Apr 26, 2024 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

CARMICHAELS – It wasn’t 13 innings, and the game didn’t have to be suspended because of darkness, but Friday’s Section 2-A softball showdown between Carmichaels and Chartiers-Houston provided the fans in attendance with plenty of excitement.

The Lady Bucs were able to rally from an early deficit to take a three-run lead before hanging on for a 6-5 victory over the home team.

Three days earlier, Carmichaels (3-1, 6-2) and Chartiers-Houston (5-0, 7-1) were tied 5-5 heading into the 14th inning when the decision was made to stop the contest because the sun had set and darkness was approaching. That game will resume May 2 at Chartiers-Houston’s field at 4:15 p.m., in the top of the 14th.

“I’m still tired from that game,” Chartiers-Houston coach Tricia Alderson said. “We needed to make some adjustments from the other day, and I think we did, too. Our teams are very evenly matched in a lot of ways, and we are happy to come away with a win.”

The Lady Mikes took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Kaitlyn Waggett led off with a triple and scored on Bailey Barnyak’s grounder to second base.

“We kind of did the same thing today that we did up there in getting the lead but not being able to hold it,” Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs said. “I think every time we play them, the game is going to be close like it was today, and we may play them a few more times depending on how things go.”

The Bucs didn’t let the early deficit faze them, as they broke through in the third inning with four runs on four hits to take a 4-1 advantage.

The damage was done with two outs, as Ella Richey hit a ball that landed just inside the foul line, and she hustled into second base with a double. Lauren Rush reached on an infield single, but an error on the throw allowed Richey to score to tie the game at 1-1.

Rush advanced to second on the play and scored on Meadow Ferri’s double to left field for a 2-1 lead. Ferri scored on Seanna Riggle’s triple to left field, and Riggle scored on an error to give Chartiers-Houston a three-run cushion.

Carmichaels scored three runs in the fourth to tie the game at 4-4. Carys McConnell walked and scored when Barnyak reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on an error that allowed McConnell to come around to score.

Barynak scored on Ali Jacobs’ single to left and pinch runner Alayna Simon advanced to third on Megan Voithofer’s double to center field. Simon scored the tying run on Payton Plavi’s single to right field.

Ferri responded to the adversity by striking out the next three batters to get out of the jam. Ferri had nine strikeouts and walked one.

The Bucs scored their resiliency in scoring two runs in the fifth when Rush doubled, Riggle reached on a fielder’s choice and Sydney English walked to load the bases.

Rush scored when Taryne Drilak walked with the bases loaded and Riggle scored on Emily Swarrow’s single to left field.

Chartiers-Houston batters drew five walks against Barnyak.

“The other day, we were swinging at a lot of pitches out of the zone, and she (Barynak) is a great pitcher, but we talked at practice the last two days about being patient and waiting for the pitch to be in the zone,” Alderson said. “Obviously, we saw each other through 13 innings the other day, so I think both teams were a little more ready.”

Briggs was proud of Barnyak’s effort despite being less than 100 percent.

“Bailey is sore and beat up from the other day, but she gutted it out,” Briggs said.

The Mikes scored one in the fifth when Waggett tripled and scored on McConnell’s grounder to second.

“Kaitlyn (Waggett) is a stud,” Briggs said. “She sets the table at the top, and I think people are starting to see that she is a heck of a player.”