By Cort Reynolds

ADA __ The Ada High School baseball team stayed close behind good pitching but eventually lost 4-0 to visiting Delphos Jefferson in a Northwest Conference game Monday evening, April 22.

The defeat dropped the Bulldog record to 0-9 overall and 0-4 in the NWC. The Wildcats improved to 3-5 and 2-2 in NWC play with the win.

“If we keep playing hard, good things are going to happen for us,” said Ada second-year head coach Toby Smith. “We just need to keep playing the game the right way, and our hits will start dropping.” 

The game was scoreless until the third inning. Delphos plated one run in the top of the third, then tacked on another score in the fourth to lead 2-0.

The score stayed that way until the seventh, when DJ added two big insurance runs. Luke Rode stroked a two-run single to center field to extend the lead to four runs.

Ada pitcher Rister drew a walk in the home seventh, but was stranded to end the game. 

DJ out-hit Ada, 5-3. Delphos stole six bases while Ada swiped three. The Wildcats played error-less defense.

Ada junior shortstop Levi Green hit a single, drew a walk and stole two bases.

Mason Wibley and Kaine Fisher each singled to provide the other Bulldog hits.

Bulldog freshman hurler Rister pitched a strong game in defeat, allowing just one earned run and five hits over seven innings. He struck out five Wildcats and walked one. 

Wildcat freshman hurler Dean Trentman fired a complete-game three-hit shutout to get the win. He struck out 11 and walked four. 

DJ scored three unearned runs with the aid of three Ada errors. Freshman Freshman Jaxon Rahrig doubled and scored a run. Sophomore Luke Millmine singled and scored a run.

The Bulldogs left five runners on base, while Arlington stranded only three.

The Bulldogs host Fostoria Tuesday evening in a non-league game, then entertain arch-rival USV in a makeup game Wednesday.

SCOREBOARD

          1 2 3   4 5 6   7    R  H  E

D J    0 0 1   1 0 0   2     4  5  0

ADA  0 0 0   0 0 0   0     0  3  3

WP-Trentman LP-Rister

2B-J. Rahrig (DJ)