Staff file photo / Neel Madhavan. Austintown Fitch returning senior Ayla Ray puts a ball in play during a regular season home game last year.

AUSTINTOWN — This spring softball season will be unlike any other in program history for Austintown Fitch because for the first time, the Falcons come into this year as defending state champions.

The season hasn’t even begun, and expectations are sky high, as the Falcons are already racking up the preseason accolades. Fitch was ranked No. 7 nationally in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association USA Today Super 25 Poll and junior ace Sydnie Watts was named one of the top 20 Class of 2025 softball players to watch this season by MaxPreps.

But still, the Falcons are looking forward and staying focused on the upcoming season.

“We always tell our players to focus on the process and not the outcome,” head coach Steve Ward said. “Outcomes are going to be outcomes, and if we’re always looking ahead at something else, and we’re not working today to get better, then that outcome isn’t going to be what we want it to be.

“Our culture is extremely strong, and it’s a culture that demands a high standard from these players and they demand it of themselves and from the coaching staff. So, it’s been a seamless transition from winning state last year to coming in and picking up where we left off.”

But despite climbing the mountain and reaching the summit last year, the Falcons are still hungry for more.

“The fact that we’ve been there, and we know what it’s like — we love that feeling and we want to get back to that feeling,” Ward said.

Fitch graduated five seniors from its state title team, but the Falcons return the bulk of their squad from last year, including six players that made up the team’s lineup for the state title game.

With all it has back, Fitch hopes to continue to extend its 22-game winning streak and make a return trip to Akron.

“Honestly, I feel like it’s pushed us to work harder throughout the offseason and not get complacent,” junior ace Sydnie Watts said. “After we won the state title, the community has our back, and is just pushing us a lot to do the same thing again this year. … We just want to continue the winning streak honestly, that’s really important to us. Knowing we can do it too, because we have the majority of our team returning and we added a few other players that are really going to provide for us this season.”

For the Falcons, with everything they want to accomplish this year, it all starts with Watts in the circle.

Through two years as Fitch’s pitcher, Watts has already shattered school records and racked up enough honors and accolades to make her one of the most decorated players the Mahoning Valley has ever produced.

Watts was 21-0 last year, finishing with an ERA of 0.38 and throwing 281 strikeouts. She pitched 14 shutouts, seven no-hitters and two perfect games. Two of those no-hitters came during the Falcons’ playoff run, including the last one in the state semifinal against Lebanon.

But Watts’ talents aren’t limited to the circle. She batted .492 with 23 RBIs and was tied for the most home runs on the team with six.

Now after committing to Georgia Tech in the fall, Watts said a weight was lifted off her mind, which now allows her to be able to focus on the upcoming season and the task at hand.

“Every year, we ask these players to add dimensions, add layers to themselves to keep improving and when you look at some of our players, especially Sydnie Watts, with her numbers and what she’s been able to do, to ask her to come back stronger in a different sense, she does it every time,” Ward said. “I see her leadership and her maturity is just on point this year. She’s really embraced a leadership role, and believe it or not, she’s gotten stronger in the circle, as well.”

As Fitch’s only returning senior, Ayla Ray has a lot on her shoulders this season. Fitch’s only other senior, Vita Kelty is a newcomer to the varsity team.

The Youngstown State commit was the Falcons’ lead-off hitter and most prolific player at the bat last year, as she batted .534 with 19 RBIs and six home runs.

Ray will adopt the senior leadership role that former seniors like Caitlin Mitchell, McKenna Hogan, Ashlee McLean and Madi Beaudis had last year.

“It’s a big role to fill, only having two of us, so we just have to take over that leadership role,” Ray said. “I think we have all aspects of the game. I think we have a big target on our back coming off of last year, so I think using all of our strengths together will help us.”

Other key returners for the Falcons include juniors Samantha Severn and Rachel Spalding, to go along with the talented sophomore group of Kylie Folkwein, Morgan Roby and Abby Toth.

Each of them played in most, if not all of Fitch’s games last season. Folkwein batted .467 with 21 RBIs and four home runs and led the team in triples (six). She’s also positioned to take over for Hogan at catcher this season. Toth hit .450 with 20 RBIs and five home runs, while Roby hit .423 with nine RBIs. Severn also demonstrated her consistency by batting .377.

“Seeing their closeness and ability to develop as a team has been impressive,” Ward said. “So if it’s not a good day of practice or it’s a great day of practice, no matter what, they’re still building each other up. To see our togethernress, our closeness, I think having all the returners back is one of our big strengths. We know that if a mistake happens or something doesn’t go the way we want it to, we’re going to pick each other up.”

In addition to the returners, Fitch features some newcomers that Ward expects to be able to come in and contribute right away, even on a championship-caliber team.

Ray’s younger sister Kaliana is a freshman this year, and Ward said she’s positiioned to play centerfield and be the team’s lead-off hitter.

Other newcomers include Lexi Beaudis, Kylee Mitchell and Miauna Jorge, while Lily Stevens is a returner that could see her role expand this season.

“Top to bottom, our motto is, we don’t care who does it, as long as we do it,” Ward said.

The Falcons are scheduled to open the 2024 season Saturday at home against Lakeview at 1 p.m., while they’re also slated to face rival Canfield in a two-game series next week, but that could change depending on the weather.

Have an interesting story? Contact Neel Madhavan by email at nmadhavan@tribtoday.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @NeelMadhavan.