KUAM GameChangers: Ashley Mendiola (Academy Cougars softball)

Academy Cougars' softball player Ashley Mendiola has played all four years for the Cougars. Ashley is a starting pitcher, team captain and she had a big season for Academy. Ashley struck out 14 batters in the season opener against the Southern High Dolphins. For Ashley, softball was an obvious choice.

"Just seeing my family play and knowing how much laughter and memories it created with the sport. I wanted to be a part of that especially growing up with my god sister Meagan Maritita. She was always the center of softball so I wanted to be the center of softball like she was," Ashley said.

Ashley has had her share of amazing highlights. As a sophomore, she threw a no-hitter against the Geckos.

Ashley also participated in an off island tournament in Huntington Beach California as a sophomore and junior and she also played in the APL League and All-Star game with UCLA Star Bubba Nickels when she visited the island.

It's clear by how she hurls, Ashley's heart is on the pitching mound.

"You never really know as a pitcher what you will be able to throw and how you will be able to perform in game so it's all about having confidence in yourself and just believing that you are doing the best you can for your team to win," Ashley said.

Academy had a lot riding on this season. In Ashley's final year as team captain, she has emerged as one of the best pitchers in the league. After losing 2 straight years in the championship game against the JFK Islanders, the Cougars put in a lot of work put in during the off season.

"From the beginning there was something about my team that was different from previous teams that I've been a part of," Ashley said. "So just knowing from the get go that I had a different vibe from the girl's that joined was just an amazing feeling because it felt like we all connected very well and it did kind of feel that is was our year but you know we had to persevere and push through all the hard times that we would know that would  come across us."

Ashley led the league in strikeouts as a pitcher, won the regular season MVP award and was selected All-Island 1st Team as a Pitcher. Ashely even hit 2 homers this season. With everything clicking for Academy, the team was on a roll heading into the IIAAG girls softball title game against the Guam High Panthers.

"It was very fulfilling, a lot of weight was lifted off of my shoulders because of all the handwork that I put in for the past years I played softball finally paid off. And it just felt good to bring Academy, my school and my family and the people who supported us a championship. And to show people that we aren't just girls and that we can actually play sports and persevere in it," Ashley said.

Ashley sports a 3.0 GPA, she's in the Green Club, takes AP Psychology, helps out at Coastal Cleanups and she donates her time every year at Special Olympics. After school, Ashley wants to pursue nursing.

"My dad was a retired fire captain so there was many nights where he would go to work and not come home until the next day because he was either out saving people or helping to find somebody. So just knowing that he was out there trying to make a difference on our island made me push towards that profession because I always wanted to help people feel better and make them know they are not alone in their times of low points," Ashley said.

Ashley has steadily improved every year of her high school career at Academy. She has hit the top and she'll keep on rising on and off the diamond - and that's what makes Ashley Mendiola a Game Changer.