By Cort Reynolds

ARCADIA __The visiting Ada High School softball team defeated tough Blanchard Valley Conference co-leader Arcadia 3-0 in a makeup pitcher’s duel on Monday, May 11.

Bulldog freshman hurler Aubry Jordan struck out 14 Redskins to punctuate her shutout victory. She gave up just two hits and two walks over seven innings in a masterful complete-game win.

Jordan hurled an immaculate inning in the second, striking out all three Redskins on nine pitches. 

Ada improved to 19-3 overall and 6-2 in the BVC with the big road victory. The Bulldogs are now 6-2 away and 13-1 at home. 

Arcadia fell to 10-9 overall and 7-2 in BVC play after the home defeat.

The Redskins came into the fray tied atop the league with Liberty-Benton and Elmwood. Ada can now tie them (and win the tiebreaker) if they beat Van Buren in their league finale Thursday.

“Aubry had a great game pitching,” said Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “Shay and Emily hit the ball well. Maycie had a big hit that scored a run.” 

Jordan threw 103 pitches, 77 of which went for strikes or were put in play. 

Ada out-hit Arcadia 9-2 and committed two errors. The Redskins made no errors.  

After two scoreless innings to start the game, Ada plated two runs in the top of the third to break on top. The first Bulldog run scored on a passed ball. Freshman Maycie Dewese then drove home the second run on a single to center field.

Neither team scored for the next three innings in the tense contest.

In the sixth inning, powerful Bulldog freshman Tea Griffith socked a solo home run over the center field fence to provide Ada with a key insurance run. It was her sixth homer of the season.

Jordan shut out the Redskins to preserve the lead and win.

Freshman Shay Smith smacked a double and two singles and scored a run to lead the Ada offense. Sophomore shortstop Emily Shanks connected for two hits.

Junior third baseman Reese Jordan singled and scored one run. Aubry Jordan also singled.

Griffith scored once and batted in a run with her homer. Dewese singled to get a big RBI. 

Redskin hurler Alanna Tucker scattered nine hits and two earned runs over seven innings to suffer the tough loss. She struck out six and walked none.  

Ava Hatcher and Addison Colman swatted a double apiece for the lone Arcadia hits.

Ada hosts winless Perry (0-12) in their Northwest 5 Div. VI sectional final on Tuesday, May 12. 

The purple and gold then visit Van Buren (9-12, 5-3 BVC) on Thursday, May 14 in a league makeup game.

Ada visits powerhouse Defiance Ayersville (16-1) on Saturday, May 16. The Pilots have won 14 in a row and sit atop the Green Meadows Conference at 7-0. Ayersville was ranked fourth in the May 11 OHSSC Div. VII poll, with Mohawk second.

The Bulldogs had added state-ranked New Riegel (17-2) to its home schedule for a Friday, May 15 showdown. But the game was cancelled since the Blue Jackets have to play a league makeup game May 15.

NR was voted eighth in the latest Div. VII Ohio High School Softball Coaches poll Monday. Ada was ranked 10^th in the May 11 Div. VI state poll. 

WP-A. Jordan LP-Tucker

2B-Smith (A), Hatcher (Arc), Colman (Arc) 

HR-Griffith (A)