Tag Archive for: High School softball

ROBY IS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING

By Ty Bartell


When talking about entering high school sports as a freshmen, it is nerve-racking to say the least, especially when the talent pool is as deep as The Austintown-Fitch Falcons Softball Club. In a culture where everything is earned and nothing given, spots on the team are reserved for those who are willing to put the work in and show dedication. But another major point in Fitch Softball is that where you start in the season is not necessarily where you are going to finish, but the key is to make the most of the opportunities given. 

A freshmen player who has exemplified that to great extent has been Morgan Roby! Splitting her time with both the junior varsity and varsity squads for Fitch this season, Roby is rapidly developing both offensively and defensively. Although playing time is split, in her varsity time this year through both regular season and playoffs, Roby is batting .600 (9/15), with a homerun and 7 RBI on the campaign. Beyond that, Roby has shown tremendous plate discipline by keeping the strikeouts down and showcasing her ability to protect the plate with two strikes. 

Being a multiple sport athlete, Roby is always busy, but stays motivated by witnessing the dreams of her brother Dylan coming true by being able to continue his sport of golf into college, realizing that hard work can pay off! Battling her nerves and battling the best arms in the area, Roby is quickly making a name for herself across Austintown homes everywhere! You will not want to miss this edition of Player Profile when Ty Bartell and Anthony Hartwig sit down to chat with another freshmen star in Austintown, Morgan Roby!

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LAKEVIEW GRABS AN UPSET IN EXTRAS

LEVITTSBURG OH- Lakeview snatched the lead late in the game in a 7-6 victory over Columbiana on Tuesday. The game was tied at six with Lakeview Bulldogs Varsity batting in the top of the eighth when Maggie Pavlansky tripled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run.

Lakeview built a four-run lead in the seventh inning and then held off Columbiana’s charge. Columbiana scored four runs in the failed comeback on an error, a, a, and a single by Mackenzi Gamble.

Columbiana fired up the offense in the first inning. Gamble singled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run.

Columbiana evened things up at six in the bottom of the seventh inning when Gamble singled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run.

After Lakeview scored one run in the top of the fourth, Columbiana answered with one of their own. Lakeview scored when Kennedy Bartlett doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run. Columbiana then answered when Ella Chadwick induced Cameron Perkins to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored.

Chadwick toed the rubber for Lakeview. The righty surrendered two runs on four hits over four and a third innings, walking one.

Gamble started the game for Columbiana. The pitcher went six innings, allowing six runs on 13 hits, striking out six and walking zero. Caitlyn Pleska threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen.

The Bulldogs collected 15 hits on the day. Gianna Caruso, Izzy Haines, Pavlansky, Isabella Isenberg, Reagan Price, and Bartlett all had multiple hits. Caruso led the offense with three hits in four at bats.

Gamble went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead Columbiana in hits.

FLASHES SIMPLY LOOK UNSTOPPABLE

By Michael Wolfgang

LEVITTSBURG OH- Perfection, literally, is the one word to describe Champion’s 15-0 win over Wickliffe on Tuesday to advance to the District Finals. Gabrielle Gradishar pitched the game of her life as she was flat out untouchable, flawless, and of course perfect in the pitcher’s circle for Champion.

Gradishar went the distance, a shortened five inning ball game, and finished with a line of zero hits and zero runs allowed while striking out ten and zero base on balls to of course come out of the game as the winning pitcher. 

On the offensive side, Champion was powered by Morgan Davis who went 4-for-4 in the batter’s box. The line for Davis included a homerun, two doubles, and one triple. The Champion offense gathered up 15 hits with Davis, Madison Ziegler, Isabella Meyer, and Maddison Sylvester each went for multi-hit games and were the top dogs hitting wise in the Champion lineup.

Champion sent four balls over the fence with Warzala, Davis, Gradishar, and Ziegler going deep for homers. Champion did not commit a single error in the field defensively.

Champion’s next opponent will be Thursday against Lakeview at 5:00 p.m.

HOWLAND COMES UP JUST SHORT

HUBBARD, OHIO- The Howland Tigers fell behind early and couldn’t come back in a 7-3 loss to The Mogadore Field Falcons on Tuesday in the District Semi-Finals.

The Falcons scored on a triple by Tia Ulrich in the first inning, a single by Lilli Sutkowy in the first inning, and a groundout by McKayla Miller in the second inning.

Olivia Bey earned the victory on the rubber for the Falcons. The righty lasted seven innings, allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out two.

Howland Tigers tallied eight hits as Brooke Tatar, who hit a home run in the third, and Cloe Lopez each had multiple hits as Alexia Spangler took the loss for the Tigers. The pitcher went three innings, allowing four runs on four hits. 

 

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CANFIELD CHARGES THROUGH TO CHAMPIONSHIP

HUBBARD, OHIO- Malena Toth had all the right stuff on Tuesday for the Canfield Cardinals, allowing zero runs and besting the Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Lions by a score of 9-0.

The Cardinals racked up nine hits on the day as Toth and Jenna Triveri each racked up multiple hits as they got things started in the first inning when Hailey Freedy’s sac fly scored one run.

They then tallied four runs in the third inning as they were led by a single by Faith Morell and a home run by Toth.

Toth got the start on the mound for they Cardinals as the righty allowed one hit and zero runs over seven innings, striking out 16.

Canfield will now take on Mogadore Field for the division II district championship. 

 

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BRANT BRINGS HERSELF HOME TWICE AS POLAND POWERS THEIR WAY TO TITLE GAME

CANFIELD OH – The Poland Seminary Lady Bulldogs improved to 16-8 on the season with a win over the Brookfield Lady Warriors by a score of 10-3.

The Lady Bulldogs jumped off to a strong start plating 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st, adding on 2 runs in the bottom of the third and 4 more in the bottom of the 6th.  Poland’s offense was led by Mary Brant who blasted 2 home runs for 5 RBI’s and Meridith Trevis adding  a two run homer in the bottom of the third.
Freshman third baseman Elliana Thompson had 3 hits, all doubles, as well as Freshman catcher Leanna Boccieri who had 3 hits, all singles.  Junior 1st Baseman Leanne Williams added 3 hits including a double.  The Lady Bulldogs collectively had 16 hits off of senior Brookfield hurler Miranda Nicholson.
Katie McDonald picked up her 16th win in the circle for the Lady Bulldogs.
For Brookfield, Katie Logan blasted a solo homerun in the 3rd inning while Cadence Huffman and Abby DeJoy each added 2 hits apiece.  Sophia Hook also added a triple.

Poland Seminary resumes tournament play in the District Final against South Range on Thursday at 5pm.

*Contributed By John Boccieri

THE GEOLOGIST HAS SOLID POTENTIAL

By Ty Bartell


AUSTINTOWN OH- Impactful freshmen have seemed to be a dime a dozen when talking about Austintown-Fitch High School, but even more so when talking about The Falcons softball club. However, not too many freshmen have impacted a multitude of sports this year quite like Kylie Folkwein! Playing on the courts and being featured heavily for over the first half of the year with volleyball and basketball, but it was the sport of softball that Austintown as a community said “just you wait!”

Patience has paid off, Folkwein is batting an amazing .465 with 4 homeruns and 17 RBI through 16 games on the season! Another incredible attribute of Folkwein’s is her ability and willingness to be placed wherever a team needs her. Being as gifted athletically as she is, she can become the ultimate utility athlete at Austintown-Fitch! Softball was a case of the team needing a center fielder, and though it may not be Kylie’s natural position, she has seemingly made it look like she has owned the outfield for years!

Experiencing the ups and downs of various sports seasons has given Folkwein the maturity and experience to build off of for future campaigns. One thing about Kylie, she is never satisfied with her results, an ever-hungry athlete that is always looking to be the best of the best. We cannot wait to tell the full story through the high school career of this amazing athlete, but we will of course start with the beginning chapters. Be sure to check out this edition of player profile as Ty Bartell and Anthony Hartwig chat with The Falcon Freshmen, Kylie Folkwein,  about the season so far, the learning points and future goals!

 

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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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