
[useful_banner_manager_banner_rotation banners=72,74,79 interval=10 width=120- height=600 orderby=rand] |
By Robert Balajadia
Losing the 2015 girls softball title still resonates with Academy Cougars and Saturday’s first game of the IIAAG season was their first step at getting back to championship form.
The Cougars rallied at bat and took advantage of an error filled day from the Titans while also relying on freshman pitcher Ashley Mendiola for the 16-5 win over the Tiyan through six innings. A scoring error from the official score keeper after five innings forced a 6th inning to prevent the 10-run mercy rule, but the stat of a missed run in the 5th inning was corrected at games end.
Academy still has a handful of returnees from their 2015 team which made the weight of a win for the first year Cougar Mendiola a much heavier burden. Her first start for a championship hungry team wasn’t easy, but the girls picked Mendiola up when she needed it most.
Mendiola gave up two runs in the 1st inning and walked a Titan in the 3rd with the bases loaded with her team clinging to a 5-3 lead. The girls called for time to settle down their visibly frustrated pitcher and Mendiola responded by getting a strikeout to end the inning.
“When I broke down my team came to me and told me to have confidence and to just be myself. I’m very thankful for them. Their willingness to pick me up allowed me to move on to the next inning and finish strong,” said Mendiola.
Mendiola saved her pent up personal aggression for the at bats where she went 4-5, including 2RBI’s for the game.
“That was definitely the reason,” said Mendiola of her hits atoning for her runs allowed at the mound. “I wanted to prove to myself, my team and all the family and friends that I’m more than what I presented myself to be in the beginning of the game.”
Mendiola picked up the win for the Cougars and Titans Lizel Dela Cruz takes the loss. Both pitchers went all six innings.
The Cougar offense was steady throughout by scoring four runs in the 3rd inning and five runs in the 4th and 5th. Another big hitter for Academy was Doriaun Calvo, who went 3-5 and added an RBI while scoring two runs herself. Four runs in 4th inning were scored off Titan errors and three more were scored in the 5th inning off errors as well.

Academy Cougars Ashley Mendiola and Doriaun Calvo earned Wendy’s Players of the Game honors after controlling the offense in their 16-5 win. (photo by Robert Balajadia)
Calvo, now a sophomore, saw a lot she liked from her offense Saturday as they began their run towards the 2016 title.
“We’re very hungry for the title and we did really well today. Today was a good first step and we kept a positive attitude and we did our best. We’re slowly getting out full team back from other sports and our goal is to be the best team out there,” said Calvo.
As far as facing Tiyan, Calvo credited the Titans for their much improvement from 2015.
“[Tiyan] put up a great fight. You can see how they improved in all areas of the game,” Calvo added.
Academy continues the season on Wednesday against the GW Geckos at the Tai Field near FD and the Titans will play the defending champion JFK Islanders at JFK also on Wednesday.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:


Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
GPS Sports Calendar
May 2022
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for May
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #4
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
3rd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
5th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
6th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
7th
GPD HOT PURSUIT 5K
MARIANAS OPEN
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for May
9th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #5
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER All-Star Meeting
IIAAG GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
Events for May
12th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL ALL-ISLAND MEETING
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
12th
Events for May
14th
14th JUDICA CRABAO 5K
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
Events for May
16th
ISA TRACK & FIELD ALL-ISLAND MEET
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE All-Star Meeting
Events for May
17th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
18th
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Events for May
19th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
20th
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL All-Star Meeting
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
21st
Pre-Memorial Day 13-Miler
GETTING GUAM HEALTHY 5K BUBBLE RUN/HEALTH FAIR
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD All-ISLAND MEET
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE FINALS
ALPHA WARRIOR ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
2022 Guam Track & Field National Championships
Events for May
23rd
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
24th
Events for May
26th
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
27th
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Events for May
29th
Events for May
30th

Volleyball
VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR PLAYERS DRAFTED

Volleyball
TITANS COMPLETE PERFECT 2022 SEASON

Volleyball
VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR PLAYERS DRAFTED

Baseball
DODGERS HAND TRITONS FIRST LOSS

Volleyball
TITANS COMPLETE PERFECT 2022 SEASON
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
COMING SOON …
- YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE KICKOFF June 4
- Todd Gurley Football Camp on Andersen
- GSPN Boys Volleyball All-Star Game
- Pacific Mini-Games in Saipan