prep softball roundup | Monday’s games

Austintown Fitch 5, Howland 4

HOWLAND

Nicholette Zordich’s three hits included a home run for the Falcons in the nine-inning victory. Sierra Pierce relieved Alex Franken in the ninth to earn the victory. They combined to toss a four-hitter. Pierce tripled in a run while Gabby Butcher doubled. Franken, Chelsea Raymer and Christiana Savo each had a RBI. For the Tigers, Olga Grech’s two hits included a double and she drove in two runs. Lexi Ross and Monica Kotyuk had the other hits.

Niles 5, Struthers 2

STRUTHERS

Winning pitcher Hannah Wharton struck out nine and walked six in tossing a three-hitter. B. Lawson doubled and scored and Bera Brazzon hit a RBI double in Niles’ three-run third inning. For the Wildcats, Preshus Brown’s two hits included a triple.

Liberty 4, Girard 2, 8 innings

GIRARD

Leah Leshnack scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning and Katie Serrano drove home an insurance run for the Leopards who won the All-American Athletic Conference Blue Division opener. Leshnack reached on an error, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored on a passed ball. Lyndsay Johnson pitched the victory for the Leopards, fanning seven, walking four and yielding five hits. Leshnack had a triple and a single for Liberty and Megan Gatta doubled. Nico Maderitz tied the game for Girard with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh. She also pitched for the Indians, striking out nine and walking three. Karlee Byrne and Mackenzie Olesky doubled for Girard.

Champion 6, Brookfield 0

BROOKFIELD

Winning pitcher Haylee Gardiner struck out 10 and walked four in tossing a four-hitter. For Brookfield, Michaela Gauding hit a solo homer and Alisha Quinlan struck out three and walked three in tossing a five-hitter.

Western Reserve 12, St. Thomas Aquinas 0

LOUISVILLE

Aleah Hughes threw a complete game shutout for Western Reserve with 11 strikeouts and zero walks against St. Thomas Aquinas. She also hit a fourth-inning grand slam and drove in seven runs for the Blue Devils (1-0). Southern Local 10, Youngstown Christian 7

SALINEVILLE

Kayla Huff drove in three runs with two hits while Britney Ketchum drove in two runs for the Indians (2-0). Katie Ketchum had two hits while Brooke Spencer scored three runs. Spencer was the winning pitcher after relieving Huff in the fourth inning. For Youngstown Christian (0-2), Julia Gavin tripled and scored two runs while Sara Rodgers’ two hits included a triple and she scored twice.

Staff report