By Cort Reynolds

FINDLAY – The visiting Ada High School baseball team was no-hit in a shortened 15-0 loss at Liberty-Benton in the Blanchard Valley Conference opener on Wednesday evening, April 2. 

The game was scheduled to be at Ada, but was moved to L-B due to wet field conditions. The Eagles have a synthetic turf surface.

L-B authored a 10-run second inning to put the game out of reach early.

The Bulldogs were out-hit 10-0 in the five-inning contest shortened by the 10-run mercy rule.

Ada fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the BVC after the defeat. L-B improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in BVC play with the win.

“We need to give credit to Liberty-Benton,” said Bulldog head coach Toby Smith. “They played better than we did. We need to find a way to become more consistent in all phases of the game if we want to compete day in and day out.“

Eagle pitcher Conner Hiss hurled five innings of no-hit baseball with nine strikeouts and one walk. He threw just 59 pitches, 45 of which were strikes or put in play.

Hiss also aided his own cause with a double, single, two runs and a walk. 

Ada sophomore Brody Rister drew a walk and senior shortstop Levi Green was hit by a pitch to become the only Bulldog baserunners.

Bulldog sophomore Blake Zoladz started and pitched the first two innings. He allowed nine hits and seven earned runs. He struck out one and walked two Eagles.

Ada’s Tyler Stauffer relieved him and tossed the final three frames. He gave up three earned runs on just one hit. He struck out two and walked a pair.

Eagle Trevin Lieb knocked in three runs on two singles and a walk. Zach Elchert singled twice and drove in a run.

Reid Erwin collected five RBI with a pair of singles. L-B catcher Kooper Leatherman doubled home a run, and scored two runs.

Ada left its two runners on base, while L-B stranded eight. Ada committed three errors that helped lead to five unearned runs.

The Bulldogs are slated to entertain local non-league foe Cory-Rawson (0-1) Thursday, then visit arch-rival USV (0-1) Saturday for a doubleheader. 

WP-Hiss  LP-Zoladz 

2B-Leatherman (LB), Hiss (LB)