For Union, it was all about championship solidarity.
For Carmichaels, the third time was not a charm.
Meeting for the third time in four years in the WPIAL Class A softball championship game, the top-seeded Scotties again got the best of the No. 2 Mighty Mikes, winning 6-2 on Thursday afternoon at Lilley Field in California.
Union defeated Carmichaels, 10-8, in the 2023 title game, and won again last spring, 3-0.
“This one was absolutely different and meant a lot more than last year,” Union coach Doug Fisher said. “We lost our captain and pitcher (Mia Pruehs) and she just struck everyone out. We worked really hard with a new pitcher, and Korynne (Shannon) has done a really good job along with our defense.”
The title was the second straight for Union, and fourth overall, all coming in the last five seasons.
Even though the Scotties were the top seed in the Class A bracket, junior catcher and Akron commit Irelyn Fisher felt they was not the favorite they’ve been in years past.
“It feels great because this year, we were the underdogs for sure,” the coach’s daughter said. “After losing Mia, that was the biggest part of the team. We really showed everyone who we are.”
If they weren’t coming in, Union became the underdog early in the game after falling behind.
Carmichaels jumped on top in the first inning when Ke’lani Chun singled, advanced to second on a fly to right and scored on a run-scoring single by Carys McConnell.
The Mighty Mikes added on in the top of the third inning when Chun singled again, stole second and went to third on back-to-back walks to Barnyak and McConnell.
Kenlee Machinsky hit an RBI groundout to shortstop to score Chun. It was then when Shannon turned it up a notch by getting Joselyn Carter to pop up and striking gout Payton Plavi.
“She put her pitches there in the right spot there and we were in position to make the plays,” Doug Fisher said.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the third, Union scored twice to tie the game.
Olivia Williams led off with a single, was sacrificed to second by Maddy Settle and advanced to third on a Fisher single.
Courtesy runner Erykah Reighert stole second and Williams scored on a passed ball. During the same at-bat, Reighert scored on a single by Olivia Benedict.
The game turned in the Scotties’ favor for good when they scored four runs (three unearned) with three errors coming on one play.
Shannon singled and Miara Holmes entered as a courtesy runner. Emily Ross laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by the third baseman and thrown away at first base. As Holmes raced to third, the throw from foul territory came to the plate but skipped by the catcher for another error as Holmes broke for home where the final error came against Mighty Mikes pitcher Bailey Barnyak, who was covering home plate and was called for obstruction.
“We work really hard on creating chaos,” Doug Fisher said. “Stealing bases and two-out bunts are an effort to wreak havoc, and that’s what happened.”
Ross scored from third on a single by Williams to put Union up 4-2.
The big blow to the Mighty Mikes’ title hopes came when Fisher blasted a two-run home run to center field.
“I knew I was going to hit a home run that at-bat to be honest,” Irelyn Fisher said. “There were two outs, and I really didn’t want to rush to put my catcher’s gear on, so I was like, I’ll just hit a home run, so I did.”
Shannon finished strong in the circle for Union. She gave up two runs on five hits with two walks, a hit batter and nine strikeouts. She retired 15 of the last 17 Mighty Mikes hitters.
“Early on, I think she was rushing it a bit, and that made her pitches a little off,” Irelyn Fisher said. “Once we took the load off and we were tied up, then she slowed down, she thought about it and did a great job.”
Barnyak, an IUP commit, suffered her third championship game loss. She gave up six runs, only three earned, on seven hits and four walks with 10 strikeouts.
“I don’t want to say it was my worst day, but it definitely wasn’t my best,” Barnyak said. “But I also think Union is a really good hitting team. I knew this wouldn’t be a 15-strikeout game; this was big time softball.”
Carmichaels (17-4) will hit the road in the state playoffs to battle District 5 champion Berlin-Brothersvalley on Monday.
“We wanted this game so bad,” Barnyak said. “I was talking to (Carys McConnell) before the game and I said, dude, this is four years of this. We got to lock it in.
“It’s a great game with them. I hope we see them again.”
Union (19-2) opens the PIAA playoff Monday against District 6 consolation game winner Purchase Line.
“Union just has athletes all around and we have such a small school, everyone is involved in sports,” Irelyn Fisher said of the program’s continued success with a district record seventh straight WPIAL Class A title game appearance.
“Everyone focuses on softball at Union, and it’s a great thing.”