Apr 8, 2024 By Jonathan Guth 3 min read

CHARLEROI – Those in the softball community might have known that Bentworth’s Sydney Gonglik is not your average freshman.

After the Bearcats’ 8-0 victory over Charleroi on Monday in Class 2A Section 3 play, Gonglik showed those outside the softball circle (no pun intended) that she is mature beyond her years.

The freshman right-handed pitcher threw a four-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts and no walks in shutting down a veteran lineup.

Gonglik also displayed her prowess at the plate, as she was a double shy of the circle, knocking in three runs and scoring twice.

Despite the performance, Gonglik showed her humility after the game.

“It’s a team game,” Gonglik said. “None of this would be possible without my teammates. We came out ready to play. I pretty much used all my pitches, but my rise ball was the favorite pitch I threw today. We played some solid competition at the beginning of the season in Tennessee, so that definitely helped.”

The Cougars fell to 1-1 in section play and 4-1 overall.

Bentworth (2-0, 4-2) scored its eight runs on 10 hits, and it was Zoie McDonald that came through in the first inning to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead after a two-out base hit to left field plated Sofia Gaussa, who had walked and stole second.

“In this game you win with pitching, but it’s nice to have some hitting, and we had that today,” Bentworth coach Jack Cramer said. “”She (Gonglik) had a couple of nice changeups that she got in there. She can swing the bat with the best of them.

“For the last three years against Charleroi, we struggled against (Charleroi starting pitcher) Sofia (Celaschi). The girls were patient today and got some hits. We take them one game at a time and we are not going to take anyone lightly.”

Kyleigh Glaze led off the bottom of the second with a home run to left centerfield for a 2-0 advantage and Willow Eckels was hit by a pitch and scored on an error. Gaussa and Kayla O’Dell hit back-to-back singles before scoring on Gonglik’s triple to right field for a 5-0 lead.

Gonglik hit a solo homer to center field in the fourth and O’Dell and Gonglik scored in the sixth after a wild pitch and error for an 8-0 advantage.

“We knew what she (Gonglik) was capable of, but you never want to give them extra outs and runs,” Charleroi coach Trey Tilghman said. “I thought we hit the ball good a couple of times, but we have to string them together and be disciplined at the plate. This is just one loss, and we have a lot of the season left.”

A scary moment occurred in the sixth when a ball hit by Gonglik bounced off the glove and hit the mask of Celaschi. The senior was face down on the ground for several minutes, but was able to get to her feet and finish the game.

Celaschi had one of the Cougars’ four hits with a double in the second and she yielded eight runs (six earned) over seven innings. She had eight strikeouts and walked four.

“I was a little nervous when I went out there and she was laying down, and thank goodness it wasn’t anything serious,” Tilghman said. “She was a little shook up, and I think she is still a little shook up.”

Charleroi’s Avery Pendo tripled to left field with two outs in the sixth but Gonglik buckled down and got a strikeout to get out of the inning.