By Cort Reynolds

McGUFFEY__The visiting Ada High School baseball team held traditional backyard rival Upper Scioto Valley to one hit and posted a 5-1 win on Tuesday, May 19.

The Rams scored their lone run in the bottom of the first inning to lead early. Ada answered with two runs in the top of the second, then scored a single run in the third to seize a 3-1 edge.

The Bulldogs added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth. After USV was held scoreless in the home sixth, hard rain caused the game to be called. Since five frames had been completed, it was an official game.

Ada collected three hits and limited USV to a single. Upper committed two errors, and the Bulldogs made one miscue.

The Bulldogs drew seven walks, while the Rams earned four bases on balls. Neither team had an extra-base hit.

Ada improved to 9-14 after the road rivalry win. 

Upper Scioto Valley dropped to 7-15 with the home defeat.

“It was a good win for the guys,” said Ada head coach Toby Smith. “We played well enough to win in all three phases. Hopefully, we are playing our best baseball at the right time.” 

Bulldog freshman Robert Shanks hurled a six-inning one-hitter to earn the win. He struck out three and walked four. He allowed no earned runs. 

Ada junior catcher Andrew Allen singled home two runs and drew a walk. He also stole two bases.

Thad Smith singled in a run, swiped a bag and coaxed one walk.

Junior Brody Rister drew a walk. Senior Mason Wibley walked and scored a run. Xavier Smith and Jacob Szippl each walked and scored once. 

Colt Archer had one walk. Shortstop Wes Mowery stole two of the five bases Ada swiped.   

Ram freshman Easton Hunt singled for the only USV hit. Second baseman Andrue Kindle drew two walks, scored the Ram run and stole a base. Senior Ryan Roberts coaxed a walk.

Ram freshman Macoy Underwood suffered the pitching loss. He hurled two innings, giving up two hits, three walks and two earned runs. He struck out one. Underwood coaxed a walk at the plate.

Junior Caiden Lowery tossed two innings of one-hit, one-run relief. He struck out two. Junior Jesse Prater also hurled two innings of relief. He allowed no hits, three walks and one earned run. He whiffed two.

USV left four runners on the basepaths, while Ada stranded eight.

The Bulldogs (3-6 BVC) host Riverdale (7-16, 3-6 BVC) for the league finale on Wednesday in a resumption from their suspended April 27 game. The teams are tied for seventh place in the 11-team league standings.

The Falcons led 3-0 with one out in the top of the second inning when play was halted by rain just over three weeks ago. The game will restart in the second frame on Wednesday evening, May 20.

Ada will play at top seed St. Henry (21-3) in the Northwest 1 Div. VI sectional finals on Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m.

The winner advances to the district semifinals at McGuffey on Wednesday, May 27 at 4:30 p.m. vs. the Parkway (10-15)/Lima Perry (10-8) survivor.

WP-Shanks  LP-Underwood