Photo courtesy of Little League Baseball and Softball. The Austintown 12U softball team celebrates after clinching the Central Region championship with a 4-0 win over Iowa on Friday. Austintown will head to the Little League World Series, held Aug. 6-13 at Stallings Stadium in Greenville, N.C.

Austintown Little League’s 12U softball team was on the verge of elimination after just one game.

But against all odds, it battled back — taking the long and difficult road through the elimination bracket this whole week. Austintown won six straight games, including a 4-0 revenge game against Iowa on Friday to capture the Little League Softball World Series Central Region championship and punch its ticket to the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, N.C.

On its road to the title game, Austintown also defeated Wisconsin (4-2), Michigan (5-1), Illinois (4-3), Missouri (10-1) and Indiana (4-1).

In the first meeting between the two teams in round one July 23, Austintown wasn’t able to get its bats going until late in extra innings. But then Iowa exploded for six runs in the eighth to seal the deal.

In the championship game Friday, Austintown wasted no time — capitalizing on three hits and two errors to score two early runs in the first inning and seize control. Seneca Coates scored the first run, while Annabel Mikesell followed up with the second off a hit from Tori Greathouse.

In the bottom of the third, Iowa was in position to score with two runners on with one out, but Mila Hamley responded with back-to-back strikeouts to see out the threat.

In the fourth inning, Austintown capitalized on an Iowa error again. A fly ball from Zara Burt dropped in right field, allowing Greathouse to score. As Burt tried to steal second, she occupied the attention of the Iowa infielders, allowing Ava Fisher to score, as well.

Hamley then rose to the occasion again, closing things out with back-to-back strikeouts in the bottom of the sixth inning to preserve the victory. Hamley gave up four hits, while striking out eight in the complete-game shutout effort.

Austintown finished with eight hits, led by two from Coates. Greathouse, Hamley, Fisher, Burt, Gianna Hoops and Kate Averell also each had a hit.

The Little League Softball World Series will be held Aug. 6-13 at Stallings Stadium in Greenville, N.C.

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