Austintown Fitch pitcher Sydnie Watts commits to Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech softball is at it again in Ohio, this time landing a commitment from Austintown Fitch pitcher Sydnie Watts.
Watts, who helped lead the Falcons to an undefeated season and their first state championship back in June, made her commitment known on Tuesday after visiting the campus of Georgia Tech this past weekend.
"I loved everything about it," Watts said. "Obviously it is a very great school, academically. The campus is beautiful. The location couldn't be more perfect. Since I was little, my dream has always been to move down south. And I love cities. So I get the best of both worlds."
And even though Watts met the Georgia Tech coaching staff for the first time this past weekend, she knew immediately that she had found her place.
"The coaching staff couldn't be any better," Watts said. "I love every single one of them. And yes, this was the first time I met them. But I just I felt it instantly that this is where I was supposed to be."
As a sophomore last season, Watts struck out 281 batters in 129 innings and finished the season with an ERA of 0.38, while allowing just 37 total hits. She tossed seven no-hitters – including one in the state semifinals – and a pair of perfect games.
In six postseason games in 2023, Watts threw 40 innings, allowed just eight hits and struck out 89 batters, while tossing three no-hitters and also a 2-hitter against Mentor in which she struck out 20. She allowed just two runs total over the six games.
Even four months later, the accomplishments the pitcher achieved personally and what the team did as a whole still has not fully resonated with the junior.
"Honestly, it hasn't sunk in completely," Watts said. "We just got our rings a couple of weeks ago and the community is still recognizing us for it. It's crazy."
In two seasons in the circle for the Falcons, Watts has accumulated 595 strikeouts in 272.1 innings and is 43-3 with an ERA of 0.62.
At Georgia Tech, Watts will join another Ohio pitcher, Carter Wachtel of Triway, who is a senior this season and has led Triway to two state championship games and also helped the Titans win a state title in 2022. The two pitchers don't know each other well, but Watts intends to get to know Wachtel and has already started communicating with other commits from 2025.
"(Carter) is a very good pitcher, I actually have played her twice," Watts said. "I'm excited to get to know her more. And actually, what's cool is immediately after I posted my commitment, I started talking to all the other commits in my class, and it's just so much fun."
Making this commitment going into her junior season relieves some pressure from the pitcher for the next two seasons.
"I feel like it's going to help me a lot," Watts said. "Knowing that I can just go out there and play freely without that stress is going to be big for me."
Does that mean we haven't seen the best of Sydnie Watts yet?
"Maybe, I mean hopefully," Watts said with a playful laugh.
-- Ryan Isley | ryan@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveoh
(Feature photo of Sydnie Watts by Jeff Harwell)
