FITCH WINS DRAMATIC EIGHT INNING AFFAIR

AUSTINTOWN OH-

The opening day of baseball has finally arrived for The Austintown Fitch Falcons. After multiple weather cancellations and postponements, Fitch finally got clearance to play on Wednesday night.  Their opponent? The Chagrin Falls TIgers, looking to make an early season road statement to start the season.  This season sees The Falcons bring back six seniors, with a good mix of underclassmen to round things out.

The pitching matchup was between Jake Corll of Fitch and Leo Fornara of Chagrin Falls. Both of which were trusted to take the opening day rock.  Fitch grabbed an unearned run off Fornara in the bottom of the 1st, off an RBI single by Brandon Popio to plate Joe Roth. Then the stalemate began.

With both pitchers trading scoreless frames until the top of the 6th, where Jake Corll gave up an unearned run, when Andrew Kirkpatrick slapped an RBI single up the middle, scoring Donny Hardy and evening the game up 1-1.  The pitchers duel continued, with Fornara going 6 solid innings and Corll going the full 7 before extras.

Pitching-

Leo Fornara vs. Fitch 3/30: 6 IP, 10 K, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 0 ER. 

Jake Corll vs. Chagrin F. 3/30: 7 IP, 9 K, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 R, 0 ER. 

Joe Roth pitched an inning of relief in the top of the 8th, which ended up earning him win number one on the season, with Brandon Popio getting hit with the bags full to bring home the winning run 2-1. 

Jake Corll wins Player of The Game honors with his opening day gem to help push his team to 1-0 on the season.

Fitch (1-0) will have little time to enjoy this victory, as they welcome The Poland Bulldogs (1-0) to town on Thursday, March 31st. First pitch at 5 p.m. and live on YSN!

*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell

Postgame Interview With Jake Corll: