PHOTOS by Mark Andreasen / CLICK to enlarge

By Cort Reynolds

ADA__The Ada High School softball team rallied from a shaky start to soundly defeat visiting Delphos Jefferson 11-4 in their non-conference contest on Tuesday, April 28.

The Bulldogs fell behind 4-0 after Wildcat Claire Brinkman launched a three-run homer in the top of the first inning.

But Ada fought right back with four runs in the home half of the first to tie it up.

Freshman Aubry Jordan then came on in relief and fired five shutout innings to keep the Wildcats at bay. Ada plated runs in four straight innings to pull away and win convincingly.

The Bulldogs smashed four home runs in the win, including two solo shots by Sophie Fleming.

Ada improved to 16-3 overall with the home victory. The Bulldogs are now 11-1 at home. 

Former Northwest Conference rival Delphos Jefferson fell to 12-8 after the road defeat.

“We hit the ball hard,” said Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “It was a nice comeback after being down 4-0. Aubry came in and pitched well. 

”You don’t see a team hit four home runs in a game very often,” he added.

The Wildcats jumped in front early as they threatened to upset Ada for the second year in a row. Isabella Basinger doubled, followed by a walk and a wild pitch to put runners in scoring position. 

Basinger scored on a close play at home after a passed ball to lead 1-0. After Ky Eberle singled, Brinkman lofted a three-run shot over the fence in center field to build a 4-0 lead.

Ada came right back in the home first. Fleming ripped a one-out homer over the left field wall to cut the deficit to 4-1. 

Reese Jordan walked and Tea Griffith placed an infield blooper well for a single. After a force-out grounder, Aubry Jordan hit a ground ball to third. The throw to first was low and skipped by the first baseman, allowing two runs to scamper home.

Next, freshman Maycie Dewese lifted a single just over the shortstop’s outstretched glove into left field to plate Aubry Jordan and tie it up, 4-4. 

Jefferson loaded the bases with none out in the second on three straight singles. But Griffith wiggled out of the jam without allowing a run. She induced a line-out to second base, then third sacker Reese Jordan fielded a grounder and threw home for a force-out.

A fly-out to right field ended the threat as the Wildcats stranded three.

In the bottom of the second, Ada drew two walks but stranded both as all three outs were recorded on fly balls to center field.

Bulldog freshman Aubry Jordan came on in relief to start the third and shut down the Wildcat offense, retiring the final 13 DJ hitters. 

In the home third, Emily Shanks hit a long fly that was caught by the left fielder. Aubry Jordan then deposited a homer over the left-center field fence to put Ada ahead for good, 5-4.

Dewese made it back-to-back homers when her blast cleared the center field fence for a 6-4 edge. Dailah Preston walked and stole a base, but was left on base.

DJ went out in order in the fourth. Ada freshman Tea Griffith sliced a two-out triple over the right fielder’s head to ignite a rally. Shanks pulled an RBI double down the left field line for a 7-4 advantage.

Aubry Jordan lined a run-scoring single to left field for an 8-4 lead. Dewese then rifled a double off the glove of a diving second baseman to plate Jordan and make it 9-4.

Jordan made it seven straight batters retired in the Wildcat fifth on two pop-ups and fly ball to right.

Fleming cranked her second homer of the game with two outs and nobody on to center field for a 10-4 margin. 

Jordan again set down DJ in order in the sixth. Leading off in the home sixth, Griffith ground a sharp single to left. Aubry Jordan singled sharply to left. Dewese then stroked an RBI single to left to extend the lead to 11-4. 

Ada out-hit DJ, 13-7. The Bulldogs made no errors, while the Wildcats made one costly two-out throwing error that let in two runs and led to three unearned scores in the first.

Jordan retired DJ in order in the seventh to end the game. She struck out three, walked one and gave up one single in five innings to earn the win. She also hit a home run, doubled, singled and scored three runs. She drove in two runs.

Brinkman allowed eight earned runs and 13 hits. She struck out two and walked four. She drove in three runs with a home run.

Dewese batted 4-4 with four RBI and one run. She homered and drilled three singles.

Griffith hit a triple and two singles, and scored two runs. She started in the circle and allowed four runs on six hits over two innings. 

Fleming enjoyed a career-best two-homer game with two RBI and two runs. Sophomore Shanks doubled in a run and scored twice.

Reese Jordan walked twice and scored a run. Dailah Preston drew a walk and stole one base. Freshman Shay Smith walked once.

The Bulldogs stranded seven runners, while DJ left five on base.

High-scoring Ada has now outscored its opposition 219-54 over 19 games, an 11.5-2.8 runs average margin per contest.

The Ada girls may make up Monday’s suspended game vs. Riverdale on Saturday. The Bulldogs led 5-0 in the bottom of the second inning when play was halted.

Ada added a game at non-league foe Kenton (5-8) on Wednesday, weather permitting.

WP-A. Jordan LP-Brinkman  

2B-Basinger (DJ), Shanks (A), A. Jordan (A)

3B-Griffith (A)

HR-Brinkman (DJ), S. Fleming 2 (A), A. Jordan (A), Dewese (A)