Commentary: Spotlight on 2023 Townie Graduate Ava Mendence. A Student-Athlete Profile

This is a snapshot of an East Providence High School 2023 graduate with whom I’ve been fortunate to have known for many years. Ava Mendence is an example of hard work, talent, family support and what EPHS offers one if you choose to accept it. I am lucky to have watched her development through the years. As a volunteer with the youngest Townie baseball campers most summers, I was amazed when a young Mendence showed up at camp and basically said, put me in coach. That little girl mostly outplayed the boys and the rest is history. This story for me began before Ava was born as I knew her Dad, Paul Mendence from sports and school many years ago. Paul was a junior high football captain in 1994 with my son Bobby. He led the team in touchdowns. Paul also wrestled a season at EPHS. He has contributed back to EP as a well-respected coach, especially for youth softball and the EPHS team. It has been a family affair as Ava’s mom, Lisa, is a great photographer and is never without a camera at a game. It doesn’t seem possible that little Ava is now a Townie graduate and heading off to study and play inter-collegiate sports. A rite of passage, I guess.

From a young girl who excelled in a Townie summer baseball camp, with mostly boys, several years ago, to a senior captain and one of the best softball players in Rhode Island high school; Ava Mendence has been a shining example of Townie Pride. The Townie catcher, pitcher and all-around student-athlete is one of the Townies leading East Providence into a Division I playoff race with hopes of a state championship. In the meantime, Miss Mendence has excelled in the classroom with many academic and athletic awards and will attend Roger Williams University in the Fall. While hitting the books at RWU she will also play college softball.

After coaching Ava during that summer camp years ago, I hadn’t seen much of her but I would see her parents occasionally. One day while in the high school I passed a student in the hallway. Ava, is that you? Hi coach was her response and I immediately felt like the old guy I am! I did get to see several of her high school softball games and enjoyed her high level of play. Of course I wasn’t surprised to see her become a team captain and a superb catcher, pitcher, fielder and hitter. There was a time when some in East Providence thought that Ava could play baseball with the boys’ team - and she probably could have – but she made the right decision and excelled in women’s softball. While Townie coach Katie Kenahan will surely miss Ava and the other talented seniors who are moving on, the 2023 season isn’t over yet. “I can’t say enough things about this amazing group of girls. I’m going to miss them so much,” said coach Kenahan.

The team plays tonight, Tuesday June 6th, against Cumberland HS at Cumberland. The game will be played at Bentley Field 3579 Diamond Hill Rd, Cumberland, RI. Game time is 4:30 pm. I’m hoping that a good contingent of Townie supporters will get to the game. It is Rhode Island after all, Cumberland is not that far from EP! It is an elimination game, which means the Townies must win to move on. Unfortunately, I cannot make it to cheer on Ava and team as I will be presiding over the City Council meeting tonight at City Hall. You know where I would rather be!

Good luck Townie softball tonight. Good luck to my friends Ava, Paul and Lisa Mendence. And no matter what happens, congratulations to my former baseball camp standout and her teammates on a great season and academic success. As my sports hero Carl Yastrezemski said, “The race isn’t always to the swift, but to those who persevere and finish strong.” I’ll definitely catch Ava play some games at my alma mater RWU next year. Long live Townie pride.

(thank you to Lisa Silvia-Mendence for photos)