FITCH ONE WIN AWAY FROM A REPEAT
By Ty Bartell
AKRON OH- The Austintown Fitch softball team surged closer to defending their state title, overwhelming Fairfield with a 10-0 victory in five innings during Friday’s OHSAA Division 1 State Semifinal at Akron Firestone Stadium.
Kaliana Ray ignited The Falcons offense, leading off with a single and scoring the opening run after Abby Toth’s double. Although Toth was tagged out at third attempting to steal, Fitch seized an early 1-0 advantage. The inning concluded with a fly out by Kylie Folkwein.
In the second inning, Fitch’s bats went quiet. In the third, Lily Stevens singled to center, but pinch runner Miauna Jorge was left stranded in scoring position after a sacrifice bunt by Rachel Spalding and a walk to Ray.
Pitcher Sydnie Watts dominated from the circle, keeping The Indians scoreless through four innings, which set up a prolific offensive burst by Fitch in the bottom of the fourth. Folkwein led off with a single and a stolen base. After Watts struck out, Morgan Roby doubled to score Folkwein, extending the lead to 2-0. Roby advanced to third on a ground out and was driven home by Stevens’ RBI single. Consecutive walks to Spalding and Ray loaded the bases, and Ayla Ray’s ground-rule double brought in two more runs, pushing the score to 5-0.
The Falcons continued to capitalize on Fairfield’s errors. Toth reached base on a right fielder’s error, and Folkwein’s double advanced her to third. Watts then sealed the game with a three-run homer over the left-field fence, solidifying a 10-0 lead and invoking the mercy rule.
Watts, on her way to a perfect game, struck out the first two batters in the fifth inning, and the defense secured the final out, giving her a sixth career perfect game and propelling The Falcons into the State Championship.
Roby was instrumental, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Ayla Ray contributed two doubles and two RBIs, finishing 1-for-3. Stevens added two singles and an RBI, Toth had a double and an RBI, while Folkwein recorded a double and a single. Watts clinched the game with her three-run home run and accumulated three RBIs.
In the circle, Watts, with Folkwein catching, recorded nine strikeouts over five innings. The 22-1 Lady Falcons will face Pataskala Watkins Memorial (31-1) in the State Championship Game on Saturday, June 1, with the first pitch set for 6:15 p.m. at Akron Firestone Stadium. Stay updated with Fitch Softball’s postseason journey, including live games, scores, stats, and stories, on YSN.
