Staff photo / Neel Madhavan Austintown Fitch’s Kylie Folkwein rounds third after hitting a home run Monday against Canfield. The Falcons won 5-0.

AUSTINTOWN — Austintown Fitch kicked off its state title defense in style in Monday’s season opener.

Behind some explosive hits in the fourth and sixth innings, the Falcons blanked defending Division II state runner-up Canfield 5-0.

“I thought we took a great step forward with our program and our team,” Fitch coach Steve Ward said. “(Our hitters) talked through their at bats with us, and we talked them through what we were seeing and they were making adjustments throughout. You just saw us getting more of the bat on the ball more and we just knew it was going to click for us. We told them to stay steady, trust yourself and trust each other, and they really did.”

Through the first 3.5 innings, both pitchers were dealing.

Fitch’s junior Georgia Tech commit Sydnie Watts had faced 12 batters and retired all 12 with nine coming on strikeouts. Meanwhile, Canfield’s senior Buffalo signee Malena Toth had done something similar. Up to that point, Toth had faced 11 hitters and struck out six.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Fitch’s Abby Toth picked up the first hit of the game with a lead-off single.

“We just showed that we could handle a little bit of adversity,” Ward said. “0-0 going into the bottom of the fourth, our hitters, so much credit to them. … We relaxed. We were a little jumpy the first time through the lineup. We tried to make things happen and get out in front of it a little bit, and it doesn’t always equal the hits that we want. Second time through, they were all saying in the dugout, ‘we’ll make our adjustments, we’re fine.'”

Before Abby Toth even got things started with her hit, while on deck, Kylie Folkwein told the Falcons’ dugout, “this is going to be our inning, I know it,” according to Ward.

With Abby Toth on base, Folkwein then stepped up and blasted a two-run home run over the right-field fence to get the Falcons on the board.

“I knew Abby gave everything she had in her at bat to get things going for our team,” Folkwein said. “So I knew I had to be able to give it my all to try to get a base hit. I tried for a base hit, but I was able to find good contact and do a lot more (with it).”

With the Falcons finally finding an opening, they were able to build on it and blow things open in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Abby Toth flew out to second base to open the inning, but Folkwein stepped up again and delivered a double for the Falcons.

With Folkwein on second, Watts then picked up her first hit of the season with another double to bring Folkwein home. Sophomore Morgan Roby then beamed an RBI triple deep to center field and Fitch was in business.

“We just got outplayed today. I didn’t have my kids ready for this caliber of a team,” Canfield coach Michael Kernan said. I did a poor job of getting us prepared for their hitters. They got a couple hits and we never put any together. We just weren’t as sharp in all areas like they were. I think the thing that disappoints me is that I know we’re a better team than how we played, but I take responsibility.”

Three fielding errors hurt the Cardinals, but ultimately only ended up leading to one of Fitch’s runs — the last one in the sixth inning, that came off a throwing error at first base which allowed Samantha Severn to reach and Roby to score.

Malena Toth finished with 10 strikeouts and zero walks in the circle, while Watts threw 15 strikeouts, while giving up just one walk and one hit.

Canfield’s lone hit came from Caylee Ortiz in the top of the sixth inning. While she was able to steal second base, the Cardinals weren’t able to capitalize on the base runner.

“This game is going to make us better,” Kernan said. “Anytime you get knocked down, what are you made of? We get them again. I know these guys were hungry the first time for them. I think we’ll shore up everything and prepare to try to compete a little better the next time around and let it take its course.”

Fitch and Canfield are scheduled to complete their two-game series Tuesday at Canfield. But with a strong likelihood for rain in the forecast throughout the day, that game may end up getting postponed to another date.

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