By Cort Reynolds

ADA__The Ada High School softball team routed visiting Lima Central Catholic 22-1 on a chilly Saturday, March 28.

The Bulldog girls led 2-1 after the first inning. Ada then exploded for nine runs in each of the next two frames to put the game well out of reach as they extended the cushion to 20-1.

After plating two more runs in the home fourth, Ada shut out the visitors in the fifth to invoke the mercy rule after 4.5 innings. The Bulldogs out-hit LCC 10-2 and capitalized on nine Thunderbird errors.

Ada improved to 3-0 with the decisive win. LCC dropped to 0-2 after the defeat.

“This was a game where everyone played,” said fifth-year Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “Maycie pitched a really good game and had a nice hit. 

“Lots of kids hit well, but we still need to work on the little things,” he added.

Ada freshman Maycie Dewese won her first start by throwing all five innings. She struck out five, walked two and allowed one hit with no earned runs in her complete-game effort.

Third sacker Reese Jordan knocked in four runs and scored three runs to help pace the Bulldog offense. She also drew two walks in the shortened five-inning game.

Ada junior second baseman Sophie Fleming rapped out three singles and scored three runs. Sophomore Summer Wibley collected three RBI with a double.

Freshman catcher Shay Smith scored three runs and singled to go with a steal and one RBI. Sophomore shortstop Emily Shanks slapped a single and scored a pair of runs.

Ada junior Dailah Preston tallied two runs and had one RBI. Freshman Tea Griffith singled and scored two runs with one walk. Taliana Parker knocked in a run with a walk.

Freshman Aubry Jordan amassed a hit, two runs, a stolen base and a walk. Dewese contributed two runs, two RBI, one walk and a double. Gabby Fleming added a walk and a run.

LCC led 1-0 early after scoring in the top of the first frame on a fielder’s choice. Ada scored two runs on a passed ball to take the lead for good in the home half of the first.

Reese Jordan smacked a two-run single in the second to help ignite a nine-run frame highlighted by six hits. Junior Dailah Preston knocked in two runs on a fielder’s choice, and Dewese forced home a run via walk.

Aubry Jordan also plated a run with a bases-loaded walk. Smith scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 11-1. In the bottom of the third, Ada again scored nine runs on just two hits.

Griffith walked to drive in a run, followed by a run-scoring LCC error. Smith knocked in a run on a grounder, and Dewese was hit by a pitch to score another. 

Wibley roped a two-run double, and a fielder’s choice plated a run. Parker walked to bring home yet another run.

Ada committed two errors compared to nine miscues by LCC, which led to several unearned runs. The Bulldogs also drew eight walks. 

Ada entertains tough county rival Hardin Northern (3-0) on Monday, March 30 in a battle of unbeatens. Eight of the first nine Bulldog contests are at home. 

HN has outscored its three foes by a combined score of 40-7. Ada has tallied 46 runs in their three victories while allowing eight. The Bulldogs have started a freshman pitcher in all three games.

WP-Dewese (1-0)  

2B- Dewese (A), Wibley (A)