Preuhs no-hits Carmichaels as Union wins pitcher’s duel
CALIFORNIA – The way Carmichaels’ Bailey Barnyak and Union’s Mia Preuhs were mowing hitters down, it began to look like those in attendance might have to settle in for a long night before a team could score a run.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Union solved the puzzle.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, the Scotties scored three runs, the go-ahead run on a throwing error, followed by a big two-run homer by Korynne Shannon to center field.
That allowed Preuhs complete a 16-strikeout no hitter in the seventh and finish a pitcher’s duel for the ages in a 3-0 win in the WPIAL Class A championship Thursday at Lilley Field.
Carmichaels got two runners on in the seventh, a dropped fly ball and a walk, but Preuhs struck out the next three to complete her gem and Union’s third title in four years.
“I realized what was going on, but I did my best to block it out during the game and keep pitching,” Preuhs said of her no-hitter. “I knew our team would come through eventually and they did at the end of the game.”
Carmichaels (16-1) was denied its first title since 1998. Union (19-2) also beat Carmichaels in the 2023 WPIAL title game.
It wasn’t for a lack of effort from Barnyak.
She took a no-hitter into the fifth and ended up with a dozen strikeouts.
“Bailey was outstanding today,” Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs said. “She did enough for us to win, but we just didn’t do enough offensively. We couldn’t generate anything, but Mia pitched very well. She had good command of her pitches and a changeup that was really effective.”
Both pitchers were locked in from the start. The first 13 outs of the game were strikeouts and a ball didn’t reach the outfield until the fourth inning.
Barnyak said she spoke with Preuhs after the game about what each one of them accomplished Thursday.
“She killed it,” Barnyak said of Preuhs. “I went up to her after the game and told her that. She said the same to me and I greatly appreciate that from her.”
Olivia Benedict hit a two-out double in the bottom of the sixth, then Maggie Joseph hit a grounder to third. The throw across from third by Allie Miller tipped off the top of Ali Jacob’s mitt at first and went behind her. Benedict came in to score for the first run.
Shannon followed with her home run.
“I almost put the bunt sign on for (Shannon), but at the last minute I decided to let her swing,” Union coach Doug Fisher said with a laugh. “Thank God I did. I haven’t told her yet that I was going to bunt her.”
Carmichaels best chance to score came in the fifth when Preuhs lost her command for a bit and loaded the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch with one out.
A bit of misfortune followed for the Mikes.
Duski Staggers swung and missed at strike three and the ball tipped off the mitt of Union catcher Irelyn Fisher.
There was some confusion about whether it was a foul ball and Ke’Lani Chun started home and stopped halfway. Fisher retrieved the ball and alertly tagged Chun for the third out.
“I told her to go on a passed ball,” Briggs said. “It was loud and there was some confusion. It’s one of those things where we could have maybe got the lead on them and it could’ve turned out different.”
Preuhs was pleased to see the unconventional double play turned.
“I was really sweating,” Preuhs said. “My catcher came out and calmed me down a little bit. That part of the lineup I did well the prior inning, so I knew if I just focused and pitched how I know I can pitch, I’d get out of it.”
Carmichaels will enter the state playoffs Monday against District 5 champion, which is still to be decided. The championship game is Friday.