AUSTINTOWN, OH- The Fitch Falcons move to 19-3 on the year after they broke a 35-year old record for Team Dual Wins with 19.
Fitch would win the meet 56-9 over Streetsboro.
Contributing to the record-setting day:
Alec Herman
Jacob Ferguson
James Koslik
Authur Croom
Colin Roberts
Aric Smith
Clayton Marcum
Tyler Lintner
Jacob Smail
Dom Zemko
Donovan Oliver
AJ Byrd
AUSTINTOWN, OH- It’s hard to imagine having to come back from a devastating knee injury once in a career, but for Fitch senior stickballer, Lorenzo Russo- he’s returning from his third career ACL injury to hopefully make his way back onto the turf this spring.
Russo, a prime-time hustle player for Coach Paris’ Falcons, continues to set the example of what heart and determination mixed with a hearty work-ethic can produce. Lorenzo plays with a passion, but also shows how to play the game the right way as he hustles on and off the field, shirt tucked in and represents himself professionally for all to Falcons to follow.
We had the pleasure of catching up with the Falcon senior to talk about how the team will take flight in just a few weeks’ time. All that and more on this week’s Austintown Fitch Baseball Player Profile: LET’S GO, LORENZO!
Presented by
| Player of the Year | |||
| Faith | Burch | Warren Harding | 11 |
| 1st Team Selections | |||
| Emma | Bartlett | Austintown Fitch | 11 |
| Maria | Torre | Boardman | 11 |
| Grace | Mangapora | Canfield | 12 |
| Marissa | Ieraci | Canfield | 11 |
| Courtney | Clark | Howland | 9 |
| Faith | Burch | Warren Harding | 11 |
| Kamarah | Bender | Warren Harding | 11 |
| Diamond | Philips | Warren Harding | 11 |
| 2nd Team Selections | |||
| Daria | Williams | Austintown Fitch | 12 |
| Raegan | Burkey | Boardman | 11 |
| Alyssa | Dill | Canfield | 10 |
| Summer | Sammarone | Canfield | 10 |
| Alyssa | Pompelia | Howland | 10 |
| Maria | Dellimuti | Howland | 12 |
| Karlie | Heilman | Warren Harding | 12 |
| BLUE TIER | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player of the Year | |||
| Emma | Gumont | Champion | 11 |
| Shar’da | Williamson | Liberty | 12 |
| 1st Team Selections | |||
| Sophia | Hook | Brookfield | 9 |
| Emma | Gumont | Champion | 11 |
| Savannah | Dodrill | Champion | 12 |
| Krista | Perry | Crestview | 11 |
| Jenna | Reppart | LaBrae | 11 |
| Shar’da | Williamson | Liberty | 12 |
| Demi | Watson | Liberty | 9 |
| Breeana | Hutson | Newton Falls | 11 |
| 2nd Team Selections | |||
| Rebecca | Litz | Brookfield | 12 |
| India | Armour-Clark | Campbell Memorial | 12 |
| Brooke | Whitt | Champion | 11 |
| Tanner | Hoffer | Crestview | 12 |
| Laura | McCoy | LaBrae | 9 |
| Delia | Watson | Liberty | 12 |
| Cianna | Smith | Liberty | 9 |
| Madison | Haidet | Newton Falls | 11 |
| RED TIER | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player of the Year | |||
| Derrick | Anderson | Boardman | 12 |
| 1st Team Selections | |||
| Todd | Simons | Austintown Fitch | 11 |
| Derrick | Anderson | Boardman | 12 |
| Ethan | Andersen | Boardman | 11 |
| Tommy | Fryda | Boardman | 12 |
| Joe | Bruno | Canfield | 12 |
| Cam | Durig | Howland | 12 |
| Aston | Bates | Warren Harding | 11 |
| D’Muntize | Owens | Warren Harding | 12 |
| 2nd Team Selections | |||
| Kris | Brown | Austintown Fitch | 12 |
| Devin | Sherwood | Austintown Fitch | 10 |
| Daeone | Martin | Boardman | 12 |
| Brayden | Beck | Canfield | 12 |
| Trey | Dye | Canfield | 11 |
| Justin | Jones | Howland | 12 |
| DeAveion | Burgess | Warren Harding | 11 |
| BLUE TIER | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player of the Year | |||
| Conner | Stevens | Brookfield | 12 |
| 1st Team Selections | |||
| Conner | Stevens | Brookfield | 12 |
| Kevin | Moore | Campbell Memorial | 10 |
| Nick | Stahlman | Champion | 12 |
| Drake | Golden | Crestview | 11 |
| Conner | Meyer | LaBrae | 11 |
| Landen | Kiser | LaBrae | 11 |
| James | Davis | Liberty | 10 |
| Joey | Kline | Newton Falls | 11 |
| Josh | Honeycutt | Newton Falls | 11 |
| 2nd Team Selections | |||
| Hayden | Gibson | Brookfield | 11 |
| Kayvon | Moore | Campbell Memorial | 10 |
| Abe | Bayus | Champion | 12 |
| Austin | Wilforth | Champion | 11 |
| Kirkland | Miller | Crestview | 9 |
| Tre’Von | Drake | LaBrae | 10 |
| Jameer | Weaver | Liberty | 10 |
| Adam | Honeycutt | Newton Falls | 12 |
| Cole | Marquette | Newton Falls | 11 |
POLAND, OH- Poland playing their final home game of the season against the Austintown Fitch Falcons, were looking for victory momentum before playing their rival on Friday. The Bulldogs would do just that on Senior Night. Poland Seniors Michael Cougras and Adam Kassem both finished in double figures in points. Bulldogs beat the Falcons 53-44.
First-quarter was a defensive dominate 8 minutes with Fitch taking the early lead 11-10. Devin Sherwood for the Falcons lead all scorers with 6 points at the end of the quarter. The Falcons regained the lead going into halftime 24-23 after getting some support from the bench. Ross Dedo helped the Bulldogs keep close with the Falcons with 8 points going into halftime.
Poland regained the lead in the third quarter and went back and forth with the Falcons for the lead until the end of the game. Poland comes away with a victory 53-44 on Senior Night. Kassem led all scorers at the end of the night with 15 points while Todd Simons had 14 for Fitch. Poland (15-6) will travel for its final game of the season on Friday against rival Canfield. Fitch will travel to Boardman on Friday for their final game of the season.
*Story contributed by YSN’s Anthony Melone
GAME PHOTOS: HERE
Youngstown, OH – Cardinal Mooney faced the Austintown Fitch Falcons on Saturday after losing to Warren JFK the day before. After a turnover plagued first half, Mooney gave up only 21 points in the 2nd half to achieve the come from behind win against the Cardinals. Mooney beat Fitch 57-44.
Fitch took the lead early and held on to it through halftime making the game 23-16. Simons had 9 points going into halftime for the Falcons. Thomas Fire had 6 points for Mooney.
Mooney made its comeback in the 2nd half. Mooney only allowed 2 points in the fourth quarter to win the game 57-44. Simons finished the game with 20 points for the Falcons. Michael Pelini had 13 points in the game while Fire finished with 12 points. Mooney will travel to South Range Tuesday night while Fitch will travel to Poland on Tuesday. Watch both games here on YSN
* Story Contributed by YSN’s Anthony Melone.
AUSTINTOWN, OH- The Falcons beat Akron East in overtime 71-66 after Akron East banked in a long 3 pointer to send it into overtime.
The Falcons lead after the first quarter 12-8 and at half 23-18. The game went back and forth in the second half as both teams exchanged baskets throughout.
In overtime, the Falcons made some timely shots and free throws as they were 12-14 from the line. The Falcons had balanced scoring with Devin Sherwood leading the way with 20 points, followed by Todd Simons with 17, Devin Chaney with 13. Evan Sahli, making his first start tallied 13, while Brian Ferguson had 6.
*Story contributed by Brian Beany and austintownathletics.com
AUSTINTOWN, OH- The hottest ticket in town didn’t disappoint as two of the area’s best teams went head to head on Tuesday. Boardman went on the road and earned an important conference victory vs Fitch, 68-44.
After a back and forth first quarter the Spartans were able to build a 13 point halftime lead thanks to a 22 point 2nd quarter. Boardman kept their momentum in the 3rd quarter, outscoring Austintown 21-8 to take a commanding 60-34 lead into the 4th.
Derrick Anderson continued to shine with 24 points and 3 assists. Ethan Andersen once again was a dominant force with 16 points and 12 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Tommy Fryda hot shooting continued, connecting on 4 three’s on his way to 14 points along with 5 assists, including a beautiful lob to Andersen in the 3rd. Daeone Martin attacked the defense for 9 points. Connor Miller and Zach Ryan both made plays all over the floor defensively. Miller grabbing 4 rebounds and Ryan snatching 2 steals. Andrew Clark once again provided big minutes while also connecting on a deep ball for 3 points. Ty Ventresco rounded out the scoring with a nice finish inside for 2 points. Trey DePietro made a return from injury and impacted the game with 2 rebounds and 1 block shot. The biggest spark goes out to the great energy of the players not in the game, led by unsung hero Jimmy Goske.
Leading the way for the Falcons were Kris Brown with 9, Devin Sherwood with 7, and with 6 points were Nate Leskovac, Brian Ferguson, and Todd Simons.
The Falcons are on the road Friday vs against AAC foe, Warren Harding.
The wins moves Boardman to 9-0 on the season. The Spartans have another huge conference game at home vs Canfield on Friday.
*Story contributed by Pat Birch and Brian Beany
GAME PHOTOS: HERE
ALLIANCE, OH- Austintinwon Fitch lost a thriller to Alliance as the Aviators scored with 5 seconds left to take a 61-59 lead, and that’s the way things would finalize.
The Falcons had one last chance with 2.0 seconds left but were unable to get a shot off.
Leading the way for the Falcons was Todd Simons with 19, Devin Sherwood 14, Mike Remish with 10, Kris Brown with 9, Trae Wilks with 4, and Brian Ferguson with 3.
The Falcons fall to 4-4 and begin Conference play on Tuesday, January 7th vs Howland at 7:00.
*Story contributed by Brian Beany and austintownathletics.com
YOUNGSTOWN, OH- In a back and forth affair which saw both teams exchange baskets during the First Quarter and into Halftime with Ursuline taking a 40-39 lead.
The Third Quarter saw Ursuline further their lead only to see the Falcons battle back to get within 4 (58-54).
In the Fourth Quarter, the Falcons grabbed the lead for good by outscoring the Irish 24-8. The Falcons had tremendous balanced scoring with Todd Simons scoring 29, Devin Sherwood with 17, Kris Brown with 15, Nate Leskovac with 11, Trae Wilks with 4 and Brian Ferguson with 2.
Ursuline senior, Vince Armeni would lead the Irish with 16, while Tyler Peck had 14.
The Falcons improve to 4-3 with their next game on Friday, January 3rd at Alliance.
*Story contributions from Brian Beany and austintownathletics.com
GAME PHOTOS: HERE