WARRIORS FINISH SEASON WITH BIG WIN OVER RIVAL FOR OUTRIGHT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

East Palestine, OH- The Edgewood Warriors softball team bested their cross-town rival Lakeside Dragons in a high-scoring affair, 15-12 to put a bow on a successful season. Edgewood got on the board in the first inning.  Mckenna Vencill hit a solo homer. The Warriors notched six runs in the second inning.  The offensive foray by Edgewood was led by Mackaylee Overly, Brianna Melaragno, Kailey Rantanen, Victoria Skaruppa, and Sophia Sophia Paolillo, all driving in runs in the inning. Lakeside had fire power of their own scoring five runs in the seventh inning.  Adalena Torino, Sophia Matrisciano, Mariah Gildersleeve, and Lucie Cole all contributed in the big inning with RBIs.  Lucianna Paolillo earned the win for the Warriors. Paolillo surrendered zero runs on one hit over two and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking one.  Juliaunna Gregory and Vencill entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.

Emily Mohney took the loss for Lakeside. The Dragons pitcher lasted six innings, allowing 18 hits and 15 runs while striking out one. Edgewood totaled 18 hits in the game including a Mckenna Vencill’s four bag blast in the first inning.  Rantanen, Avary Toth, Overly, Skaruppa, Lucianna Paolillo, and Vencill all had multiple hits for Edgewood.  Overly, Toth, and Rantanen each collected three hits to lead the Warriors.  Edgewood didn’t commit a single error in the field. Toth had ten chances in the field, the most on the team. Sophia Matrisciano led Lakeside with two hits in four at bats.

WATTS WREAKS HAVOC IN DISTRICT SEMIS

By Ty Bartell


YOUNGSTOWN OH- Following a home victory in the sectional final against The Lakeside Dragons, The Austintown Fitch Falcons Softball Club made it back to the district semis! Their opponent? The Madison Blue Streaks coached by David Negin, coming off a win against The Lake Blue Streaks. The last time the two schools met in a playoff scenario was in girls basketball back in 2021, when The Blue Streaks hosted The Falcons in a 75-40 effort, this time around it was taken to the softball diamond at Youngstown State University (YSU), home of The Penguins. 

YSU will actually have the honor of not only being the host site for the Division 1 Northeast 2 districts, but also the Division 1 Region 1 regionals as well! Making it almost poetic for a Falcons squad that has worked so hard to get back to the point they were last year to take the next step, that in the end, it all goes down on the same field from almost one year ago. Sydnie Watts was set to make her first tournament start of the 2023 campaign after Jeweliana Farmer did her thing in the sectionals to get Fitch to this point.

Lexie Nicholson led off the game for The Blue Streaks getting hit by a pitch and starting with a runner at first. Watts labored through her command a bit to follow, but The Fitch defense came through with an attempted steal on the base paths, a good strong throw by McKenna Hogan and excellen tag applied by Ayla Ray erased the would be base stealer, as Watts followed up the manufactured out with two strikeouts to end the top of the first. 

On the batting side, Ayla Ray was able to reach third to lead off the bottom of the first following an error in the outfield by Madison. Caitlin Mitchell put together a quality at-bat, fouling off a ton of really good pitches by Kara MeKulsia in the circle; however, Mitchell broke through with an RBI-single in the bottom of the first, allowing Fitch to strike an early 1-0 lead. “The Geologist” Kylie Folkwein followed it up with a productive out, scoring an additional run on a sacrifice fly to increase The Fitch lead 2-0, after an inning. Watts was in rhythm from the circle following the first, striking out a pair and sending The Streaks down in order for the top of the second. Morgan Roby got a one out single in the bottom of the inning before she was sacrificed into scoring position by Madi Beaudis before “Ace of Bases” Ayla Ray knocked her in with an RBI-single to pad the Fitch lead 3-0 after two innings of play. 

Watts was business as usual in the third, striking out two more in another 1..2..3 inning from the circle before coming back to lead of the bottom of the inning with her bat, which Watts deposited a pitch from MeKulsia to the bleachers out in center with a mammoth solo homerun to start a five run third inning for The Falcons! Abby Toth had a two RBI-double, Morgan Roby had an RBI-single and Ayla Ray had an RBI-single giving Austintown a commanding 8-0 lead after three. 

Watts continued to dazzle in the circle, surrendering a pair of walks since the hit by pitch in the first, but pitched relatively stress free. Fitch added a run in the fifth with a Morgan Roby sac-fly to score Abby Toth from third making it 9-0, putting Fitch on the precipice of ending it early by enforcing the mercy rule. Through six innings of work in the circle, Sydnie Watts had a no hitter going while striking out 15 batters, leaving many wondering “what more can she do?” Ask, and she shall deliver because WATTS YOU GONNA DO WHEN FALCONMANIA RUNS WILD ON YOU! A two run blast in the bottom of the sixth, Watts’ second of the game, ended The District Semi-Final with Fitch on top 11-0, booking them a trip back to The District Final! 

The loss for Madison ends their season at a 14-11 clip overall, with us here at Your Sports Network (YSN) wishing The Blue Streak seniors nothing but the best in their future endeavors and nothing but the best of luck to the returning players of Madison next year. Fitch (17-0) will stay undefeated as they will be set up in a rematch with The Mentor Cardinals (12-10) a matchup The Falcons won the first time around 11-1 back on March 31st, in The Cardinals first game of the season. The District Final matchup is slated for Wednesday, May 17th with a 5 p.m. first pitch as YSN will be there for all the coverage. An interview with Player of The Game Sydnie Watts can be found below!

O’BRIEN DAZZLES MCDONALD TO CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

McDONALD, OHIO – Isabella O’Brien was brilliant on the rubber on Monday, as O’Brien threw a no-hitter to lead McDonald past East Canton 10-0.

McDonald put up four runs in the third inning.  O’Brien, Bri McCombs, and Jenna Helco all drove in runs in the frame.

O’Brien got the win for McDonald. O’Brien allowed zero hits and zero runs over five innings, striking out 14 and walking one.

Kateyln Hill took the loss for the Hornets. The righthander allowed ten hits and ten runs over four and two-thirds innings, striking out two.

McDonald scattered ten hits in the game.  Kayla Helco and O’Brien each had multiple hits for McDonald. Helco went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead McDonald in hits.  McDonald was sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Kylie Koma had the most chances in the field with 14.  Brooke Bosheff led McDonald with three stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with seven stolen bases.

 

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RESERVE RUN RULES THEIR WAY TO DISTRICT FINALS

KINSMAN, OHIO- The Mineral Lady Rams watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in a 17-7 loss to Western Reserve on Monday.

The Rams collected 11 hits and Western Reserve had 14 in the high-scoring affair. The Rams put up four runs in the fifth inning as the hitters contributing to the big inning included Maddie Gerberry and Sydney Wyllie, all sending runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning.

The Blue Devils then answered right away as they scored six runs in the fifth inning as Lexi Pence, Kaleigh Williams, Ally Jones, and Caylee Selley all contributed in the big inning with RBIs.

Hannah Heath took the win for the Blue Devils as she allowed 11 hits and seven runs over five innings, striking out one.

Maddy Ylonen took the loss for the Rams as the righthander lasted one and two-thirds innings, allowing five hits and seven runs while striking out one.

Western Reserve will now take on the Chalker Wildcats for the Division IV District Championship on Wednesday.

 

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SOUTHERN SEES THEIR RUN END

KINSMAN, OHIO- Tatum Hudak didn’t allow a single run against Southern, throwing a complete game shutout and leading the Wildcats to a 10-0 victory on Monday to advance to the District Championship.

Chalker secured the victory thanks to six runs in the second inning as they were led by singles by Natalie Piecuch and Abby Grimm, a triple by Kelsey Kren, and a double by Sam Strock.

The Wildcats racked up 13 hits on the day. Grimm, Strock, Morgan Strock, and Gabby Nieves all managed multiple hits, but it was Grimm who led things at the plate with three hits in four at bats.

Hudak led things off in the pitcher’s circle as she lasted six innings, allowing two hits and zero runs while striking out 13 to get the win for Chalker.

Lexi Ensinger was in the circle for the Indians as she allowed 13 hits and ten runs over five and two-thirds innings, striking out six and walking one.

The Wildcats will now take on the Western Reserve Blue Devils in the Division IV District Championship on Wednesday. 

 

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SMOOTH SAILING FOR THE LADY LAKERS CONTINUES

East Palestine, OH- The Pymatuning Valley Lakers triumphed over the Crestwood Red Devils 14-4 on Monday. The Crestwood Red Devils fired up the offense in the second inning, when an error scored one run for the Red Devils. Pymatuning Valley pulled away for good with six runs in the third inning.  In the third Nataleigh Haines hit a solo homer, Saige Payne singled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run, Mariah Sharpe doubled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run, Baleigh Alderman singled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run, and Kylie Luke singled on a 3-2 count, scoring two runs. The lady Lakers tallied six runs in the fifth inning.  Pymatuning Valley’s big bats were led by Haines, Rieane Zajac, Payne, Alderman, and Brooke Gray, all sending runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning. Alderman led the Lakers to victory in the circle. The Laker ace surrendered two runs on one hit over three innings, striking out four and walking one.  Payne threw four innings in relief out of the bullpen.

Hunter was on the rubber for Crestwood surrendering six runs on six hits over three innings, striking out four and walking one. Mia Gullatta threw four innings in relief. Pymatuning Valley cranked out two home runs on the day. Haines hit a bomb in the third inning. Alderman had a homer in the seventh inning. Pymatuning Valley racked up 14 hits in the game.  Haines, Alderman, Payne, Luke, and Zajac each managed multiple hits for the Lakers.  Haines went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Pymatuning Valley in hits. Helm led Crestwood with two hits in three at bats. The Lakers will face off against the red hot 1 seeded South Range Raiders Tuesday in Canfield for the district championship.

POLAND KEEPS THEIR MOMENTUM GOING

POLAND OH – The Poland Seminary Lady Bulldogs improved to 14-8 on the season with a 10-0 shutout of Northeast 8 rival Girard Lady Indians.  Senior Katie McDonald picked-up her 14th win of the season in the circle, scattering 2 hits over 5 innings, gathering 6 strikeouts and doubling at the plate.

The Lady Bulldog offense was fueled by senior Meridith Trevis who had 4 hits including a double, along with junior first baseman Leanne Williams who also stayed perfect at the plate with 4 hits and a double.  Freshmen Elianna Thompson and Leanna Boccieri each collected 2 hits apiece with Thompson also adding 2 RBI’s.
Girard’s Emily Rosace took the loss in the circle and scattered 12 hits and eight runs.  Kyra Bell and Ali Durkin each singled for the Lady Indians only two hits.
The two rivals resume play at 2pm in Girard this Saturday to round out conference play for 2023.
*Contributed By John Boccieri

NO HITTER CAPS CHAMPION’S PERFECT MVAC SEASON

Gabrielle Gradishar was brilliant on the rubber on Friday, as she threw a no-hitter to lead Champion  past Crestview 9-0.

Champion secured the victory thanks to five runs in the fourth inning. Morgan Davis, Isabella Meyer, Abigail Meadors, and Addison Warzala all drove in runs in the frame.

Champion got things started in the first inning when Meadors grounded out, scoring two runs.

The Flashes scored five runs in the fourth inning. Davis, Meyer, Meadors, and Warzala each had RBIs in the big inning.

Gradishar got the win for Champion. The ace allowed zero hits and zero runs over seven innings, striking out 14 and walking one.

Brooke Brubaker took the loss for Crestview. The hurler surrendered nine runs on 12 hits over six innings, striking out one.

Champion totaled 12 hits in the game. Meyer, Meadors, and Hailey Householder all managed multiple hits. Meyer led the way with three hits in three at bats. Champion was sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. Warzala made the most plays with 15.

 

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WEST BRANCH COMES ONE RUN SHORT IN OFFENSIVE MARATHON

BELOIT, OHIO- The West Branch Warriors fought back after falling down by eight runs in the sixth inning, but the comeback fell just short though, in a 14-13 defeat to the Marlington Dukes on Friday.

The Warriors managed ten runs in the failed comeback as Klary McKay, Addi Craven, Nicole Stoffer, McKay, Mikalyn Fitts, and Libbie Davis powered the rally with RBIs. The Warriors tallied 21 hits on the day as McKay, Sara Schmidt, Hawk, Davis, Josie Milliken, Fitts, and Craven each racked up multiple hits as McKay went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead the Warriors.

McKay was also in the circle for the Warriors as the hurler lasted three innings, allowing seven hits and five runs while striking out two and walking one. Mati Hawk threw five innings in relief out of the bullpen.

These two teams will do it again Tuesday with even more on the line in the district semifinals in Jefferson. First pitch is slated for 2:00.

 

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CANFIELD HONORS EIGHT SENIORS WITH A WIN

CANFIELD OH- Canfield won a contest against Columbiana on Friday, 5-3. They celebrated their eight seniors with a pregame ceremony.

Canfield got things moving in the first inning, when Bella Kennedy laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring two runs.

Columbiana knotted the game up at two in the top of the second inning. They scored two runs when Alaina Johnston singled.

Canfield pulled away for good with three runs in the third inning. In the third Hailey Freedy tripled on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs and Kennedy hit a solo homer.

Kennedy got the win for Canfield. Kennedy surrendered three runs on six hits over four and two-thirds innings, striking out six and walking zero. Malena Toth threw two and a third innings in relief out of the bullpen. Toth recorded the last seven outs to earn the save.

Mackenzi Gamble led things off in the circle for Columbiana. Gamble went six innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, striking out five and walking one.

Canfield hit one home run on the day. Kennedy put one out in the third inning.

Canfield tallied seven hits on the day. Freedy and Cara Spencer all collected multiple hits. Spencer and Freedy each managed two hits to lead the way. Canfield was sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. Marina Koenig made the most plays with seven.

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