OHSAA softball regional final: Walsh Jesuit loses to defending state champ Austintown Fitch

YOUNGSTOWN — Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the better team.

Austintown Fitch showed exactly why it is the reigning Division I state champion in softball with an 8-2 victory over Walsh Jesuit in a regional final Friday at Youngstown State.

The next step for the Falcons (21-1) is a state semifinal at Firestone Stadium against Fairfield, which beat Centerville 1-0.

It's the second season in a row the Falcons have knocked out the Warriors (22-1) in a regional final .

Fitch held a 3-0 lead before the floodgates opened in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run by Kylie Folkwein followed by a no-doubt homer to center by Sydnie Watts.

Fitch finished with 13 hits and scored seven of its eight runs with two outs.

Watts (21-1) showed why she’s headed to Georgia Tech with a four-hitter. She finished with 13 strikeouts. The right-hander walked six but showed poise to get out of jams.

Watts didn't allow a hit until McKayla McKee singled to center to start the fourth inning.

Walsh scored its only two runs when Renee Brown and Ella Girard singled in the seventh and Brianna Wise singled to right with two outs to plate both runs.

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Walsh Jesuit softball falls shy of OHSAA softball tournament