Photos by Mark Andreasen

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School softball team lost its home and season opener to unbeaten local rival Ada 12-1 on Tuesday, April 1.

The Bulldogs out-hit the Pirate girls 12-1 in the run-rule shortened, five-inning contest.

Ada improves to 3-0 with the non-league victory, while Bluffton starts out 0-1.  

Over five innings, Bulldog ace senior hurler Jenna Bassitt struck out six and walked none. She allowed just one hit and one earned run. 

On offense, the versatile standout slugged a home run, singled, scored four runs, drove in two and stole a base.

Ada senior outfielder Tess Griffith drove in four runs with three hits and scored one run. She hit a two-run single in the first inning to give the Bulldogs an early 2-0 lead.

Sophomore Reese Jordan doubled and junior Alainee Buxton walked in the top of the second to start a rally. Soph Dailah Preston singled in Jordan to make it 3-0. Bassitt and Natilyn McClain later delivered RBI singles to stretch the lead to 6-0.

Bluffton plated its lone run in the bottom of the second inning. Danielle Cross singled and later scored on a Greta Meyer groundout.

In the Ada third, Jordan doubled to left field with two outs. Buxton was hit by a pitch but the Bulldogs were unable to score.

Leading off the top of the fourth, Bassitt drilled a line-drive solo home run over the center field fence. McClain doubled to left field, and Griffith singled. Karley Wagner lined a single to score McClain and stretch the margin to 10-1.

McClain and Griffith singled in the fifth, along with two walks. Gabbie Fleming scored a run as a pinch-runner.

Bassitt retired the final 11 Pirates in order to finish the win.

Sophomore Jordan smacked two doubles and scored a run. 

Ada catcher McClain batted 3-3 with a double, two singles, three runs and one RBI. 

Cross scored the lone run and had the only Bluffton hit. She also stole a base. Pirate Meyer collected the Pirate RBI. 

Bluffton’s Peyton Worcester started and pitched the first 3.3 innings to get the loss. She allowed eight hits and four earned runs. She walked two and struck out two.

Pirate hurler Haelee Rayle got the last four outs in relief. She allowed four hits and four earned runs. She walked two and whiffed one Bulldog.

Bluffton visits Ottawa-Glandorf (1-2) Thursday. The Pirates host Ottawa Hills for a doubleheader Saturday at 11 a.m.

Monday’s scheduled home opener vs. Emmanuel Christian was cancelled.

WP-Bassitt (3-0) LP-Worcester

2B-Jordan 2 (A), McClain (A)

HR-Bassitt (A)