Gaussa’s walk-off hit sends ’Cats to 1st WPIAL title game

Bentworth broke through with two runs on Sofia Gaussa’s single to top Laurel in the semifinals.

The Bentworth softball team waited till the very last out to make history in its WPIAL Class 2A semifinal against Laurel.

Almost to the very last out. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and runners on the corners, Sofia Gaussa delivered the game-winning, two-run single for the Bearcats in a thrilling 2-1 victory Tuesday at North Allegheny High School.

“Wow,” Gaussa said. “I just wanted to get a hit for my teammates. I was hoping to make contact and drive the pitch to the outfield. My coach got in my ear before the game and talked me up. Their pitcher was so good. We just hung in there. It was an amazing finish.”

With the semifinal triumph, Bentworth advanced to its first ever softball championship.

“Sofia was just due,” Bentworth coach Jack Cramer said. “She struggled last game and didn’t have any hits in this game before that last at-bat. Words can’t describe this win. From the walk to the sac bunt and to of course Sofia’s clutch hit. This young group never wavered and never backed down.”

The Bearcats (17-2) will play top seeded and two-time defending district champion Neshannock, a 5-0 winner over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, at PennWest California University’s Lilley Field next week. The Lancers (21-0) have won 69 of their last 70 games.

“We made our mistakes in this one, but at the very end this young group came through,” Cramer said. “Any one of those girls in our lineup can produce a big at-bat for us. Obviously, Sydney (Gonglik) is our x-factor. We have a chance every time she takes the ball. She was outstanding in the circle today.”

Aubrie Logan drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh. Kayla O’Dell dropped a perfect bunt down the thirdbase line for the sacrifice. On the throw to first, Logan alertly advanced to third base.

Gonglik, who was batting .750 entering the game, was intentionally walked and that set the stage for Gaussa. The sophomore center fielder connected with a hard line drive shot to left and after taking a bounce, the ball got away from the leftfielder.

“It was intense in the dugout before that inning, but we kept things positive,” Gaussa said. “Everyone did their part and it all came together. It’s a great feeling to reach the finals and make history.”

Gonglik, who was running on the pitch, used her speed around the bases and easily scored the game-winning run for the Bearcats, who extended their winning streak to 16 games and snapped the Spartans (17-4) winning streak at 11 games.

“I approached today’s game just like last week,” Gonglik said. “It was the biggest game of my life. I know I have good speed. When I rounded second, I saw the ball went past the outfielder. I knew right there that I could score. I just slide to slide. It made it look good.”

It was a classic pitcher’s duel. Gonglik and Laurel’s pitcher Autumn Boyd combined for 27 strikeouts and went pitch for pitch throughout the game with each other.

Gonglik’s final stat line was 107 pitches in the complete game and the freshmen allowed a run on five hits (three bunts) with 14 strikeouts and two free passes.

“I think I thrive under pressure,” Gonglik said. “I knew they had a good lineup and their middle hitters can really hit the ball. I had to keep the ball low and work ahead in the count. Being in a pitcher’s duel really motivated me and kept me focus.”

Boyd managed to go 6 2/3 innings on 102 pitches and the senior allowed those two late runs on only four hits with 13 strikeouts and three walks.

“We knew runs were going to be at a premium,” Cramer said. “You got two aggressive pitchers that can rack up strikeouts. Every time you get a runner on base, you had to get them in to score. Both pitchers were on. But our girls never gave up and stuck with it.”

Bentworth had a solid chance in the bottom of the third when O’Dell reached base on an infield, throwing error and then later got into scoring position after Gonglik drew a walk.

With two outs, Nora Lindley blasted a ball to right-center field near the fence, but Ivy Pancher made a running catch with the ball almost popping out of her glove for the final out.

“Syd had to carry us today,” Cramer said. “You have two, high-powered offenses out there that couldn’t get their offenses going. Good pitching will always beat good hitting. Laurel is a good team. But we are the number two seed for a reason. I guess they got it right and we are excited to be in the finals.”

The Spartans took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Boyd began the frame with a double and then was sacrificed to third base. A couple of pitches later, Boyd scored on a wild pitch.

Gonglik responded and got out of the jam in the fourth after recording a groundout on a failed sacrifice bunt and then making a tag of Hayden Seifert at home plate after uncorking a wild pitch.

The Bearcats had another chance to get on the scoreboard in the fifth when O’Dell cracked a two-out single and then made her way to third base after the Laurel leftfielder misplayed a ball for an error. Boyd battled back in the next at-bat and induced a high, fly out to left for the final out.

The teams combined for nine hits, while Laurel’s defense hindered their performance in the game as they committed three errors. Laurel will play OLSH in the third-place consolation game.

“This is a very special group,” Gonglik said. “To be a part of the very first Bentworth team to make it to the softball title game is an indescribable feeling. I don’t even have the words right now.”