Home and inaugural BVC opener vs. Liberty-Benton on April 2

By Cort Reynolds

The Ada High School baseball team returns nine lettermen and several starters this spring under third-year head coach Toby Smith.

The Bulldogs gained valuable experience playing many youngsters last spring during a 2-16 campaign where they went 0-8 in their final season as a member of the Northwest Conference.

“We got better as the season went along,” said coach Smith. “We played well in a 3-1 tournament loss to Pandora-Gilboa. We have the same group back and they are progressing well. There is a lot of growth to be made.”

Pictured above, L-R, the varsity Ada baseball team, from left: Connor McKean, Kaine Fisher, Ethan Lawrence, Levi Green, Blake Zoladz. Row 2: Thaddeus Smith, Colt Archer, Wes Mowery, Brody Rister, Xavier Smith, Andrew Allen. Row 3: head coach Toby Smith, Mason Wibley, Grady Curtis, assistant coaches Ezra Dietering and Sean Anderson. Absent: Tyler Stauffer.

Ada has joined the Blanchard Valley Conference this season. The Bulldogs have a 14-player varsity roster, and 14 more on the JV squad. Ada lost no seniors, although All-NWC senior first baseman Max Puerto is not playing.

Senior shortstop Levi Green and senior center fielder Kaine Fisher pace the returning starters. The fourth-year starters provide good hitting and speed at the top of the batting order, and are solid defenders.

The athletic duo should ignite the offense with their bats, legs and experience.

Junior pitcher Mason Wibley was honorable mention all-league and is the top returning pitcher. 

“Mason throws strikes and does a good job making hitters earn their way on base,” said Smith of his ace.

Sophomore hurler Brody Rister showed a lot of promise last year, as did lone southpaw Tyler Stauffer. Sophomore Wes Mowery will lend quality pitching depth when not playing second base. Strong-armed sophomore Blake Zoladz will also pitch when not handling the hot corner position.

“All of those pitchers can give us a great outing on any day,” Smith offered.

Quick sophomore Andrew Allen returns to complete the battery after learning fast as a first-time catcher last spring.

“Andrew became a very good catcher,” said Smith of his speedy backstop. “He is excellent at blocking balls.”

Sophomore Connor McKean and Stauffer are expected to hold down the corner outfield spots around the speedy Fisher. Zoladz will man third base, with Rister and Wibley sharing first base.

Projected Ada starting lineup:

1B-Brody Rister/Mason Wibley

2B-Wes Mowery

SS-Levi Green

3B-Blake Zoladz

LF-Tyler Stauffer

CF-Kaine Fisher

RF-Connor McKean

P-Mason Wibley/Brody Rister, Mowery, Stauffer, Zoladz

Senior Ethan Lawrence and sophomore Grady Curtis also return to the squad. Freshman twins Xavier and Thaddeus Smith, and Colt Archer (pitcher/utility) are newcomers who complete the roster.

Smith noted that the team does not have a lot of power and will have to manufacture runs on offense. “We have more of a station-to-station type of offense,” he said.

“We want to put the ball in play, make the routine plays on defense, run the bases well. We will run a lot to compete and create runs,” he noted.

Regarding team strengths, he noted a few areas look good.

“We have more experience than in the past, and we improved as last season went on,” Smith said. “We had 12 kids play fall baseball. We look strong defensively up the middle. Our pitching looks better. But every area needs improved upon.”

As far as the BVC race goes he said, “we just are worried about ourselves. We want to be playing our best baseball at the end going into tournaments,” Smith noted.

The season opener is March 29 at Lima Senior as the first three contests are scheduled to be on the road. The home and inaugural BVC lidlifter is scheduled for April 2 vs. Liberty-Benton

Pictured below: Returning Ada baseball lettermen, L-R, front: Kaine Fisher, Ethan
Lawrence, Levi Green, Brody Rister. Back standing: Connor McKean, Wes Mowery, Mason Wibley, Blake Zoladz, Andrew Allen.