Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Ashlan Guengerich

The Sarasota High softball team heads to the Class 7A final four because of a lineup that has averaged over nine runs per game this season.

Junior third baseman Ashlan Guengerich has been at the center of the run-producing. 

Geungerich is batting .459 with 23 runs and 51 RBIs — sixth in Florida — across 28 games, including some crucial hits in last week’s regional playoff wins. 

Guengerich went 3-for-4 with a double, a run and two RBIs in an 8-7 win over top-seeded Clermont East Ridge on May 14 and followed that up with a 2-for-4 night with a double, one run and three RBIs in an 8-3 regional final win over Riverview Sumner on May 15. 

When and why did you start playing softball?

I actually started playing baseball first when I was around six or seven, and then I transitioned to softball at about eight or nine. My mom told me, ‘You’re not going to play baseball for a long time with the boys,’ and she always played softball, so I was like, ‘Why not?’ So I started playing softball and then it got more serious over time, and I was like, ‘I really like this.’

What’s been the most memorable moment for you this season?

Recently my pitching coach, coach Aly (Bermudez), passed away from ovarian cancer, and it’s been really hard for me to adjust ever since she’s been gone. In my first at-bat from her passing, I hit a home run. Out of all of the home runs I’ve hit, that one was the most memorable.

What’s your favorite all-time softball memory?

When I was on my very first travel team, the Sarasota Heat '07 team, we were very young and not really the best. It was a bunch of rec-ball girls who wanted to play at the next level. We kept getting destroyed by every team, and finally when we won our first tournament, it was honestly huge for us and we shot up from there.

What’s gone right for this team this season?

Honestly, a lot has gone right for us. I mean, people kind of underestimated us as a team. Last season we obviously lost to Venice in the first round and that was heartbreaking. We really wanted to turn this season around from the beginning. So we said from the get-go, ‘We’re not going to take any crap. This is our team and this is going to be our time.’ We hit a few road bumps, but it’s been us working together and building this team back up from what it was last year.

What’s gone right for you personally this year? 

I’m really proud of my ability to adjust to pitchers. One week we played a slow pitcher and the next week the pitcher was really fast. My ability to adjust to those two pitching styles has really helped me.

What’s been your most humbling moment in softball? 

As someone who’s looking to play in college, I don’t really necessarily get as many looks as other girls do. Recruiting-wise, I’m on a really good travel team. My coach is amazing. But I often feel like I’m overlooked and I feel like that has humbled me into being the person who is going to go home, work hard and one day it’ll be the right fit for me. Trying to stay humble within that has really helped me push myself to work harder.

What’s your favorite meal? 

I love tacos. I like them with chicken, lettuce, some queso, and jalapenos. We cook a lot at home so we love making tacos at home.

What’s your favorite TV show or movie? 

My favorite movie of all time is Top Gun. I love both of them. I just love seeing all of the planes and action. It’s so crazy and it kind of translates onto the field too, like thinking on the fly. 

What’s your go-to warm-up song? 

Lately, it’s been ‘Glorious’ (by Macklemore) with Skylar Grey. I’ve been listening to that before the games because it’s really motivational for me. It’s like, ‘Wow, I’ve got this.’ 

If you’re not playing softball, what are you doing?

I’m probably on the beach somewhere. I love the beach and hanging out with my friends. I love shopping, too, and spending my mom’s money.

Who’s your favorite softball player and why?

There’s a lot. I loved Skylar Wallace when she was on the Gators last year. Currently, I love Ella Parker on Oklahoma. She reminds me a lot of myself. She’s so good at adjusting and hitting nukes.

Finish this sentence. Ashlan Guengerich is…

Resilient.