Staff photo / Neel Madhavan. Austintown Fitch's (from left-to-right) Kaliana Ray, Abby Toth, Kylie Folkwein, Morgan Roby and Seneca Coates react to receiving the Division I regional championship trophy after defeating Massillon Jackson on Saturday in Avon Lake.

AVON LAKE — Last year, Austintown Fitch saw its season cut short in the regional semifinal at the hands of Massillon Jackson.

That loss fueled the Falcons in the offseason and left them feeling “hungry” coming into the spring. So when Fitch received an opportunity to get another shot at the Polar Bears in Saturday’s Division I northeast regional final, it took full advantage of it.

The Falcons had to scrap through the first few innings, but they finally broke through late, scoring 10 runs over the final two innings to get revenge on Jackson, downing the Polar Bears 11-1 in six innings to advance back to the state semifinals in Akron.

“I’d hate to say it’s not in the back of your mind, because it always is when you face the team that knocked you out and you get a chance to have a rematch,” Fitch coach Steve Ward said. “But we put the focus on us and what we’re doing and how we prepare, not necessarily what they’re going to do or if we’re playing them.

“I’m sure the girls will tell you they had a little chip on their shoulder about it. But I’ll tell you what, all credit to Massillon Jackson, Coach [Adam] Parker. He’s an amazing coach with an amazing program and team. We just got the better of them today, and we’re going back to state.”

For Fitch, getting back to state is an opportunity for its seven seniors to put the finishing touches on a decorated and storied high school career.

It’s the Falcons’ third trip to Akron in the last four years, and now this senior class has a chance to accomplish what few others have done in OHSAA history and capture their third state championship as a group.

“Everything we do is for our seniors,” senior Kylie Folkwein said. “I play for them, and they play for each other. So we just want to go out with a big win and hopefully win state. I’m proud of us, and everybody’s proud that we’ve made it this far already. So I think we’re going to have a great end of the season.

In addition to the titles, Fitch’s seniors have won 91 games across their four years, while simultaneously setting countless program records and milestones in the process. Ward was direct and candid when describing this senior class and what it has accomplished.

“Legendary. It’s a legendary class,” he said. “It’s something that I don’t think will ever be replicated with the numbers, with the high talent and with the high skill. The love for each other is what keeps us together, and that is the thing that goes unseen and unspoken. … We are such a solid team that we want to see each other succeed more than we want to succeed, and when you have that — when you got kids not caring about stats or awards or whatever else, that they just play for each other, it is amazing.

“We have a saying that we play for the love of the game, love of our school and love of our community, and these girls brought all three of those things today.”

For four innings against Jackson, the Falcons had their work cut out for them at the plate against Polar Bears starter Addy Essig.

Jackson drew first blood in the top of the first inning on an RBI by Kylie Kristoff that scored Kenna Blackstock. But Fitch freshman ace Mila Hamley showed her mettle, keeping the Polar Bears off the scoreboard the rest of the way. In six innings, she scattered two hits, while striking out six with two walks.

After squandering multiple scoring opportunities in the first two innings, the Falcons finally pulled level with a run in the bottom of the third inning when junior Kaliana Ray reached base on a walk and made it to third base, before scoring on a passed ball.

Through four innings, both teams were tied at 1. But despite her success in keeping Fitch at bay, Jackson stuck with its usual gameplan and pulled Essig for Avery Wile.

The change proved fruitful for the Falcons’ hitters, who batted around to blow things open and add five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. One run scored on an infield throwing error, while Folkwein, Seneca Coates and Lily Stevens each had an RBI during the inning.

“They [changed pitchers] Wednesday in the regional semis, as well, and that’s kind of been their trademark,” Ward said. “If you look at the innings pitched, their starter usually goes right about four, and then when it gets to the third time through the lineup, they typically change. So that was their pattern. We were kind of expecting that to happen. Throughout the day though, we just have to take advantage and we started doing that in the back half of the innings, rather than leaving base runners on.”

Wile didn’t last the rest of the inning, making way for Jackson’s third pitcher, Kendall Adams.

In the bottom of the sixth, after a pair of walks, Folkwein added two more runs to Fitch’s total with a double and Annabel Mikesell then added another run with an RBI single.

“We calmed down and did what we’re supposed to do,” Ward said of Fitch’s run barrage. “The one thing we get in trouble with is we try to do too much. Everybody wants to do something great for their teammates. So once we calmed down a little bit, got it out of our system and just played softball, we’re a dangerous team and we’re able to really be aggressive on the bases.”

That set the stage for Coates, who blasted a double into the outfield for a mercy-rule winner. Her hit scored the final two runs.

Folkwein finished 4-for-4 with three RBIs, while Coates went 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

“I was just looking for a nice base hit to get them in and finish the game,” Coates said. “It was a big moment for the seniors, especially. So getting to be able to do that for them, I was really excited for them.”

Fitch now advances to the Division I state semifinals, where it will face Lancaster on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Firestone Stadium in Akron.