May 5, 2026 By Jonathan Guth 3 min read

Bailey Barnyak’s abilities are well known, as the Carmichaels senior has led her team to WPIAL and PIAA title games, but Laurel Highlands sophomore Payton Senge has flown a tad under the radar.

While Senge may be overlooked by those outside softball circles, she isn’t by coaches and players, and following Monday’s performance against one of the top Class A teams in the district and state, everyone will know who Senge is.

The playoff-bound Mustangs edged the post-season bound Mikes, 5-4, in non-section play at Laurel Highlands.

Senge earned a complete-game victory after allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits over seven innings. She had 12 strikeouts and walked two.

Barnyak yielded five runs (one earned) on four hits. She also struck out 12, but walked five.

The Mustangs (8-4, 10-4) built a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning after Gianna Miller hit a three-run home run over the fence in center field on a 1-2 count. Miller also singled and drew a walk. She scored two runs and stole four bases.

Carmichaels (9-1, 14-4) cut the deficit to two with two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, but Senge was able to record back-to-back strikeouts to end the game when the Mikes had a runner on second base with one out.

Laurel Highlands took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame when Senge struck out swinging but reached first base on a dropped third strike. Following a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Chloe Komaco walked and Senge scored on Liv McClelland’s double to left field.

The Mustangs extended their advantage to 2-0 in the second when Emme Cavaliere walked with the bases loaded and Miller trotted home. Miller and Kendra Pitts drew a base on balls before Payton Rambo bunted her way to first base.

The Mikes cracked the scoreboard in the third when Barnyak singled and courtesy runner Ainsley Simons scored on Kenlee Machesky’s double to center field to cut the home team’s lead to 2-1.

Cavaliere walked and Komacko singled to center field to open Laurel Highlands’ half of the fifth.

McClelland advanced to second base on an error, but Carmichaels threw out Cavaliere at home to keep the score at 2-1.

Barnyak recorded a strikeout for two outs, but Miller’s homer plated Komacko and McClelland for a four-run advantage.

The Mikes’ Avery Voithofer hit a two-run single to center field in the sixth to plate Payton Plavi and pinch runner Kaitlyn Kramer.

Plavi was safe at first base on an error before Sydney Miller singled to right field. Kramer came in to run for Miller before Voithofer’s base hit with two outs that pulled the visitors within two at 5-3.

Barnyak blasted the first pitch she saw over the fence in left field to open the seventh inning and bring Carmichaels within one run.

Machesky singled to center field and advanced to second on a passed ball before Senge closed the game out.