Austintown Fitch wins state softball title

After a 3-0 win over Lebanon on Friday, Austintown Fitch had a quick turnaround to the state championship, but it did not matter.

The Falcons won their first-ever state championship with a 6-1 win over Anthony Wayne Saturday evening.

Sydnie Watts, offense led the way for Austintown Fitch

Sydnie Watts allowed an RBI single in the first, but that was the only run the Generals could push across against the sophomore ace.

The Falcons’ scoring began with a Kylie Folkwein RBI single in the third.

As Watts continued cruising through the game, Ayla Ray led off the fifth with a go-ahead home run, followed by a Kylie Folkwein RBI triple. Folkwein would score on a wild pitch the next at-bat, then Sam Severn would score on a wild pitch to end the scoring in the fifth.

To cap it off for Fitch, Folkwein would score on a throwing error in the sixth. Folkwein, a freshman, had three hits and drove in 2 runs on the day.

Another stellar performance for sophomore Sydnie Watts helped lead the Falcons to the win.

Watts went the distance allowing only one run on three hits with 11 strikeouts and two walks.

For the Falcons (22-0-2), the game marked their first state championship appearance since 1993 and the school’s first-ever state championship.

Fitch graduates four starters and returns a ton of young talent.

The future is bright in Austintown.

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