Sydney Gonglik and Graham Keen Named Gatorade Pennsylvania Players of the Year

On June 15, Gatorade announced its selections for the baseball and softball Players of the Year in Pennsylvania, recognizing two standout athletes from Western Pennsylvania. Sydney Gonglik of Bentworth and Graham Keen from Mt. Lebanon were honored after impressive performances during their respective spring seasons.

Sydney Gonglik, a junior and LSU commit, had an exceptional year for Bentworth's softball team. As a versatile player, she excels as both a right-handed pitcher and an infielder, leading her team to a remarkable 22-3 record, a WPIAL championship, and a spot in the Class 2A state tournament. Gonglik concluded the season with a 19-3 record, achieving an impressive 270 strikeouts in 133 innings. One of her career highlights came during the PIAA tournament's first round, where she pitched a six-inning perfect game, striking out 12 batters in a dominant 10-0 victory over Wilmington.

Offensively, Gonglik showcased her skills with a .522 batting average, accumulating 24 RBIs, 11 doubles, nine home runs, and 33 runs scored in 25 games. She also maintains a solid academic record with a 3.64 GPA. Her coach, Jack Cramer, praised her talent, stating, "Sydney is the most gifted player that I've had the opportunity to coach at Bentworth. She has all the skills to play at the next level and be successful there."

Graham Keen, a 6-foot-5 junior pitcher and center fielder, has verbally committed to Vanderbilt University. He played a crucial role for the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils, leading them to the WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinals with a 7-1 record and a remarkable 0.88 earned-run average. Over 55 2/3 innings, Keen struck out 71 batters while issuing only 13 walks. Despite a tough 3-2 loss to Butler in the quarterfinals, Keen's offensive contributions were notable, boasting a .417 batting average, four home runs, 14 RBIs, and a .717 slugging percentage.

Keen also excels academically with a weighted GPA of 4.10. His performance on the field has drawn accolades from opponents, including Hempfield coach Tim Buzzard, who remarked, "Graham is a tremendous player both offensively and on the mound. He makes a massive impact on how you coach the game against their offense."

The Gatorade Player of the Year award honors high school athletes for their achievements in sports, academics, and community service, highlighting the dedication and talent of young athletes like Gonglik and Keen.