Above) The 2023-2024 AHS softball team celebrates its record season

Ada Bulldogs finish 2nd in final NWC season

By Cort Reynolds

COLUMBUS GROVE __  In its season finale on May 16, the Ada High School girls softball team won decisively 7-1 at Columbus Grove to set the program single-season record for victories and also finish 7-1 for the second straight year in Northwest Conference play.

The purple and gold ended the year 18-4 to eclipse the previous mark of 17 wins set by the 2018 district championship squad.

Ada finished second, a game behind league champion Lincolnview (8-0), and came in two games ahead of third-place Crestview (5-3).

Grove dropped to 11-9 overall and 3-4 in the NWC with the defeat.

Ada joins the Blanchard Valley Conference next season. With most of the team returning and the Lancers losing several key seniors, the Bulldogs would likely have been the favorite to win the 2025 NWC title.

“What a season these girls had this year,” said third-year Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt.

Ada jumped ahead 1-0 and scored in every inning but the second to post the lopsided victory.

Grove plated its lone run in the home fourth to pull within 4-1. But Ada tacked on one run in each of the final three frames to win the battle of the Bulldogs going away.

Junior hurler Jenna Bassitt won her 17th game in 21 decisions to lead Ada to the record-setting win. She struck out eight to end the year with 190 whiffs.

Ada out-hit Grove, 14-2. Avery Birnesser and Lauren Fuerst each singled to provide the only two CG hits.

Junior Aidra Preston led the offense with two doubles and two singles. She ended the season on a major hot streak.

Junior Karley Wagner slugged a double and hit two singles. Junior Tess Griffith hit two singles. 

Freshman Reese Jordan stroked two singles. Bassitt and Daicy Robinson each slapped a single.

Seniors Katie Sizemore and Robinson played their final games for Ada.

WP-Bassitt (17-4) LP-A. Stechschulte

2B-A. Preston 2 (A), Wagner (A)