By Cort Reynolds

ADA__The Ada High School softball team opened its season with a 16-2 run-rule shellacking of visiting Lima Senior on a sunny Wednesday evening, March 25.

The Bulldog girls lost five key starters to graduation off their 2025 regional finalist squad, but they have several key returnees and some promising freshmen ready to step in and fill the void.

Ada scored four runs in the first inning, then exploded with nine in the second frame as they cruised to a five-inning victory.

“We hit well as a team,” said fifth-year Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt. “It is nice to get our first win. Aubry and Maycie did a nice job pitching.

“It was nice to get all 14 players in the game,” he added.

Ada freshman hurler Aubry Jordan won her varsity debut. She allowed just one hit over the first four innings, striking out six with two walks. She aided her own cause at the plate by roping a three-run double in the second inning.

LS tallied the first run in the top of the opening frame on a catcher’s interference call. Ada responded with four runs in the home half of the first and never looked back.

Junior Reese Jordan swatted a two-run double to put the Bulldogs ahead. Shay Smith singled her home to provide a 3-1 lead. Junior Dailah Preston then tripled Smith in to make it 4-1.

In the bottom of the second, the Bulldogs exploded for nine runs to break the game open. Aubry Jordan slugged a double to clear the loaded bases and highlight the big frame.

Senior Alainee Buxton singled home a run. Emily Shanks smacked a two-run double, followed by a run-scoring error. Reese Jordan ripped another RBI double, and Ada led 13-1.

In the home third, Shanks singled down the left field line to make it 14-1.

In the Spartan fourth, a looper and a grounder to second base were sandwiched around a single. A force-out ground ball from shortstop to second provided the other out.

Spartan Adriana Good relieved soft-tossing Morgan Cunningham for LS in the bottom of the fourth. She issued two bases-loaded walks to plate two more Ada runs as the hosts built a 16-1 cushion.

The Spartans scored a run in the top of the fifth on two errors and a sharp RBI single to center field off the bat of Angie Kohlhofer. Ada relief hurler Maycie Dewese reared back and struck out the last three Spartan hitters to end the game.

WP-A. Jordan (1-0) LP-M. Castle

2B-R. Jordan 2 (A), Shanks (A), A. Jordan (A)

3B-Preston (A)

Sophomore shortstop Shanks smacked four hits with a double and three RBI. Reese Jordan stroked two doubles and drove in three runs.

Center fielder Preston legged out an RBI triple. Buxton, freshmen Smith, Dewese and Brooklyn Roberson stroked a single apiece. Junior catcher Gabby Fleming drew two of the eight Ada walks.

Kohlhofer and Amiyah King singled for the two Spartan hits. Kohlhofer also stole two bases.

The Bulldogs out-hit LS, 12-2. Both teams committed five errors.

“Emily Shanks had a good night, and Reese hit a couple of doubles,” noted Bassitt.

Ada hosts WBL foe Elida (1-1) Thursday at 5 p.m., then entertains Lima Central Catholic (0-1) Saturday at 11 a.m. The first four Bulldog games are scheduled at home, and eight of the first nine are home contests.

“Elida will be a tougher game,” said Bassitt. “We will have to play our best game. We have a young team.”

Ada freshman Tea Griffith is expected to make her pitching debut Thursday in the battle of the Bulldogs. Elida beat visiting Crestview 9-3 on Wednesday.