WATTS SNAPS RECORD IN HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT AND FALCONS CRUISE

AUSTINTOWN OH- The softball season finally got underway in Austintown on a chilly Tuesday night. The Falcons opened up their AAC schedule by hosting Canfield. What started off as a pitcher’s duel slowly transferee into a Falcon runaway victory by a total of 7-0.

The offense for the Falcons took their time in scoring their seven runs. They were up 2-0 after 3 innings. However, they would crank out five runs in the next two innings to make the lead comfortable. Ayla Ray was a home run away from the cycle going 4-4 with a double and a triple. Samantha Aye, McKenna Hogan, and Sophie Senediak all gathered RBI for the Falcons.

Freshman Pitcher Sydnie Watts has been advertised all off season as someone to watch, and she backed up the hype in her high school debut. In her first game Watts broke the school record for strikeouts in a freshman debut. She struck out 19 hitters in 7 innings. Watts final line read like this 7.0 IP 1 H 3 BB 19 K 0 ER.

Canfield’s offense struggled all night to figure out the freshman. Jackie Kinnick got their only hit in the 6th with a bunt single. They did walk three times and put the game tying run at the plate in the 5th. But Watts struck out the threat.

Malena Toth did her best to battle in circle for the Cardinals and kept the Cardinals in the game for most of the contest. Her final line was 6.0 IP 11 H 1BB 4 ER.

Fitch and Canfield are slated to square up again on Wednesday. That game has been moved to Austintown Fitch high school. First pitch is slated for 5:00.

Postgame Interview With Steve Ward: