By Cort Reynolds

ELIDA – The visiting Ada High School softball team shut out Elida 2-0 in a non-league pitcher’s battle of the Bulldogs Thursday evening, May 27.

“We played amazing defense,” said fourth-year Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt. 

The visiting Ada Bulldogs buckled down defensively with runners on base and came up with timely pitching to keep Elida scoreless.

Ada improves to 2-0 with the road victory, while Elida fel1 to 1-1 after the defeat. Elida pounded out 24 hits and won at perennial NWC power Crestview 12-4 Wednesday.

Purple and gold senior Jenna Bassitt hurled a seven-inning, two-hit shutout to earn the win over Elida. She struck out eight and walked two. She also doubled.

“It was the best I have seen Jenna pitch this year,” said Bassitt. “Elida is very tough. It was a good win against a good team.”

Ada senior outfielder Tess Griffith smacked a solo home run, while senior shortstop Karley Wagner drilled two hits.   

Sophomore Reese Jordan and freshman Emily Shanks each added a single.

Junior Alainee Buxton hit a single.  

Bassitt started the game with a two-base hit, but got doubled off third base on a low liner to third off the bat of catcher Natilyn McClain.

Elida’s Liv Walters roped a leadoff double in the first, but was stranded at second by Bassitt. 

Wagner singled in the top of the second and Reese Jordan walked with two outs, but both were left on base.

Bassitt worked around two walks in the home third with a key strikeout to end the threat.

In the top of the fourth, Griffith launched a one-out home run over the fence in left-center field to break the scoreless tie. Wagner followed with a single, but was eventually stranded at third.

Elida went out in order in the fourth. Buxton led off the Ada fifth with a single. A sacrifice bunt by Bassitt moved her to second. Third baseman Shanks singled her home with a hard grounder up the middle into center field to double the lead to 2-0. 

Elida again went out in order in the home fifth. In the home sixth, the hosts threatened. Walters doubled on a liner to left field leading off. Buxton then made an outstanding catch of a long drive to right field off the bat of Lily Sifrit.

“Alainee made a great catch on that one,” said Bassitt. “That was a key play in the game.”

Bassitt retired the next two Elida batters on a pop-out and a strikeout to leave Walters on third base. 

Jordan singled in the top of the seventh but was stranded. Bassitt set down Elida in order in the bottom of the seventh to complete the shutout.

“Overall, our defense did an amazing job,” said Bassitt. “It was a clean game between two good teams.”

Ada out-hit Elida, 7-2.

Elida hurler Sifrit scattered seven hits over seven innings, with six strikeouts and one walk. She allowed two earned runs in the tough-luck loss. Walters drilled a pair of doubles to provide both Elida hits.

Ada is scheduled to entertain LCC (0-3) in the home opener Saturday at 11 a.m. The Thunderbirds have played a tough early schedule. LCC lost their season opener 8-2 at a 3-0 Waynesfield club Monday, then fell at Wapakoneta 10-4 Thursday.

The Bulldogs visit county rival Hardin Northern (3-0) March 31, then travel to face ex-NWC rival Bluffton (0-0) April 1.  

WP-Bassitt (2-0) LP-Sifrit

2B-Walters 2 (E), Bassitt (A)

HR-Griffith (A)