May 19, 2025 2 min read

Bentworth finally has a healthy Sidney Gonglik in the circle and all of its players in the position they expedited to play this season. The results are looking a lot like last year’s softball playoffs.

Gonglik, who did not pitch for much of the regular season because of a shoulder ailment, fired a three-hitter and Zoie McDonald hit a two-run single in the first inning as 12th-seeded Bentworth defeated 13th-seeded Shenango 3-1 in a Class 2A quarterfinal game Monday at North Allegheny.

The win sends Bentworth (10-9), which knocked off fifth-seeded South Allegheny in the first round, to the semifinals Wednesday against top-seeded and three-time defending champion Neshannock. The Lancers defeated Bentworth in last year’s championship game.

Shenango struck first, scoring in the top of the opening inning on a solo home run by Emma Herb.

The Shenango lead didn’t last long. Bentworth did all of its scoring in the bottom of the first. Sophia Gaussa reached on an error, Katie O’Dell followed with a single and Gonglik hit an RBI double. McDonald followed with a two-run single and the Bearcats had a 3-1 lead before making an out.

Gonglik protected the lead by striking out 11 and not issuing a walk.

Ellwood City 8, McGuffey 0

Amber McQuiston tossed a one-hit shutout as third-seeded Ellwood City defeated McGuffey 8-0 in a Class 3A quarterfinal game at Montour.

Ellwood City (11-8) did all of its scoring in the first three innings. Leadoff hitter Lena Lucarelli did much of the damage as she went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and four RBI.

McQuiston struck out seven and did not walk a batter. The lone hit by McGuffey was a Makenna Crothers single.

The Highlanders finish the season with an 11-6 record.