Trib HSSN softball player of the week for April 13, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, April 13, 2025 | 9:19 PM

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Trib HSSN softball player of the week – Bailey Barnyak

School – Carmichaels

Class – Junior

Position – Pitcher

#Earned – Three weeks into the regular season, the Carmichaels softball team finally got a chance to begin its quest toward a Section 2-A championship. On Monday, it hosted Avella, and pitcher Bailey Barnyak began a dominating week both in the circle and at the plate. Against the Eagles, the junior was 3 for 3 with a triple and a home run, a run scored and two RBIs. The home run was her first long ball hit in a high school game. She pitched a five-inning complete game, allowing three hits, three walks and recorded 15 outs, all via strikeout. Two days later, the Mighty Mikes hosted an early section showdown against rival West Greene, and Barnyak continued to shine. On offense, she was 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs, while in the circle, she pitched seven innings, allowed four hits, no walks, no earned runs and 14 strikeouts. Carmichaels easily won both games, 11-0 and 9-1, to stand tied for first place in the section with Jefferson-Morgan.

Background – Barnyak hopes to continue her softball career at the next level and will start corresponding and visiting schools this summer. In starting the 2024 PIAA Class A championship game against DuBois Central Catholic, she became the third member of her family to start as a pitcher in a state championship game for Carmichaels. Her mom (Nikki Onderko) was the starting pitcher for the Mighty Mikes in 1998 and her uncle (Chuck Gasti) started on the mound for Carmichaels in the PIAA baseball finals in 2008. Barnyak was a gymnast for 11 years and didn’t start playing softball until she was 12. In the win against West Greene, Barnyak picked up her 500th career strikeout. For the season, she is batting .550 (11 for 20) with three doubles, two triples, one home run and eight RBIs. Her pitching has been outstanding with a 6-0 record and a 0.76 ERA. In 37 innings pitched, she has allowed four earned runs, 18 hits, 15 walks and has struck out 76. When she’s not hanging out with her best friend Arlo (her dog), she is trying to scrounge up gas money to drive and enjoy some chicken from Raising Cane’s.

What coach says – “Just how hard she hit the ball,” Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs said when asked about what stood out from Barnyak’s performance at the plate this week. “It is not easy to hit one out of our field and she hit the home run, but the ball she hit the triple was hit even harder. She has kept swinging well and has looked really confident at the plate.

“In the Avella game, she recorded all 15 outs. I’m not sure I remember that ever happening before,” Briggs said. “In the West Greene game, she had great command of her pitches and was able to keep in check a team that was off to a good start.

“She is more confident at the plate and she has always worked hard when it comes to her pitching,” Briggs said. “The one thing I’ve learned in my time with her is she is a gamer. Bailey is going to battle and give you everything she’s got.

“We have a solid group of seniors, but she leads by example,” Briggs said. “I think her teammates respect the way she plays the game.”

2025 Trib HSSN Softball Players of the Week

Week 1 – Toryn Fulton, Franklin Regional

Tags: Carmichaels