Bentworth dethrones Neshannock to claim 1st WPIAL Class 2A softball championship

By: Matthew Purucker
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | 3:46 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

With the bases loaded and two out, Bentworth pitcher Sydney Gonglik stared down Neshannock’s Callie Biondi, clinging to a three-run lead. After taking a breath, she delivered the pitch, and Biondi popped out to end the threat.

Escaping this jam was critical for Bentworth, as the Bearcats preserved this lead to take down Neshannock, the four-time defending WPIAL champs, 4-1, to earn their first WPIAL championship in the Class 2A final Wednesday at Lilley Field.

Gonglik, the LSU commit, was stellar in the win, allowing one earned run and four hits to lead Bentworth to victory.

Leading off the bottom of the first, Bentworth’s Alexa Babirad lined the first pitch she saw down the right field line, which got under the glove of Neshannock right fielder Gianna Desalvo for a stand-up triple. Gaussa walked on four pitches and stole second without a throw before Makayla Gonglik brought the two runners home by doubling to left to put Bentworth up 2-0.

After intentionally walking Gonglik, who later advanced to second base, Paglia got a big three outs to strand two Bearcats in scoring position.

In the top of the first inning, Jaiden Nogay roped a single into center field, but the Lancers could not advance her, as Sydney Gonglik was unfazed with a runner on base.

Neshannock once again got a runner on base in the second, but Gonglik struck out two to end the threat.

Bentworth began the second with another first-pitch hit. This time, Hailey Tatar hit a bouncing ball over second base to start the inning, but Paglia did not let that hit deter her, as she retired the next three batters to end the frame.

Errors were the theme of the third inning.

Bentworth committed two in the top half, allowing one run to cross. Brenna Frengel bunted and reached on an error by first baseman Addison McVicker, who let the ball into right field, advancing Frengel to second. After a Nogay single, third baseman Nora Lindley missed first base with her throw after fielding a Gabriella Antuono ground ball, allowing Frengel to score and halve the deficit.

But that margin did not last long. Third baseman Anna Measel overthrew first base, leading Makayla and Sydney Gonglik, who both walked in the inning, to cross home plate and increase the Bentworth lead to 4-1.

However, Nogay made an acrobatic diving catch in left-center field to rob a would-be RBI-double, and Paglia got Tatar to fly out to left to end the inning with a runner at second.

No runs scored in the fourth inning as both pitchers retired the side in order. Paglia only needed three pitches to record the three outs of the bottom half of the inning.

Neshannock generated some pressure in the fifth. After a strikeout, Frengel reached on a dropped third strike and Nogay singled. The runners advanced to second and third, and after another passed ball and strikeout, Paglia walked to load the bases. But the Bearcats escaped the jam when Gonglik got Callie Biondi to pop out.

After a scoreless sixth, Gonglik looked to close it out. After walking the first batter, she took care of business, shutting down Neshannock to finish her complete-game win.

This story will be updated.

Tags: Bentworth, Neshannock