Gonglik outduels Brunner in Bentworth’s section win
BENTLEYVILLE – Charleroi pitcher Lyla Brunner was very good in Wednesday’s Class 2A Section 3 showdown at Bentworth.
The Bearcats’ Sydney Gonglik was a little better, firing a one-hit shutout in Bentworth’s 4-0 victory.
The Bearcats, who are on a nine-game winning streak, improved to 8-0 in section play and 10-2 overall. The Cougars dropped to 6-3 in section play and 9-3 overall.
“A lot of our success comes down to her (Gonglik) pitching, but when they put the ball in play today, our defense made plays,” Bentworth coach Jack Cramer said. “We will not look ahead. Our focus will be on our next game, which is Burgettstown on Friday.”
Gonglik had 15 strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter in her eighth-straight shutout.
“It was important to get ahead in the count, and I was just focused on mowing down their batters, and when they made contact, let my fielders do their job,” Gonglik said. “It is all about having confidence and trusting my teammates.”
Brunner allowed four runs on five hits with four strikeouts. She had three walks, but they were all intentional, as Gonglik was put on base three times.
“Lyla did a helluva job for us today,” Charleroi coach Trey Tilghman said. “Sofia Celaschi hasn’t been 100 percent all year, so we went with Lyla today, and I thought she did a heck of a job. It was 1-0 until the sixth inning.”
Bentworth took advantage of Gonglik being put on base in the fourth inning with Zoie McDonald’s shot to right centerfield. Gonglik beat the tag at home plate for a 1-0 lead.
“She’s (Gonglik) fast and runs hard, so we didn’t have any hesitation about sending her,” Cramer said. “However, she has good instincts and knows what to do on the basepaths, so we would allow her to go home every time. We needed to have a close game like this, and we hit just enough today.”
McDonald came through again in the sixth when her base hit to right field scored Kayla O’Dell for a 2-0 advantage. O’Dell had tripled with one out to set the stage for McDonald after Gonglik was intentionally walked.
“It is pretty fun to play a tight game like this, but it is pretty stressful,” McDonald said. “I hit after Sydney in the lineup, but it felt good to be able to come through and help her and the rest of our team out. It is great for our community and school to have this kind of success so far.”
Kyleigh Glaze reached on a fielder’s choice, and with Nora Lindley batting, Gonglik scored on a passed ball. McDonald crossed home plate on Lindley’s grounder to second.
Lindley had an infield single in the second and Sofia Gaussa doubled in the third for the Bearcats’ five hits.
“Trey was smart,” Cramer said. “He didn’t pitch that same girl that he pitched in Charleroi, and this girl throws a whole different ball that moves differently, and I think we were a little bit out in front, but we got enough of it when we needed to score some runs.”
Celaschi’s single up the middle in the fourth broke up the no-hitter.
“You have to shorten up, put the bat on the ball and let the ball do the traveling when you face a pitcher like her (Gonglik),” Tilghman said. “She’s a helluva pitcher, and everybody’s having trouble hitting her. We are a good team, but she’s a great pitcher.”