By Cort Reynolds

ADA__The visiting Bluffton High School baseball team lost to local rival Ada 5-4 via a walk-off walk to climax a rainy and warm contest on a very wet Tuesday evening, March 31, at War Memorial Park.

The close game featured five lead changes, and neither team ever led by more than one run in the rivalry battle.

The Pirates trailed 3-2 after five frames, but went ahead by plating two runs in the top of the sixth inning.

The Bulldogs tied it with a run in the home half of the sixth. Then after shutting out the Pirates in top of the seventh, they won in walk-off fashion behind a base on balls with the bases-loaded and two out.

The Pirates start off 0-1 after dropping their belated opener. The Bulldogs improved to 2-0 with the win. 

Ada led the close contest 1-0 after two innings. But the Pirates inched ahead 2-1 with single runs in the third and fourth frames. The Bulldogs knotted it up 2-2 with a run in the home fourth, then surged in front 3-2 with a run in the fifth.

Ada out-hit the Pirates 6-4 on the soggy day. The Pirates committed three errors that led to two unearned runs. The Bulldogs were guilty of four miscues and one unearned run. 

Senior Javen Crawfis hurled 4.3 innings for the Pirates. He gave up four hits and two earned runs. He struck out six and walked one. Blayne Hill relieved and pitched one inning as he walked seven and allowed a run. Senior Robby Taylor pitched 1.3 frames and allowed two hits with one whiff.

Crawfis singled in two runs while left fielder William Hoover doubled home a run and drew a walk. Hill singled and walked once. Taylor drew a pair of walks and scored a run.

Third baseman Jackson Bowlus walked, was hit by a pitch twice, stole a base and scored two runs. Right fielder Blue singled, walked and scored once.

The Pirates left 12 costly runners on base, while the Bulldogs stranded seven.

Ada leadoff-hitter catcher Andrew Allen stroked two singles, walked and scored a run. He also stole three bases.

Bulldog shortstop Wes Mowery roped two singles and drew a walk. Brody Rister singled, scored a run and walked once.

Center fielder Colt Archer swatted a two-run double and scored a run. Third baseman Robert Shanks walked twice, scored two runs and swiped one bag.

Bulldog left fielder Mason Wibley coaxed a walk and was hit by a pitch.

Rister started and pitched the first four innings. He allowed two hits and one earned run while striking out two and walking one.

Mowery relieved and threw 2.7 innings. He walked five and gave up two runs on two hits with one whiff. Guyton got the last out on one pitch in the seventh.

Bluffton is slated to host non-league foe Ridgemont (1-0) on Wednesday. They play at the Bath Classic on Saturday.

WP-Guyton LP-Hill

2B-Archer (A), Hoover (B), Crawfis (B)