

RECORD SEASON
It marked the second season in a row that Ada won the district championship, only the third in program history.

The youthful Bulldog girls improved to 23-4 with the victory to break the program record for wins in a season set last year, when they went 22-5.

Ada advances to the region 23 semifinals at Bellefontaine on Wednesday, May 27 at 5 p.m. vs. Danville (21-5). 

The Ada/CC conclusion was set to be played Saturday morning, but it was rained out and play resumed on Memorial Day at 11 a.m.

CC finished its season 20-9 after the loss. 

The Bulldogs were out-hit by the Eagles 13-9, but Ada played much better defense.

“It was a great team win,” said Bassitt. “I am happy for the girls to set the school record and win the district title again.  

”Tea and Aubrey did a nice job pitching,” he noted. “Gabby and Shay did a nice job behind the plate. Our defense was amazing, that’s what it’s going to take to win big games.”

Four Eagle errors were costly, while Ada made just one miscue.

“Aubrey did a nice job getting us out of bases loaded when we started back up Monday,” noted Bassitt. “Reese and Tea had back-to-back home runs to help get the game under control in the second inning.”

CC jumped ahead 3-0 after the first inning. But Ada answered with an eight-run second inning explosion on three big hits and three Eagle errors.

Tea Griffith walked on four pitches to start the big inning. Fellow freshman Maycie Dewese smacked a hard grounder to shortstop for an infield single.

Emily Shanks lined a shot to center field, but Griffith was thrown out at third when she had to hold up to see whether it would be caught or not. Aubry Jordan beat out an infield single to shortstop to load the bases.

Shay Smith was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Dailah Preston singled to drive in a run and pull within 3-2. A pop-up to shortstop made the second out.

The Bulldogs took the lead when Sophie Fleming hit a line drive double to left field which was misplayed, and three runs scored to provide a 5-3 edge. 

“That was a big hit by Sophie,” said Bassitt.

Smith, Preston and Aubry Jordan scampered home to score and put the Bulldogs ahead by two.

Reese Jordan then swatted a two-run home run to left-center field to extend the lead to 7-3. Griffith slugged a solo shot down the left field line to make it 8-3.

“That was huge to get back-to-back home runs, we had all the momentum then,” said Bassitt. “Reese really barreled it up. I thought Tea’s homer might go foul but it didn’t.”

CC answered with a run in the bottom of the second to inch within 8-4 after two eventful frames. The Eagles chipped away with two runs in the home half of the third to creep within 8-6.

But Ada plated three runs in the fifth inning to surge further ahead by five runs. As it turned out, the Bulldogs would need all of those key insurance runs to hold off the Eagles.

After a ground-out led off the key fifth frame, shortstop Emily Shanks doubled and Aubry Jordan singled. Shanks scampered home on a passed ball to make it 9-6.

Buxton walked and Smith slapped a fielder’s choice grounder for the second out to bring home Jordan. Sophie Fleming singled to score Preston and stretch the margin to 11-6.

Yet CC rallied for two runs on four hits with no outs in the sixth to pull back in contention when rain finally halted play Friday.

Eagle Saylor Holt singled to left field to plate Davis and cut the Ada lead to 11-7. Paige Allen hit a single to center that scored Peyton Rowlinson to inch within three runs. The bases were loaded when play was then stopped with Allen on first base, Holt at second and Kinley Hoepf on third.

It rained lightly throughout most of the game, and it picked up throughout the contest until it ultimately forced the umpires to suspend play.

Ada then hung on for the big win after the game resumed late on Monday morning with strong defense and pitching.

“I felt pretty good going back there with dry conditions,” said Bassitt of the Monday resumption. “I felt the pressure was on them. We were ahead by three runs.

“If you do the little things the wins take care of themselves,” he offered. “We hit the ball, did a good job pitching and played good defense.”

In addition to her clutch pitching, freshman Aubry Jordan collected two hits and two runs.

Sophomore Shanks slapped a double, singled and scored two runs. Freshman Smith scored a run and had two RBI.

Junior second sacker Sophie Fleming drove in four runs with a double and two hits. 

Reese Jordan knocked in two runs with her first career varsity homer, and scored once. Griffith had an RBI on a solo homer.

Preston drove in two runs with a hit and scored a run. She and lone Bulldog senior Buxton each drew a walk. Dewese tallied a run.

Griffith was credited with the pitching win. She gave up eight hits, and only two of the six runs CC scored on her watch were earned. She struck out two and walked one.

Aubry Jordan struck out six and walked four in relief. She allowed five hits and four runs to earn a timely save. 

“Aubry did a good job and the defense came up big,” summed up Bassitt. “Alainee made a nice catch in the outfield, and so did Shay. Gabby did a fantastic job catching the last few innings.”

Eagle sophomore catcher Olivia Friley compiled four hits, a walk and five runs batted in. “She is one of the best all-around players we have seen this year,” said Bassitt of the CC leadoff hitter. “They have a fairly young team, like us.”

Friley slugged a home run, two doubles and a single. She also stole three bases.

Eagle Riley Hoepf rapped out three hits, and Allen collected two hits. Rowlinson and Friley each scored a pair of runs. Holt singled home a run and scored once.

Sophomore hurler Betts suffered the pitching loss. She went all seven innings and scattered nine hits. Only three of the 11 Ada runs were earned. She struck out one and walked four.

The Bulldogs have outscored their three playoff opponents so far by a combined margin of 49-10.

Bulldog softball to take on Danville Blue Devils in Regional semis