By Cort Reynolds

Playing at Ridgeway, the young Ada High School varsity softball team lost at Hardin County rival Ridgemont 7-3 in a non-league contest Friday evening, April 15.

The Lady Bulldog record dropped to 2-6 after the defeat. The Lady Gophers improved to 4-2 with the victory.

"We hit the ball hard a lot," said Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt. "Their left fielder caught three or four line shots." 

The Bulldog girls jumped on top with a run in the top of the first inning. Freshman hurler Jenna Bassitt singled, and classmate Belah Price delivered a two-out RBI double to put the Bulldogs ahead 1-0.

The Gophers tied it with a run in the home second, and went ahead with another run in the third. Ridgemont stretched the lead to 5-1 in the fourth frame as pitcher Hallie Howard slugged a two-run home run. 

Bassitt swatted a double off the top of the left field fence in the fifth inning. Junior outfielder Emilee Huffer then doubled her home to cut the deficit to 5-3.

In the Gopher sixth inning, Brooke Nelson and Howard drilled back-to-back doubles to help the hosts extend their lead to 7-3 with two insurance runs.

Howard then shut out the Bulldogs over the last two frames to preserve the four-run margin.

Howard batted 4-4 with three RBI to lead the Ridgemont offense, hitting a homer, two singles and a double. She also struck out seven batters in seven innings.

"Her bat was hot, she had four of their nine hits," Bassitt noted of Howard.

Bassitt collected two hits and stole a base to pace the Ada offense. Freshman catcher Natilyn McClain added a single.

Bassitt struck out five Gophers and scattered nine hits over six innings.

   123 456 7 R   H  E

Ada 100 020 0 3 5 2

Rmt 011 302 x 7 9 0

WP-Howard LP-Bassitt (2-5)

2B-Price (A), Bassitt (A), Nelson (R), Thomas (R), Howard (R), Huffer (A)

HR-Howard (R)

The Bulldog girls play at local arch-rival Allen East (7-2, 1-1 NWC) Monday, April 18. The Lady Mustangs are expected to be without all-league sophomore catcher Savana Brooks, who has a foot injury.