Familiar foes Carmichaels, Union meet in WPIAL softball final
The more things change in WPIAL softball, the more they stay the same.
When second-seeded Carmichaels takes on top-seeded Union in Thursday’s WPIAL Class A championship game at PennWest California’s Lilley Field it will be their third meeting in the district final in the last four years.
However, even with all of that familiarity, teams can’t rely on a scouting report from last year.
“We’re a different team and so is Union,” cautioned Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs.
Carmichaels (17-4) and Union (18-2), who meet at noon, are two teams that are solid in all facets.
In the finals last year, Union’s Mia Preuhs threw a no-hitter against Carmichaels and the Scotties scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 3-0 win. Three years ago it was Union winning 10-8.
Carmichaels has two of its key players, pitcher Bailey Barnyak and shortstop Carys McConnell, back from last year’s team, while freshman catcher Kenlee Machesky has added a potent bat to the middle of the lineup. The Mikes have five freshmen or sophomores who have played more than casual roles this season, which is why Briggs says he has a different team this year.
Barnyak is the key for the Mikes. Not only has she struck out more than 200 batters this year and more than 800 in her career, she has improved her hitting and become as dangerous with the bat as she is with her pitching arm.
Union, which is in the finals for a WPIAL record seventh consecutive season, also is different. Preuhs is gone but Korynne Shannon has been solid in the circle with 132 strikeouts. The Mikes should remember Shannon. She hit a two-run homer in last year’s title game.
The Scotties have three players who hit better than .500 during the regular season, led by Irelyn Fisher, an Akron recruit, who was third in the WPIAL with a .625 batting average. The Scotties have plenty of power in the lineup as Fisher leads Union with 12 home runs, including three in the last two games.
“We expected this,” Briggs said of the matchup with Union. “We know we have to play well to beat them.”