DEDEDO, Guam – Guam High’s softball team came up short in its first appearance in the island championship game, committing seven errors which led to six unearned runs for Academy of Our Lady, which beat the Panthers 11-2 in Monday’s final at Okkodo High School.

Island league Most Valuable Player Ashley Mendiola of Academy pitched a complete-game victory, giving up five hits, one walk and two hit batsmen while striking out eight and helped herself with an RBI single to cap a six-run second inning, which was all the Cougars needed.

The Panthers finished the season 12-4, and their second-place finish was the best in school history.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the team,” coach Melissa Caine said. The Panthers had just four returning starters from 2018 and two of the team’s starters had never played before, Caine said. “They got further than anybody thought they would.”

Alexis Blyth went the distance and took the loss, allowing seven hits, five walks and five earned runs. Taneea Henderson reached on a single and was hit by a pitch, scored both of Guam’s runs and stole two bases.

Mendiola went 2-for-4, Talen Topasna scored twice and drove in two runs and Kaeliah Guerrero each had one RBI for the Cougars. They committed five errors. Both of Henderson’s runs, one each in the third and fifth innings, were unearned.

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