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O-R Athlete of the Week: Sydney Gonglik, Bentworth

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Name: Sydney Gonglik

School: Bentworth

Sport: Softball

Class: Freshmen

Gonglik’s week: The Bearcats’ pitcher, who is also a solid hitter, threw three no-hitters, including two perfect games, in Class 2A Section 3 wins last week over Washington (8-0), Fort Cherry (15-0) and Our Lady of Sacred Heart (7-0). The righthander was perfect against the Prexies and Rangers. She had 45 strikeouts in the three games.

Bentworth’s win over OLSH was key in the section race as the Bearcats sit atop the standings at 7-0 with OLSH at 5-1.

Gonglik was 4-for-4 with three doubles, a triple, two RBI and six runs against Washington and Fort Cherry. She was 2-for-4 with two runs and hit a solo home run against OLSH with first place in the section on the line.

Despite all the success at a young age, Gonglik deflects praise from herself.

“Softball is a team game, and I need my teammates out there to make plays and help offensively,” Gonglik said. “I have played softball most of my life, and I play it all-year long, so I am used to playing under pressure. I play travel ball, which really helps me to face other players.”

One-sport star: Gonglik participated in basketball, gymnastics, soccer and volleyball, and she was a member of the Bearcats’ volleyball team this season, but she has decided to give up those sports to focus on softball.

“I did those sports, but softball is my life,” Gonglik said. “I really don’t have any other activities, and most of my friends are on my school softball team or my travel ball team.”

Academics are a priority: Softball might be Gonglik’s top priority in athletics, but she doesn’t forget about her school work, which most likely ties softball when it comes to priorities.

“I know I have to do well in school or I won’t be getting recruited by those top colleges,” Gonglik said. “They not only look at what you do on the field, but what kind of student you are.”

Two good losses: Bentworth has dominated the competition from Western Pennsylvania, but the Bearcats were beaten twice in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., to begin the season. The Bearcats lost to Hendersonville, Tenn., and Berwick on consecutive days, which put everything in perspective for Bentworth.

“Playing those tough games was a good experience for us,” Gonglik said. “We may have lost two of the four games we played in Tennessee, but it really helped us to get our focus back.”

Bearcats coach Jack Cramer has stressed to his team to focus on the next game and not look ahead or behind.

“We had a great week with three wins, but I told the girls on Monday the next game is the most important, which happened to be Fort Cherry,” said Cramer on Tuesday. “That’s the way we have to approach every game.”

Cramer’s speech must have worked, as Bentworth rolled to a 16-0 victory.

Compiled by Jonathan Guth

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