By Cort Reynolds

VAN BUREN__The visiting Ada High School softball team rallied in the late innings to defeat Van Buren 5-4 in the tight conclusion of a suspended Blanchard Valley Conference contest on Thursday, May 14.

The game had been stopped by heavy rain just after starting the top of the first inning on April 22.

The Bulldog girls trailed 4-1 after four innings, and it appeared their six-game win streak was in jeopardy. 

Ada scored a run in the fifth inning to edge within two. They then plated three two-out runs in the top of the sixth with the aid of two errors, and held on to win with strong relief pitching and defense 5-4.  

The Bulldogs out-hit the Black Knights, 11-8.

Ada improved to 21-3 overall and finished 8-2 in the BVC with the close comeback road win. The Bulldogs are 7-2 in away games and have won seven in a row since a loss to powerful Lincolnview.  

Van Buren dropped to 9-14 overall and 5-4 in BVC play with the tough home defeat.

“We didn’t play our best game, but it was nice to come back and get the win,” said Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “It was good to get another win in our last league game.” 

VB scored a run in the bottom of the first to take a slim early lead.

Ada freshman Tea Griffith slugged a solo home run over the left field fence to tie the game in the second inning, 1-1. It was her seventh homer of the season.

After an error, Black Knight Audrey Riegle smacked a two-run homer in the bottom of the third over the fence in right-center field to take a 3-1 advantage. 

VB led 4-1 after tacking on a run in the home fourth. Ada matched it with a run in the top of the fifth. Dailah Preston doubled to center and Alainee Buxton looped a fly ball to right field, but Preston was thrown out at third tagging up.

Sophie Fleming grounded a single to left field to plate Buxton to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Bulldogs rallied and took the lead in the sixth on a pair of Black Knight errors. Shay Smith beat out an infield hit, followed by a single up the middle by Aubry Jordan.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Summer Wibley hit a grounder to the pitcher and she threw it away, allowing Smith and Jordan to score the tying runs.

Wibley advanced to third on the bad throw. Buxton pulled a single into left field to score Wibley with the go-ahead run. Emily Shanks lined a single to left field, but two runners were stranded.

In the bottom of the sixth, Ada turned a crucial double play when their catcher grabbed a pop-up and threw to first to double a runner off first. Dailah Preston then caught a long fly ball at the center field fence to retire the side. 

Jordan set VB down in order in the bottom of the seventh inning to preserve the close victory.

Griffith banged out a home run and two singles, had one RBI and scored a run.

Freshman Smith collected two hits, two steals and a run. Sophomore Shanks hit two singles and stole a base. Aubry Jordan singled and scored one run.

Senior Buxton hit a clutch RBI single, swiped a bag and scored a run. Junior Preston stroked a double and Wibley scored one run.

Sophie Fleming slapped a critical RBI single.

Freshman Aubry Jordan earned the pitching win with three innings of two-hit shutout relief. She struck out two and walked none.

Griffith started in the circle and gave up three earned runs on six hits over the first four frames. She struck out six and walked one. 

Riegle hit a home run, two singles and drove in two runs to pace VB.

Jordan Patton and Claire Maag swatted a double apiece. Patton took the pitching loss, scattering 11 hits and two earned runs with three strikeouts over seven innings.

The Bulldogs committed three errors, while the nights made two errors.

The Ada girls visit state-ranked powerhouse Defiance Ayersville (18-2) on Saturday, May 16 at noon. The Pilots have won 16 of their last 17 contests after suffering a 1-0 loss to Bryan on May 12. 

Ayersville is first in the Green Meadows Conference at 7-0. The Pilots were ranked fourth in the May 11 Ohio High School Softball Coaches Div. VII poll.

Ada plays Carey (12-12) at Bath on Tuesday, May 19. The Blue Devils upset a 19-8 Colonel Crawford squad 10-3 on Thursday.

“We will have to play better if we want to make a run in the tournaments,” said Bassitt.

WP-A. Jordan LP-Patton 

2B-Preston (A), Maag (VB), Patton (VB)  

HR-Griffith (A), Riegle (VB)