Gonglik Ks 15 as Bearcats roll into semis

Nora Lindley doubled twice and drove in four runs as No. 2 Bentworth topped Shenango.

Who said anything about playoff jitters?

The young Bentworth softball team continued their strong play this spring with another solid outing by freshman pitcher Sydney Gonglik as the Bearcats dismantled No. 7 Shenango, 8-1, in the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals Thursday at North Allegheny.

“It’s the playoffs and you never know what is going to happen,” Bentworth coach Jack Cramer said. “We got the first-round bye and we faced a lot of heighten expectations. The playoffs are a totally different season. If you are off, then your season can end like that. We brought the right focus today.”

With the win, the No. 2 Bearcats (16-2) extended their winning streak to 15 games and moved to the semifinals for the first time since 2010.

“This was the biggest game of our lives today,” Gonglik said. “It was my first postseason game and I knew I had to control my emotions. Sure, there was some pressure and jitters, but I thought we all did a really good job of just treating this game like a normal game.”

Bentworth will take on No. 3 Laurel, a 4-0 winner over Charleroi, in the semifinals next week.

Gonglik went the distance on 111 pitches and was able to work around three hits and three walks with 15 strikeouts. Her strikeout total on the season is now 241 in 102 innings.

“Syd will always be our X-factor,” Cramer said. “She can go out there on any day and dominate a lineup. She gives you a chance to win any game. When it’s a low-scoring game in the playoffs, I’m sure glad we have her pitching.”

Gonglik’s catcher Kayla O’Dell made some solid plays for Bentworth. In the second inning, O’Dell made a diving catch on a pop-up with a runner on base. Later in that same frame, she completed a strikeout after a wild pitch and picked off a runner at first in the sixth.

“It’s fun catching Syd,” O’Dell said. “She throws hard and after some games I need to ice my hand. But now I’m used to her speed. She has great command of all of her pitches. I knew I had to play solid defense today and go all out. This is a big game, so every play was important.”

Joining Gonglik and O’Dell with a clutch performance was Nora Lindley, who had three hits (two doubles) and four RBIs. Sofia Gaussa added two hits.

“The balance of our lineup has been the backbone of our success,” Cramer said. “It showed up again in the playoffs. I thought the top of the lineup did a nice job of driving the ball to the outfield with runners on base. We put some quality at-bats together and played with confidence.”

After the Wildcats (11-8) went down in order to start the first, Gonglik started the bottom half of the inning with an infield hit and scored on an RBI single by Lindley.

O’Dell aided the offensive cause for the Bearcats in the second with an RBI double that scored Willow Eckles. O’Dell crossed home plate when Lindley drew a bases loaded walk.

Cashlin Buckel had two of Shenango’s three hits and that included an RBI single in the third that dashed any hopes of a shutout. With two runners on base later in that frame, Gonglik reared back and got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.

“I located with my spin,” Gonglik said. “I knew they had some good hitters, so I was taking it one batter at a time. It’s pitch by pitch. If a call doesn’t go your way, you move on and get ready for the next pitch. My fastball was working for me and I got them to chase up in the zone.”

Bentworth extended its lead to 5-1 in the fifth when Lindley doubled and scored after a single by Zoie McDonald and a misplayed ball in the outfield.

The Bearcats opened the game up in the sixth with four runs. Gaussa recorded a run-producing single followed by a two-run double by Lindley. Lindley scored the final run off an errant throw to first base.

Makenna Emerick started the seventh with a single for the Wildcats, but she was left stranded after Gonglik tallied a pair of strikeouts and a soft ground out.

“With no seniors, we are just focusing on playing the game and competing on every play,” Cramer said. “I don’t think we have a lot of pressure on us. To get this first playoff win was key for this young group. Shenango is a good team and they come from a tough section. Laurel will be another tough task.”