By Cort Reynolds / Photos by Mark Andreasen

ADA__The Ada High School softball team scored early and often to dominate visiting Perry 27-0 in a Northwest 5 Div. VI sectional final mismatch on Tuesday, May 12. 

The top-seeded Bulldogs scored 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning, then plated 13 runs in the second to clinch the blowout.

Freshman starting hurler Tea Griffith hurled three shutout innings to earn the win. Fellow frosh Maycie Dewese tossed two scoreless innings in relief.

The Bulldogs pounded out 23 hits as they tallied a season-high run total.

Ada improved to 20-3 overall with the decisive home tournament victory. The Bulldogs are now 15-1 at home this season. Ada is two wins from tying the program single-season record for victories, set in 2025 when they went 22-5.

Winless Perry dropped to 0-13 with the lopsided loss. 

“It was a nice to get a sectional title win,” said fifth-year Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt. “Everybody got a chance to play.” 

Ada freshman Shay Smith tripled to open the bottom of the first inning and ignite the rally. After an error, Reese Jordan beat out an infield RBI single and stole two bases.

Griffith and Dewese each walked and after a ground ball was booted by the shortstop, Dailah Preston looped a two-run single into short left field.

Alainee Buxton singled to center field and stole second base. Sophie Fleming bashed a triple off the base of the fence in center field. Reese Jordan then hit a bloop double. 

Griffith drilled a run-scoring double to stretch the lead to 10-0.

Perry got a single to left leading off the second but could not score. Emily Shanks started the second frame outburst with a hit and a steal. Buxton delivered an RBI single. Reese Jordan knocked in a run with a single and stole a base.

Griffith knocked in two runs with a double off the bottom of the left field fence to extend the lead to 15-0. Dewese and Shanks singled, followed by an Aubry Jordan RBI hit. 

Buxton drove in another run with a hit to make it 18-0. Ada added five more runs to make it 23-0 heading to the third.

Griffith struck out the first two batters looking to open the third inning, followed by a line drive double to left field.

Perry looked like it was going to score its first run on a grounder wide of first base. But Gabby Fleming dove in the dirt to make a great stop, then got up and threw the runner out by a step to preserve the shutout.

Aubry Jordan and Tempy Simon each collected infield hits in the Ada third, but didn’t score.

Dewese relieved and was greeted by a double off the center field fence. But she regrouped to strike out the side and keep Perry scoreless.

In the home fourth, Gabby Fleming led off by pulling a single past third base down the line. Griffith beat out a bunt single. Dewese lined out on a bobbling catch at third, and Summer Wibley walked.

Aubry Jordan singled to load the bases. Preston stroked an RBI single to left field to make it 25-0. Taliana Parker drove in a run with a ground ball fielder’s choice to shortstop.

Brooklyn Roberts ripped a single to left for a 27-0 cushion.

Dewese retired Perry in order in the fifth to end the game.

Powerful Bulldog freshman Griffith collected four hits, four RBI and scored three runs. She smacked two doubles and two singles. Freshman Smith tripled, singled, scored twice and drove in a run. 

Sophomore shortstop Shanks rapped out two hits and scored twice. Freshman Dewese slapped two hits and one RBI to go with two runs.

Junior third baseman/shortstop Reese Jordan doubled, hit two singles, scored three times and drove in two. Buxton smacked three singles and scored three times with three RBI.

Sophie Fleming tripled, singled, scored three runs and amassed four RBI. Gabby Fleming hit a double and singled, scored two runs and stole a base.

Preston collected two hits, four RBI and two runs. Freshman Aubry Jordan also hit two singles. Roberts delivered an RBI single.

Griffith and Dewese combined on a five-inning shutout. Dewese struck out four in two innings.

The Bulldogs will play Carey (11-11) in the district semifinals at Bath on Tuesday, May 19. The Blue Devils rallied with three late runs to edge LCC 9-8 in their sectional final Tuesday.

Ada (6-2 BVC) visits Van Buren (9-12, 5-3 BVC) on Thursday, May 14 in a Blanchard Valley Conference makeup game.

Ada then visits powerhouse Defiance Ayersville (16-1) on Saturday, May 16. The Pilots have won 14 in a row and sit atop the Green Meadows Conference at 7-0. Ayersville was ranked fourth in the May 11 Ohio High School Softball Coaches Div. VII poll, with Mohawk second.

The Bulldogs had added state-ranked New Riegel (17-2) to its home schedule for a Friday, May 15 showdown. But the game was cancelled since the Blue Jackets have to play a league makeup game May 15.

NR was voted eighth in the latest OHSSC Div. VII poll Monday. Ada was ranked 10^th in the May 11 Div. VI state poll. 

WP-Griffith 

2B-R. Jordan (A), G. Fleming (A), Griffith 2 (A)

3B-Smith (A), S. Fleming (A)