By Cort Reynolds

COLUMBUS GROVE __ The visiting Ada baseball team lost 10-4 at Columbus Grove in a Northwest Conference battle of the Bulldogs Wednesday evening, May 9.  

Grove scored six runs in the second inning to build an early 7-0 lead. Two more Grove runs in the third made it 9-0. 

Ada rallied two runs in each of the fourth and sixth frames to edge within 9-4. CG scored its last run in the home sixth to provide the final margin of victory.

The purple and gold Bulldogs fell to 2-14 overall and 0-7 in the NWC after the defeat. 

Columbus Grove improved to 11-11 overall and finished 4-4 in NWC action following the win.

CG out-hit Ada, 7-4. Ada committed three errors, while Grove made none.

“The kids played a good game,” said Bulldog second-year head coach Toby Smith. “We need to clean up a few things defensively if we expect to continue to keep playing.”

Ada junior shortstop Levi Green hit a double, drew a walk, stole a base and scored two runs.

Freshman third baseman Blake Zoladz walked and scored a run. Junior first baseman Max Puerto hit a two-run single. 

Bulldog sophomore Mason Wibley walked and scored a run. Freshman Brody Rister hit a single, while second sacker Wesley Mowery hit a single and walked once.

Mowery threw four innings of solid relief. He allowed two hits and three earned runs, walked six and struck out one. 

Ada left three runners on base, while Grove stranded 11. CG stole 14 bases.

Shortstop Hopkins hit a double, singled and drove in four runs to pace Grove.

Ada plays a makeup league game Saturday morning at league power Lincolnview (14-6, 6-0 NWC).

Seeded 11th, Ada plays at fifth seed Pandora-Gilboa (7-14) in Div. IV sectional semifinal action Tuesday, May 14. The winner advances to play at second seed Hardin Northern (13-7) Thursday, May 16.

Riverdale (19-5) is the top seed in the Findlay sectional/district.

SCOREBOARD

WP-Palte LP-Zoladz

2B-Green (A), Hopkins (CG), Palte (CG)