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Franken, Fitch take another from Howland
By Steve WILAJ
AUSTINTOWN
Hits have come and gone through the first two games of the season for Austintown Fitch. But Falcons coach Melody Ward has seen a constant over the first 14 innings that she enjoys.
“Like [Monday], I definitely attribute our pitching again to the win against a very good Howland team,” Ward said. “I think the pitching was the key in both games.”
Alex Franken threw a complete game on Tuesday in leading Fitch to a 4-2 victory against the Tigers in Austintown. The Falcons also defeated Howland on Monday, 5-4.
Franken allowed just six hits and struck out three in seven innings of work.
“They’re a good hitting team and she kept some of their best hitters at bay and kept them off balance,” Ward said.
Howland (0-2) struck first when Morgan Remsey’s RBI single in the second inning gave the Tigers a 1-0 advantage. But Franken blanked Howland in four of the next five innings. The Tigers’ only other run came on Hannah Burke’s double in the fifth.
“I think my pitch control and trusting in my defense helped me,” Franken said. “It feels great. We didn’t really know what to expect. So to come out here and beat a really good team is really exciting for us.”
Fitch (2-0) tied the game in the third inning when Sierra Pierce’s two-out single scored Cali Mikovich. The Falcons then got some help in their three-run fourth inning.
Gabby Butcha and Franken each reached on an error to begin the frame. Nicholette Zordich then brought Butcha home on a fielder’s choice, a wild pitch scored Franken and Mercedes Pratt capped the inning with an RBI single.
“If you make mistakes against a good team, you’re supposed to lose and we did,” Howland coach Brian Earich said. “They’re well-coached, played well, have great pitchers and have a fantastic shortstop. That’s the kind of team you wanna play every day or you’re not gonna get any better.”
The Tigers threatened in the top of the seventh when Reann Litz hit a leadoff double, but she got no further.
“Last year we got into a lot of those situations where they threatened to come back,” Franken said. “So we really keep our composure a lot and I think that came from last year.”
Offensively for Fitch, Pierce led the charge with two hits. Meanwhile, Mikovich and Zordich each had a hit and scored a run.
“I’m really proud of the team and for our eight seniors,” Ward said. “This is the first time they’ve come out and won our home opener and went 2-0 out of the gate. I’m very proud of the statement they’re making so far.”
Howland’s Monica Kotyuk also had a hit and scored a run. Hannah Kowach took the loss on the mound, as she allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits in four innings.
“When you give away two or three, maybe four, that’s tough,” Earich said. “But it’s OK. It’s early in the season and we know where we have to set the bar.”