Ashley Golding, Shay Mendoza, play in Oklahoma City
The summer of 2016 has been a memorable one for Windsor High School student athletes Ashley Golding and Shay Mendoza, competing together in high level softball tournaments while sharing experiences that will last a lifetime.
Playing for the Easton Elite 18-Under team based in Petaluma, the pair has logged thousands of miles in the last couple of months, playing against many of the top athletes in the country.
The incoming seniors recently returned from an eye-opening trip to the American Softball Association 18-Under Gold Nationals Tournament in Oklahoma City, home of the College Softball World Series and USA Olympic team.
The Easton Elite advanced to the National tournament with a great showing at a qualifier tourney in Oregon earlier this summer. Despite winning just one of five games played in OKC, the heady experience far transcended the field of play.
“The competition at Nationals was ridiculous,” said Golding, a three-year veteran outfielder for the Jaguars. “Playing at the top level of softball makes high school ball seem more fun because you’re so used to pressure situations. On this team, we were all from different schools so there is less drama; we’re all coming together for one purpose.”
While in OKC, the players on the Easton Elite were accompanied by four coaches and three parents, bunking four to a room in a hotel. The highlight of the trip was no doubt, stepping onto the field for the first time.
“Playing two games at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium was definitely the highlight for me,” Golding noted. “It’s every ballplayer’s dream – to be on the same field the USA team plays on – and the coolest thing to see your name up on the big screen when you come up to bat.”
For Mendoza, who will play her fourth varsity season for the Jags next spring, the trip to OKC was equally eye-opening.
“Going to OKC with Ashley, who’s my best friend, and being able to share that experience with someone who understands softball was really special,” Mendoza said. “It is the home of softball, with the Hall of Fame Stadium and Museum. Being able to participate and play on the field was definitely a highlight.”
With temperatures hovering near 100 degrees, Mendoza recorded a personal highlight when she doubled off the wall in one of the games.
“The double was really cool, I have it on video on Instagram,” she said. “I was a little bummed when it didn’t go over the fence and bounced back, but hey I’ll take whatever.”
