Tag Archive for: Austintown

AUSTINTOWN KEEPS ROLLING TO A DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

/in /by

BOARDMAN, OH — The Austintown 10U All Stars put the finishing touches on a dominant district run with a statement win Monday night, blanking Canfield 14-0 at the Field of Dreams. The title-clincher came on the back of Lily Mattern, who spun a no-hitter and punched out 10 across four shutout frames.

Mattern was locked in from pitch one, walking just one and slamming the door every time Canfield looked to get anything going. Lights-out stuff when it mattered most.

At the plate, Austintown wasted no time lighting up the scoreboard. Aarleah McGuire started the fire in the first with a knock to center, followed by a Khloe Grimm infield single. Carly Fodor smoked a double to deep center, and Nadia Price tacked on a shot to left to cap a first-inning surge.

They didn’t let up. In the second, a McGuire fielder’s choice, another Fodor double, and a Price RBI single stretched the lead even more.

Then came the third — a five-run avalanche. Brielle Hamley got it rolling with an RBI single, McGuire cleared the bases with a 3-run double, and Grimm kept the party going with another RBI knock.

Canfield’s Brooklyn Eubanks battled but couldn’t slow the Austintown offense, surrendering 12 hits and 14 runs (12 earned) in three innings of work while striking out five.

McGuire owned the middle of the order, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs and handling nine defensive chances without a blemish. Price, Fodor, Grimm, and McGuire each logged two hits, while Price swiped a pair of bags for good measure.

Error-free in the field, lights out in the circle, and clutch at the plate — Austintown checked every box on their way to the district crown.

AUSTINTOWN DOMINATES THEIR WAY TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP

/in /by

BOARDMAN OH-  It didn’t take long for Austintown’s 10U All-Stars to make their mark on the scoreboard — they unloaded a 13-run haymaker in the top of the first and never looked back, rolling past Canfield 17-1 Wednesday at the Field of Dreams to punch their ticket to the district title game.

Austintown brought the bats early and often. Lily Mattern ripped a two-run double, Camille Williams and Alex Malby each knocked in a pair with RBI singles, and Khloe Grimm chipped in with a walk and an RBI knock later in the inning. Add in a handful of walks and passed balls, and Canfield was buried before they ever got a chance to settle in.

The onslaught didn’t stop there — Austintown tacked on three more in the second behind base hits from Williams and Nadia Price, and another Canfield miscue that plated a run. A passed ball in the third added one more for good measure.

In the circle, Bella McKenzie and Lexi Cossack tag-teamed the pitching duties for Austintown, combining for two clean innings and giving up just one hit between them.

Offensively, Austintown stacked up 11 hits. Williams led the charge, going 2-for-2 with a team-high two RBIs. Eiland and Aarleah McGuire also had two hits apiece, while the lineup showed patience too — drawing eight walks as a squad.

Canfield got singles from Juliana Walters and Sawyer Trout, and Alana Franceschelli drove in their lone run of the game.

Austintown now sits one win away from a district crown, while Canfield drops to the elimination bracket. They’ll get another shot at redemption when they take on the winner of Boardman and Canfield (Grover) for a chance to meet Austintown again in the finals.

SOUTH RANGE STAVES OFF ELIMINATION AGAIN

/in /by

BOARDMAN OH- In a game where runs were tough to come by, South Range’s 12U squad did just enough to survive and advance, edging out Austintown 3-2 on Wednesday night in a gritty district battle.

Both pitchers were dialed in. Riley Slagle was lights out for South Range, tossing a complete game with 11 punchouts, no walks, and just four hits allowed over six frames. She held her ground from the jump and didn’t let up.

South Range got the scoring started in the first thanks to a Delaney Tiger triple that brought in the first run of the night. Tiger stayed hot at the plate, finishing with two hits alongside teammates Reese Brogan and Ellie Nicholson. Tiger, Brogan, and Adalyn Bailey all drove in a run apiece.

On the other side, Addison Weidenthal matched Slagle pitch-for-pitch, striking out 11 herself and not giving up a single walk in her six innings of work. But Austintown couldn’t quite crack through in the clutch.

They got hits from Myla Stubbs, Marissa Polder, Lucia Williams, and Addison Figley—who also swiped a pair of bags. Stubbs and Polder each drove in a run, but Austintown couldn’t string together enough offense to flip the script.

Clean game from both squads defensively—no errors for South Range, with Brogan leading the charge with 12 chances handled.

With the win, South Range stays alive and moves on to face Poland on Thursday in a win-or-go-home battle. Winner punches their ticket to Monday’s district title game against Canfield. Austintown’s run ends here.

CANFIELD KNOCKS DOWN DEFENDING CHAMPS

/in /by

BOARDMAN OH- Canfield’s 12U squad pulled off some late-game magic Tuesday night, slipping past Austintown 4-3 in a tight one to keep their district title hopes alive.

Things were knotted up at 3 heading into the bottom of the fifth when Lydia Handel stepped up and delivered the go-ahead RBI single that gave Canfield the lead for good. That clutch knock was the final punch in a back-and-forth battle.

Austintown came out swinging with a run in the top of the first, but Canfield quickly countered in the bottom half. Jordan Greenhaw laced a double down the line to tie things up, and McKayla Lang followed it up with a groundout to bring home another, making it 2-1.

The scrappy Austintown bunch wouldn’t go away. Anna DeMetro laid down a sac bunt in the second to tie it, and later roped a single up the middle in the fifth to even things at 3. But Canfield just had one more answer.

Mia Tieche added a key RBI single in the fourth, while Greenhaw, Handel, Lang, and Tieche all chipped in an RBI apiece. Greenhaw and Kylee Kritz each had two knocks to lead the offense.

Kritz was nails in the circle, going the distance and striking out eight. She gave up just one earned run on four hits and showed serious poise down the stretch. Addison Weidenthal pitched well for Austintown but took the loss after giving up 10 hits in five innings of work.

Austintown got solid days at the plate from DeMetro, who drove in two from the 9-hole, and Myla Stubbs, who went 2-for-2 with a couple bags swiped. They also turned a slick double play on defense.

Canfield now gears up for a showdown with Poland in the semis Wednesday at 6:00, while Austintown drops into the elimination bracket for a must-win matchup with South Range at 8:00.

FALCONS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS TO START SPRING TRIP

/in /by

MYRTLE BEACH, SC- Carter Owens was lights out on Monday, striking out 11 as Fitch rolled past Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 5-1.

Owens went the distance, giving up just five hits and one run across seven strong innings, walking just one.

Fitch got the sticks going early in the bottom of the first. Frank Senediak ripped a double down the line, Mason Petridis followed with a single, and Landyn Myers knocked in a run on a double play to jump out to a quick lead.

Jackson Cheeks added some breathing room in the third with a sac fly to push the lead to 4-1.

B McNully took the loss for VASJ, throwing six innings and giving up five runs (four earned) on 10 hits.

The Falcons’ bats stayed busy, racking up 10 hits in the game. Senediak, Reggie Danko, and Cheeks each had two hits, while Senediak, Rocco Diflorio, Cheeks, Petridis, and Myers all picked up an RBI apiece.

C Polvnas knocked in the lone run for VASJ, while R Eppich swung a hot bat, going 2-for-3. VASJ flashed some leather too, turning a double play and playing error-free ball, with Eppich leading the way with seven defensive chances.

Fitch now gears up for a Tuesday showdown with Brick Township.

FITCH STAYS HOT; DICES UP LEWISVILLE

/in /by

MYRLE BEACH, SC- The Fitch Falcons kept the good times rolling in Myrtle Beach, hammering Lewisville (SC) 9-1 on Monday to improve to 10-1 on the season.

Fitch wasted no time getting on the board, striking for three runs in the first and never looking back. They added a run in the second, three more in the third, and tacked on a pair late to keep Lewisville in check.

Kaliana Ray set the tone right out of the gate, reaching base twice and swiping four bags. Alyssa Rodgers was all over the place too, picking up two hits, driving in a run, and stealing three bases. Morgan Roby stayed hot with a pair of singles and an RBI, while Abby Toth doubled, singled, reached on an error, and knocked in two. Kylie Folkwein added a sac fly and a walk, also picking up two RBIs. Samantha Severn and Rachel Spalding each chipped in a single and reached on errors to help keep the pressure on.

In the circle, the duo of Tori Greathouse kept Lewisville’s bats mostly quiet.  picking up five strikeouts across her innings of work, backing up a strong start for the freshman.

For Lewisville, Aubree Smith showed some fight with a double and a walk. Molli Deese knocked in the Lions’ only run with a single, and Laney Lambert added a base hit of her own.

Lewisville (15-5) scratched their lone run across in the fourth, but couldn’t string together enough offense to keep pace with the Falcons, who were just too much from start to finish.

Fitch will keep the spring break action rolling with more games down south as they look to stay red-hot.

OWENS AND FALCONS LEAVE CANFIELD LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

/in /by

AUSTINTOWN, OH- Austintown‑Fitch jumped out to a four‑run lead and held on for a 5–4 win over Canfield on Monday.

Carter Owens was locked in on the mound, fanning 11 over six innings and surrendering just two runs on six hits while walking three. The Falcons struck first in the opening frame when Mason Petridis ripped an RBI single to plate two, then added a two‑run double in the third. Petridis finished 2‑for‑2 with three RBIs, giving the middle of the order all the punch they’d need.

Canfield battled back behind back‑to‑back two‑run knocks from Joey Gabriel and Jake Dovich. Dylan Mancini chipped in with a run‑scoring single to make it a one‑run game, but Anthony Wibert slammed the door in the seventh for the save.

Defensively, Austintown‑Fitch was flawless—no errors—and Nate McGagahan paced the infield with 13 chances handled cleanly.

The Falcons and Cardinals rematch Tuesday at Canfield.

 

NDCL SERVES UP PROBLEMS FOR FITCH

/in /by

AUSTINTOWN, OH — A fifth-inning grand slam from Cian O’Boyle broke things wide open Friday as Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (NDCL) pulled away from Austintown-Fitch, handing the Falcons a 9-2 loss.

Fitch struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Jackson Cheeks ripped an RBI single to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. But that would be all the early offense Fitch could muster as NDCL tied it up in the fourth with a Gavin Palchick groundout.

Then came the turning point.

In the top of the fifth, NDCL exploded for five runs on four hits, highlighted by O’Boyle’s grand slam to center, shifting the momentum and putting the game out of reach. NDCL added insurance runs late to seal the win.

McCord earned the victory for NDCL, tossing 4.1 innings and giving up six hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out four. Zac Zabosky took the loss for Fitch despite a solid outing, striking out six over 4.2 innings and allowing just three runs on five hits.

Both teams finished with 10 hits, but NDCL made theirs count.

O’Boyle led the charge with four RBIs and went 2-for-4, while Frankie Clark, Lucas Marlowe, and Charlie O’Dale each added two hits. O’Dale also swiped two bases as NDCL finished with four steals and turned a double play on defense.

For Fitch, Carter Owens, Cheeks, and Landyn Myers each collected two hits. Cheeks also drove in a run and had a multi-hit performance, while the Falcons flashed the leather with two double plays of their own.

Fitch will look to bounce back on Monday when they travel to face rival Boardman.

 

THE FINKLEY FACTOR

/in /by

By Ty Bartell

AUSTINTOWN OH- For Austintown-Fitch senior Marcel Finkley, basketball is more than just a sport—it’s a platform for hard work, dedication, and leadership. As he wraps up his high school career, Finkley has cemented his place in program history, not just through his play but through the impact he has had on his teammates and the community.

A dynamic and versatile player, Finkley has proven himself as a crucial asset to the Falcons. His ability to score, facilitate, and defend makes him a well-rounded competitor who can influence every aspect of the game. His relentless work ethic and commitment to improving his craft have made him one of the most respected athletes in the program.

This season, Finkley achieved a historic milestone by becoming only the fourth player in Austintown-Fitch boys basketball history to surpass 1,000 career points. More than that, he became the first Black athlete in the program to reach this feat—a testament to his dedication and a moment that will inspire future generations of players.

Beyond his individual achievements, Finkley’s leadership has been invaluable to the team. As a senior, he embraces the responsibility of guiding younger players, setting an example of perseverance and discipline. Whether through his vocal presence in the locker room or the intensity he brings to every practice and game, he has helped shape the culture of the program.

His coaches and teammates recognize him as a player who thrives under pressure and elevates those around him. He carries himself with confidence and determination, never shying away from the challenges that come with being a leader.As his time at Austintown-Fitch comes to a close, Finkley leaves behind a lasting legacy. His name will forever be etched in the record books, but his true impact lies in the inspiration he has provided for those who will follow. No matter what the next chapter holds, his contributions to Austintown-Fitch basketball will not be forgotten

Presented By:

SPARTANS RALLY PAST FALCONS IN AAC SHOWDOWN

/in /by

By Ty Bartell

 

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio — The Boardman Spartans secured a hard-fought 74-70 road win over All-American Conference (AAC) rival Austintown-Fitch on Tuesday night in a back-and-forth battle that came down to the final minutes. 

The game opened with a tightly contested first quarter, as the teams were deadlocked at 18-18. Boardman edged ahead by halftime, building a 38-33 lead behind balanced scoring efforts. However, the third quarter saw a surge from Fitch, led by a dominant performance from Marcel Finkley, who tallied a game-high 27 points. The Falcons outscored the Spartans 19-7 in the period to take a 52-45 advantage into the fourth quarter. 

The Spartans responded with resilience in the final frame, rallying with a 29-point explosion to retake the lead and secure the victory. Boardman was paced by Kaden Mayhew’s 18 points, with Terell McDowell contributing 16 and Grayson Eicher adding 14. Jerry “Trey” Smith and Zach Haus chipped in 9 and 8 points, respectively, to round out the balanced offensive attack. 

Despite Finkley’s standout performance, the Falcons couldn’t maintain their third-quarter momentum. Carter Owens added 16 points, and Anthony Waller scored 11 for Fitch in the loss. 

The win moves Boardman to 9-5 overall and 2-2 in AAC play. They’ll face a tough test on Friday, January 31, when they travel to take on state-ranked Warren G. Harding (13-3, 5-0 AAC) at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Austintown-Fitch, now 7-10 overall and 1-4 in the AAC, will look to bounce back as they host the Howland Tigers (7-8, 0-6 AAC) on the same night.