WPIAL Class A softball championship preview: Union vs. Carmichaels

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | 11:06 PM

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WPIAL Class A softball final

No. 1 Union vs. No. 2 Carmichaels

Noon Thursday, Lilley Field, Cal (Pa.)

On the air: Audio: Trib HSSN; Video: NFHS Network

WPIAL titles: Union 3 (2025, 2023, 2022), Carmichaels 2 (1998, 1997)

Last championship game appearance: Union defeated Carmichaels in the 2025 WPIAL Class A softball championship game, 3-0.

Up next: The WPIAL Class A champion will face the No. 3 seed from District 6 in the state first round. That will be the winner of the consolation game between Conemaugh Valley and Purchase Line. The WPIAL Class A runner-up will face the District 5 winner, Berlin-Brothersvalley, in the opening round.

Title game foes: This is the third meeting between the schools in the last four WPIAL Class A title games. The Scotties blanked the Mighty Mikes last spring, 3-0. Union also defeated Carmichaels in an offensive shootout in 2023, 10-8.

Union (18-2)

Coach: Doug Fisher

Projected starting lineup

21, Olivia “Willy” Williams, SS, sr.

2, Maddie Settle, 3B, sr.

17, Irelyn Fisher, C, jr.

11, Olivia Benedict, 1B, sr.

8, Nevaeh Hunt, CF, fr.

27, Maggie Joseph, 2B, jr.

15, Korynne Shannon, P, jr.

4, Emily Ross, LF, jr.

12, Sammi Confer, RF, fr.

How they got here: Union defeated Jeannette in the quarterfinals, 7-1, and rolled past Jefferson-Morgan in the semifinals, 17-7.

Coach’s quote: “Facing a team three times is difficult because they know you, but we’ve changed our whole dynamic since Mia (Preuhs) left, so who knows, but we’ve got a nice vibe going this year,” Union coach Doug Fisher said. “Should be a great game, win or lose.”

Notable: Union just set a WPIAL record for most consecutive championship game appearances with seven straight. The Scotties had been tied with West Greene, which reached the Class A district softball title game each season between 2016-2022. In the six previous trips to the WPIAL title game, Union has captured gold three times (2022, 2023, 2025) and settled for silver three times (2019, 2021, 2024). This season, the Scotties won the Section 1-A crown by three games over Sewickley Academy and South Side, earning them the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. This was the second consecutive season Union eliminated Jefferson-Morgan in the semifinals, winning by a combined score of 32-7. Junior catcher Irelyn Fisher was a combined 5 for 7 in the two playoff wins over Jeannette and Jefferson-Morgan with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs. In the semis, Olivia Williams was 4 for 5 with a double and four RBIs.

Carmichaels (17-4)

Coach: Dave Briggs

Projected starting lineup

23, Ke’Lani Chun, 2B, so.

10, Bailey Barnyak, P, sr.

4, Carys McConnell, SS, sr.

21 Kenlee Machesky, C, fr.

12 Joselyn Carter, 1B, so.

13, Payton Plavi, LF, sr.

15, Bentley Lukacs, CF, fr.

11, Giana Colarusso, DP, so.

22, Avery Voithofer, RF, jr.

(26, Lily Sisler, 3B, so.)

How they got here: Carmichaels was the No. 2 seed and had a first-round bye, and then registered back-to-back shutout wins over Sewickley Academy in the quarterfinals, 1-0, and over rival West Greene in the semifinals, 9-0.

Coach’s quote: “We are excited for the chance and the challenge of playing Union again,” Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs said.

Notable: It has been nearly 30 years since the Mighty Mikes wore softball gold, having defeated Burgettstown in the 1997 finals and Sto-Rox in the 1998 Class A title game. Prior to the championship losses to Union in 2023 and 2025, the previous two times Carmichaels reached the district softball finals was in a 2012 loss to Chartiers-Houston and 2013 defeat at the hands of Neshannock. Carmichaels won the Section 2-A title this year by one game over West Greene and two games in front of Jefferson-Morgan. In two playoff games, senior Bailey Barnyak is 2-0 in the circle, having allowed only three hits while striking out an amazing 31 batters. She also has four hits and two RBIs. Senior Carys McConnell was 2 for 3 with a triple, home run and three RBIs in the semifinals victory over the Pioneers.

Tags: Carmichaels, Union