PHOTOS by Mark Andreasen / Click gallery to view at your own pace

By Cort Reynolds

ADA – The Ada High School softball team crushed visiting Blanchard Valley Conference foe Pandora-Gilboa 19-0 on an overcast Monday evening, May 5.

The game was scheduled to be played at P-G, but was switched to Ada due to wet fields. The Rockets were the home team on the scoreboard.

After the lopsided victory, the Bulldogs improved to 17-3 overall and finished 8-2 in BVC play. They ended up third in the 11-team league behind Elmwood and Liberty-Benton, the only two teams to beat them in BVC action.

P-G dropped to 0-15 overall and 0-8 in the BVC with the loss.

“It was nice to win our last league game,” said Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “It was good to get everybody in the game, and they all contributed.”

The Bulldog girls out-hit the Rockets 16-1, including two home runs and five extra-base hits. 

Ada erupted for seven runs in the top of the first inning and was never threatened. 

Senior Jenna Bassitt singled, stole a base and eventually scored on a passed ball to make it 1-0 in the top of the first. Senior Natilyn McClain drove in a run with a ground out. 

Senior Tess Griffith singled, and senior middle infielder Karley Wagner drilled a two-run home run over the left-center fence to double the lead to 4-0.

Junior Alainee Buxton later stroked a two-run single to left-center field to make it 6-0. Bassitt sliced an RBI single to right-center to plate Buxton to cap the seven-run outburst in the first.

P-G went down in order in the bottom of the first with two grounders and a called third strike.

McClain opened the second frame by legging out a triple she sliced over the right fielder’s head. Wagner lined an RBI single to center to score her and make it an 8-0 margin.

Aidra Preston followed with a long drive to center that was hauled in near the fence.

Buxton gloved a nice snag of a line drive to right-center leading off the Rocket second. Bassitt struck out the next batter, then snared a liner smoked hit right back at her.

In the third, sophomore Reese Jordan led off with a sharp single. She stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Buxton drove her home with an RBI groundout for a 9-0 lead.

Bassitt made it nine batters retired in a row to start the game with a quick third.

Emily Shanks started the Ada fourth with a walk and a steal. McClain then launched a long fly over the fence in center field to stretch the lead to 11-0. 

“Nat and Karley hit two nice home runs,” Bassitt noted.

Wagner singled to left, and Aidra Preston pulled a double to left to score her and extend the cushion to 12-0.

In the P-G fourth, a leadoff walk and a single to right-center ended the Ada no-hit bid. Bassitt regrouped to strike out the next three hitters, two on called third strikes.

Ada pushed seven runs across the plate in the top of the fifth. Bassitt and Summer Wibley each walked and stole a base to start the rally. Two more walks and two errors, plus a wild pitch, made it 14-0. 

Wagner yanked an RBI single to left for 15-0. Taliana Parker walked, and Abbey Johnston drew an RBI walk. A passed ball brought in run number 17, and Emma Lambdin singled home another run to make it 18-0. 

After another walk, Bassitt roped a double to right-center to drive in the 19th and final run.

Jordan pitched the bottom of the fifth. She struck out two, then retired the last batter when Wagner made a nice running catch of a humpback liner in the hole at shortstop to end the game.

Wagner batted 4-4 with four RBI and three runs scored. She homered, stroked three singles and stole a base. All five Ada seniors have now homered this season.

“Karley had a big night,” said Bassitt.

Senior catcher McClain slugged a homer and a triple, and scored two runs with three RBI. McClain has crushed a team-high eight home runs this season. 

Bassitt doubled, hit two singles, scored twice, drew a walk and stole three bases. She also drove in two runs. Aidra Preston roped a double, singled, scored a run, drove one in and swiped two bags.

Griffith singled, scored twice and walked once. Jordan singled, scored a run and swiped one base. Buxton stroked a single and drove in three runs. 

Shanks singled, scored two runs, walked and swiped two bases. Lambdin hit a single, walked and drove in a run. She also stole two bases. Freshman Wibley walked, scored a run and stole a base.

Sophomore Parker walked and scored. Johnston walked once and had one RBI. Sophie Fleming stole a bag and scored a run. Gabbie Fleming walked and tallied a run. Dailah Preston crossed home once and was hit by a pitch. 

Ada stole 12 bases and drew six walks. Fourteen Bulldogs scored, and nine recorded at least one hit.

Bassitt struck out six Rockets and allowed no earned runs on just one hit over four innings to earn her 17th win. She walked one.  

Jordan whiffed two in a scoreless inning of relief.  

“Jenna pitched well, and Reese did a nice job in relief,” Bassitt noted.

Ada stayed unbeaten at home (9-0) this season with the decisive win.

Ada is scheduled to play at state-ranked power Sycamore Mohawk (14-3) Tuesday, May 6. Mohawk beat Bucyrus Wynford 3-1 Monday.

The Bulldogs, who are 8-3 on the road, then visit county rival Kenton (2-11) Thursday, May 8.

Ada will host local rival USV (3-10) Monday, May 12 in a makeup game. The Bulldogs then host powerhouse Lincolnview (16-3) Friday, May 16 in another makeup contest.

Ada is one win short of tying the program record for wins in a season of 18, set last year.

123 456 7 R H E

Ada 711 37x x 19 16 1

P-G 000 00x x 0 1 3

WP-Bassitt (17-3)  

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

3B-McClain (A)

HR-Wagner (A), McClain (A)