By Cort Reynolds

LIMA BATH__The visiting Ada High School tennis team defeated Bath 3-2 in a makeup match on Monday evening, May 11.

The Bulldog netters improved to 3-7 after posting their third win in four matches. Bath fell to 0-11 after the loss.

“I feel like we are making progress, and I am lucky to be a part of it,” said first-year Ada head coach Shelleigh Alexander. “We have been learning what it takes to win and I hope we can use that momentum going into sectionals.”

Hard-serving Bulldog junior Brandon Prater rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 victory at second singles over Wildcat junior Braycon Jolliff.

“Brandon is playing with more strategy, and it is great to see that from him,” said Prater.

Bulldog junior Lawson Klingler cruised to a straight-set 6-0, 6-3 triumph against junior Dalton Smith at third singles.    

“Lawson played pretty well,” said the coach.

Ada senior Justin Bowden won the initial set of his first singles bout 7-6 after capturing a 7-1 tiebreaker. But Bath junior Zach White rallied to take the last two close sets 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) and win the tight match.

“Justin played very calm and patient,” said the coach. “He had a good presence on the court. He lost a super competitive match. It could have gone either way, they were evenly-matched.”

Ada senior Sam Crawford and freshman Lucy Carter were forced to forfeit at first doubles. The duo had started the match at Bath on April 29 and won the first game of set one that day before rain stopped play. 

Crawford was not able to play on Monday when the match resumed, and by rule, Ada could not substitute for him. Carter and Kaytlin Lambert ended up playing together in an exhibition match and lost in two sets.

At second doubles, the Ada junior tandem of Brooklynn Andreasen and Jaylin St. Laurent won by forfeit as Bath was a player short. 

“We also played some JV exhibition matches,” said Alexander. “It was good for them to get some touches on the ball before sectionals.”

Ada hosts a makeup match vs. Fostoria on Tuesday, May 12, in the final home contest of the season on Senior Night. Play starts at 4:30 p.m.

“They are coming to our house and you know they are going to want revenge,” said Alexander. “I hope we can finish with a win, that is my goal.”

The sectionals start at UNOH in Lima on Thursday.