Calculating Carys
McConnell hits 3-run HR as Lady Mikes clinch section title
DILLINER — A change in venue, an earlier start time and rainy conditions couldn’t slow down Carys McConnell in Carmichaels’ 6-1 victory over West Greene on Tuesday in Section 2-1A play at Bobtown-Dunkard Township Municipal Park.
The Lady Mikes’ junior shortstop was 2 for 2 with a three-run home run and a run-scoring double to help Carmichaels (10-0, 14-0) clinch the section championship. The Lady Pioneers (8-2, 13-2) will represent the section as the second-place team when the WPIAL playoff brackets are released Thursday.
The Lady Mikes tied Chartiers-Houston for the section title last year.
“It is nice to win the section outright,” Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs said. “That’s a good team. They have handled everyone else twice, but we may see them again down the road.”
The game was called after five innings, as the umpires deemed the condition of the field, which was caused by the weather, to not be safe for the competitors.
“Once the game starts, it’s in control of the umpires,” West Greene coach Bill Simms said. “If they think that’s in the best safety and interest of the girls, I have nothing I can really complain about. We had five innings to be able to do something more than we did.
“I would like to thank the Mapletown athletic department and Coach Jeff Cree for getting us down here today so we could get this game in.”
McConnell’s blast to left field came in the third inning, and gave Carmichaels a 4-1 lead. Kaitlyn Waggett and Ashton Batis drew back-to-back walks to set the stage for McConnell.
“I just saw a pitch that I liked and put a good swing on it,” McConnell said. “I don’t scout what they throw or anything like that.”
McConnell and the rest of the Lady Mikes felt confident in having a three-run advantage with fellow junior Bailey Barnyak in the circle.
“When you have a three-run lead with Bailey pitching, the chances of winning are much greater,” McConnell said. “We are glad to win the section outright, and hope to go on a nice run in the playoffs.”
Barnyak allowed one earned run on two hits over five innings. She had 11 strikeouts, walked four and hit two batters.
Barnyak worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning with two strikeouts. West Greene had a runner on second with one out in the second and Barnyak struck out the next two batters.
“She (Barnyak) is a power-up pitcher, and we work hard at trying to lay off the high stuff, but she has command and control up there, and she did a good job of having us chase up there,” Simms said. “We are battling and we’re right in there with them. Kudos to them, though, that’s an undefeated season in the section, and you have to give credit where credit’s due.”
The Lady Pioneers had runners on first and second with one out in the fifth after Barnyak had walked two in a row, but she forced a swing and miss on the final batter for her 11th strikeout.
“Bailey’s a gamer,” Briggs said. “It was really wet out there today, and I think that contributed to some of her walks, but I have learned over the last 2 ½ years that she’s a gamer.”
Carmichaels added two runs in the fifth when McConnell walked and scored on Ali Jacobs’ double to center field. Pinch runner Malanna Hertig raced home on Barnyak’s sharp single to center field.
Jacobs singled in the first and doubled in the third.
The Lady Mikes opened the scoring in the first inning when Waggett singled to center field, advanced to second on Batis’ sacrifice bunt to West Greene pitcher Payton Gilbert before scoring on McConnell’s double to left field for a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Pioneers tied the game in the bottom of the first when Marissa Tharp hit a line drive to left field, advanced to second on Emmaline Beazell’s groundout to shortstop and scored on two wild pitches.
Gilbert took the loss, but hung tough against Carmichaels’ potent lineup. She allowed six earned runs on seven hits over five innings with five strikeouts and five walks.
The Lady Mikes are scheduled for a non-section game at Waynesburg Central on Thursday before the WPIAL Class A playoffs begin, which could be as early as next Monday. West Greene’s next game will be in the postseason.
“We may see them again down the road in the playoffs,” Simms said. “They have a nice ball club, and we have a nice ball club. We will be ready for the postseason.”