Carmichaels’ season ends in familiar fashion
BERLIN — Berlin Brothersvalley’s Elena Ritchey wasn’t available to pitch in last year’s state playoffs because of injury, but she had the opportunity in Monday’s game against Carmichaels in the first round of the PIAA Class A softball playoffs at Berlin Brothersvalley High School.
The junior made sure she didn’t waste her chance in leading the Mountaineers to a 2-0 victory and a spot in Thursday’s state quarterfinals.
Ritchey improved to 14-0 this season after throwing a two-hit shutout over seven innings. She had 12 strikeouts and no walks.
Berlin defeated Carmichaels, 3-0, last season in the first round of the state playoffs at Berlin Brothersvalley High School, but it was Sam Walker who did the pitching with Ritchey unavailable.
Walker has pitched this season, but Mountaineers coach Brian Slope likes using her in center field and having Ritchey in the circle. Walker had two hits, including a double against the Mikes.
“We are very fortunate to have two high-quality pitchers,” Slope said. “That is something a lot of teams don’t have, which I think, going down the stretch, gives us a little bit of an edge.
“We will enjoy this one tonight, but get back to work tomorrow. We knew Carmichaels was going to be a challenge. They have a really nice team and a solid pitcher.”
The Mikes’ season comes to an end with a record of 17-6. Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs will have a new starting pitcher, shortstop and left fielder next year, as Bailey Barnyak, Carys McConnell and Payton Plavi played their final high school games, and for McConnell and Plavi, most-likely their final softball contests as they will not play in college.
Barnyak, a four-year starter who will continue her academic and softball careers at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, did her job in yielding two runs (one earned) on six hits over six innings. She struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.
“Bailey pitched her butt off,” Briggs said. “I thought we played pretty good defense behind her because they have a pretty strong-hitting team. Give credit to them, though. They have a nice team.”
Barnyak finished her high school career with a program record for strikeouts with 897, which bested the previous record of 850, which was held by her mother, Nikki Gasti-Onderko, who is on Briggs’ staff.
Barnyak, McConnell and Plavi have been to three WPIAL championship games and a state title contest over their high school careers.
“It’s just tough when it comes to an end,” Briggs said. “This senior class, my gosh. The places we got to go, and play in four championship games. Not too many people accomplish that. It’s been a fun run with those guys. The seniors helped put Carmichaels softball back on the map, and I am excited to see what they can accomplish in their futures.”
Berlin (23-2) scored the only run it would need in the second inning when Elsie Barna and Callie Ritchey singled before Barna scored when a Bena Barna bunt attempt was misplayed for a 1-0 lead.
Barnyak escaped any further trouble with two strikeouts and a groundout to third base to end the frame.
Elena Ritchey was perfect through three innings, but Ke’Lani Chun smacked a line drive to right field for the Mikes’ first hit in the top of the fourth. Barnyak sacrificed Chun to second on a bunt, and the Carmichaels’ second baseman advanced to third base before Ritchey retired the side with back-to-back strikeouts.
“We knew it was going to be tough to come to their place and beat them, but I had a good feeling all day,” Briggs said. “We just couldn’t get that one hit to make something happen. I’m proud of our team for the season we had. We lost a lot and had a lot of new people. I don’t think too many people thought we were going to do what we did this season.”
Ritchey got into the offensive action in the sixth when she singled to left field with one out, was sacrificed to second on Elsie Barna’s bunt and scored on Callie Ritchey’s single to center field for a 2-0 advantage.
McConnell led off the seventh with a base hit to right field, but Elena Ritchey closed the game with her 11th and 12th strikeouts and took a ground ball herself that she fired to first for the final out.