10 Valley softball players named All-State
Elizabeth Forward and Thomas Jefferson each had three players named to their All-State teams.
The PA High School Softball Coaches Association announced their 2024 All-State teams Friday, which includes 10 athletes from the Mon Valley.
WPIAL Class 4A champion Elizabeth Forward and PIAA Class 5A champion Thomas Jefferson each had three players selected to their respective teams. Belle Vernon Area had two players selected with Bentworth and South Allegheny each having one representative on the teams.
Warriors shortstop Julia Resnik took home the highest honor as she was named the Class 4A Player of the Year.
Resnik batted .521 for the Warriors with 27 RBIs. She was the tablesetter at the top of the order for head coach Harry Rutherford’s squad, scoring a whopping 43 runs. She had six doubles and six triples to go along with five home runs, including one grand slam.
“I was really excited for Julia to get player of the year,” EF head coach Harry Rutherford said. “Everyone expected Shelby to do well, and rightfully so. And to have Addy Nigut recognized, too, that’s a great thing.”
As for Resnik, only a sophomore, Rutherford said the ceiling is unlimited for her.
“She’s looking to be a D1 player, and she will be if she stays on this track,” he said. “Everyone on our team thrived off of her and she basically took the team over with her success and energy. She’s been the spark plug for us.”
Joining Resnik as first-team performers were teammates Shelby Telegdy (pitcher) and third baseman Addy Nigut.
Telegdy led the team batting with a .568 average with a team-high seven homer and 36 RBIs. She had a teamhigh 42 hits.
In the circle, Telegdy carried the load all season and finished with a 23-2 record, losing only in the state championship game to Blue Mountain and Class 6A power Hempfield.
“She really focused mentally and became the dominant pitcher we expected her to be,” Rutherford said of the Seton Hill recruit. “She’s done everything expected of her and she’s one of the best. We wouldn’t be where we were without her.” As for Nigut, Rutherford is said he’s probably the most excited to see her on the All-State list.
She hit .453 with two homers and 21 RBIs, but she was special in the field at the hot corner. She finished with only one error all season and carried a .969 fielding percentage.
“Everyone always seems to pay attention to the shortstops and their numbers, I’m the opposite. I think the third baseman is the most important spot defensively. She was phenomenal out there defensively. After she got off to a slow start, I put her in that No. 4 spot and it didn’t take long for me to watch her respond the way I knew she would. She puts in the work to be better.”
Also in 4A, Belle Vernon was represented on the first and second teams by the right side of their infield.
First baseman Gracie Sokol was named First-Team All-State while second baseman Katie Sokol was named to the second team.
Gracie Sokol hit a team-leading .508 with three home runs and 21 RBIs, slugging a team-high .825.
At first, she committed only one error in 82 opportunities.
Katie Sokol led the Leopards with four home runs and finished the campaign with 19 RBIs.
She batted .485, over .250 points higher than her average in 2023.
In Class 5A, the state champion Jaguars had three players named to the first team.
Freshman pitcher Aubrey Shaffer, second baseman Morgan Alisesky and outfielder Zoe Krizan all made the cut after helping lead Thomas Jefferson to a stunning state championship.
In Class 2A, Bentworth’s dominant freshman pitcher Sydney Gonglik was named to the first team.
Gonglik exploded on the scene, striking out 271 hitters on the season and helping Bentworth to a 18-4 finish.
Gonglik finished the season with a 1.03 ERA and allowed only 13 walks.
While she did plenty of damage in the circle, Gonglik may have been just as dominant in the batter’s box.
Gonglik hit a staggering .764 in 55 at-bats this season. She had 42 hits with 24 going for extra bases. She hit 10 home runs, nine doubles and five triples with 25 RBIs. She drew 21 walks, most of which were intentional, and scored 47 runs.
She’s already received interest and attended camps at some of the top Division I schools in the nation and has been clocked at 67 miles per hour in the circle.
The Valley’s lone representative in Class 3A was South Allegheny catcher Morgan Mosqueda.
Mosqueda was invaluable to a young Gladiators team.
The senior catcher hit .554 with four home runs, 24 RBIs and 31 hits. More than half of her hits this season went for extra bases.
