Carns' catch saves day for Unity in District 31 Legion playoff opener

A team doesn’t always need a winning hit to pull out a victory.

Sometimes a defensive gem is all it needs.

Unity’s American Legion baseball team got a clutch catch in the top of seventh inning Tuesday during Game 1 of its best-of-three District 31 series against Yough to pull out a 5-4 victory.

Yough trailed 5-3 and had runners on first and second base after back-to-back singles by Blake Ulander and Christian Park.

James Shoman then looped a ball down the left-field line that looked like it would drop, but just as the ball was about to hit the ground, Landan Carns made a running catch for the out to quell the rally.

“If he doesn’t make the catch, we probably tie the score and have a runner in scoring position,” Yough coach Steve Manion said. “It was the type of play that either changes momentum or keeps it with a team. It kept the momentum with them.”

Carns said he’s never made a bigger catch in his life.

“I just tried to do whatever I could to get the win,” Carns said. “I made up my mind that I was going for it.”

The win gives Unity a 1-0 lead in the series, which switches to Yough and Sutersville at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“The catch was huge,” Unity coach Glen Stott said. “We also got some clutch hits, and we battled back from another early deficit.”

Yough took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run homer by Allen Novacek.

Unity got single runs in the second inning and fifth inning to tie the score, but Vinny Martin’s solo home run gave Yough a 3-2 lead.

Unity then scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to grab a 5-3 lead highlighted by Carns’ double.

“They took advantage of our miscues and walks,” Manion said. “We just have to learn how to finish games better.”

Carns had two hits and Chase Sickenberger smacked a triple.

Latrobe 12, Mt. Pleasant 0: Haden Sierocky had two triples and a double to help lead Latrobe to an easy five-inning win against Mt. Pleasant.

Game 2 will be at Mt. Pleasant High School.

Logan Bradish had three hits, including a triple, and winning pitcher Peyton Henry helped his cause with a double. Henry allowed two hits and struck out nine.

Latrobe scored in every inning, including six runs in the fourth.

Bushy Run 8, Murrysville 3: A six-run first inning helped Bushy Run cruise past Murrysville in Game 1 of their series.

The teams will play Game 2 at Haymaker Park on Wednesday.

Jason Sabol’s double highlighted the first inning. Brody Hoffman had two hits and two RBIs.

Joshua Hudak and Cole Brinker each had two hits for Murrysville.

Tyler Freas was the winning pitcher. The loss went to Gionni Lagnese.

Young Township 5, Hempfield East 0: Haden Brink tossed a no-hitter and struck out 10 to lead Young Township to a win against Hempfield East at Pitt-Greensburg.

Bradley Felix had two doubles and three RBIs.

The game was switched to Hempfield East’s home field because of wet conditions at West Lebanon.

Game 2 and 3 (if necessary) will be played at West Lebanon on Wednesday and Thursday.