Defending state champion Austintown Fitch heading back to state

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – In a battle of two nationally-ranked teams, defending state champion Austintown Fitch rolled past Walsh Jesuit 8-2 in the OHSAA Division I Softball Regional Championship game at Youngstown State University on Friday.

Watch the video above for extended highlights and interviews from tonight’s game.

The Falcons beat the Warriors, 11-1 in the same Regional Championship game last season.

Pitcher Sydnie Watts tossed a complete, striking out 16 on the day for Fitch.

The Falcons’ offense piled up 13 hits in the victory.

Austintown Fitch opened the scoring in the third inning, when Samantha Severn delivered a 2-run single, giving the Falcons a 2-0 lead.

The Falcons increased the lead to 3-0 when Morgan Roby drove in a run on a bases-loaded walk.

Fitch blew the game wide open with a 5-run fifth inning. Kylie Folkwein and Sydnie Watts hit back-to-back home runs.

With the win, Austintown Fitch improves to 21-1 on the season.

The Falcons advance to face Fairfield in the Division I State Semifinal on Friday, May 31 at 3 p.m. at Akron’s Firestone Stadium.

Walsh Jesuit ends the season with its first loss at 22-1.

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