By Cort Reynolds

ADA__The Ada High School softball team lost a 3-0 pitcher’s duel to visiting big-school power Findlay in a non-league game on Friday, May 15.

The contest was added to the schedule on Friday to replace the cancelled contest vs. New Riegel.

It was a crisply-played battle featuring good pitching on both sides. A few timely hits and a couple of defensive plays made the difference. 

The Bulldogs and Trojans each amassed five hits, all singles. The Bulldogs made four errors.

Ada dropped to 21-4 overall with the loss as the Trojans snapped their seven-game win streak. The Bulldogs are 14-2 at home.

Findlay improved to 18-5 with the hard-fought victory.

“We just couldn’t get the big hit when we needed it,” said Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “I am very proud of the girls; they played well against a good Division I team.

”We made a few errors, but we also made some good plays,” he added. 

A 4-3-4 Bulldog double play ended the top of the first frame as a Trojan single was erased.

Ada earned one of its two good scoring opportunities in the first inning. With one out, Sophie Fleming and Reese Jordan each singled and advanced to second and third base.

But two infield pop-outs failed to bring in either and kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.

In the top of the second, Avalon Sprang reached on a leadoff infield single and stole second. But Aubry Jordan struck out the next two batters and got the third on a fly-out to left field to end the threat.

Emily Shanks lined a change-up back to pitcher Natalie Steffes, who snagged it almost in self-defense, to open the Ada second. The Findlay catcher then made a fine grab of a foul pop against the fence behind home plate.

Aubry Jordan made a nice backhand grab of a one-hopper back up the middle for the first out in the Trojan third. Laine Boes lifted a long fly to center field, but Dailah Preston ran it down nicely.

Monika Kerwin grounded a single to center field, but a pop-out just behind the circle was grabbed by the athletic Jordan to finish the frame.

Freshman Shay Smith legged out a one-out single in the Ada third. But Steffes struck out the next two batters to thwart the Bulldogs.

Trojan Addelyn Sprang hit a hard, high one-hopper at third base to open the fourth, and reached when the ball popped out of the glove. A wild pitch and a ground-out advanced her to third base.

Addison Hartman lofted a fly ball to center field, which Preston grabbed before making a strong throw home. But Sprang executed a good hand tag of the plate as she slid by home for the game’s first run. Jordan struck out the last batter.

Tea Griffith lined a single to left field to lead off the Ada fourth. Summer Wibley then roped a single to left to put two on with nobody out. A pop-out to shortstop was followed by a good Aubry Jordan sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position.

Steffes wriggled out of the jam by inducing a pop-out to first base as Ada left two on. 

In the fifth, a strikeout was followed by an error on a grounder to shortstop. Reese Jordan then made a nice play to force the runner at second on a ground ball to third.

Another Jordan whiff kept the score 1-0.

With one out in the Ada fifth, Smith walked and advanced on a fielder’s choice. But a ground-out and a fly-out to left field ended the threat.

Trojan Ryan Boes smacked a hard leadoff single to center to ignite a sixth inning threat. Addy Sprang sliced a sharply hit single to right field, which got past the outfielder and bounced near the fence as the runners advanced to second and third.

Then an odd play plated the second run. Avalon Sprang hit a fly to left that Smith caught, and her throw home skipped past the catcher as both Trojan runners scampered home.

However, on appeal, the lead runner was called out for leaving third base too soon, tagging up. The second run stood up to make it 2-0 on the unusual double play.

A soft liner to second sacker Sophie Fleming ended the inning.

Ada went down on two ground-outs and a fly ball to left field in the sixth.

In the Findlay seventh, Heather Betts coaxed a one-out walk. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lefty-hitting Laine Boes then stroked a solid single to center field to drive in Betts with a big insurance run that stretched the lead to 3-0.

Aubry Jordan was retired on a long fly ball to left field leading off the seventh. Preston went down on a shallow fly ball to left field. Steffes then struck out pinch hitter Brooklyn Roberts to end the game.

Griffith, Wibley, Reese Jordan, Sophie Fleming and Smith each had a hit for Ada. Smith also drew a walk.

Freshman pitcher Aubry Jordan gave up one earned run on five hits while striking out five over seven innings.

Trojan senior Steffes scattered five hits in her complete-game shutout. She struck out four and walked one.

The Ada girls continue their tough slate with a third game in three days. They visit state-ranked powerhouse Defiance Ayersville (18-2) on Saturday, May 16 at noon. The Pilots have won 16 of their last 17 contests after suffering a 1-0 loss to Bryan on May 12. 

Ayersville won the Green Meadows Conference title with a 7-0 record. The Pilots were ranked fourth in the May 11 Ohio High School Softball Coaches Div. VII poll.

Ada plays Carey (12-12) at Bath on Tuesday, May 19 in the Div. VI district semifinals. The Blue Devils upset a 19-8 Colonel Crawford squad 10-3 on Thursday.

WP-Steffes LP-A. Jordan