Alyson Ambler keeps accomplishing goals for Walla Walla softball

Alyson Ambler has always had lofty goals. And once she sets them in motion, she usually reaches them.

She's an all-league player, a two-time league MVP, an all-area MVP, Washington State Player of the Year, Washington's Gatorade Softball Player of the Year and a MaxPreps All-American.

The junior right-handed pitcher and first baseman led Walla Walla (Wash.) to a 27-1 record and the Washington Class 4A state championship in 2011. Ambler posted a 15-0 record, a 0.57 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 98 innings pitched. The 2011 Columbia Basin Big 9 4A Division MVP batted .506 with nine home runs, 36 runs scored and 34 RBIs.

Ambler hit home runs to account for the only run in both the state semifinal and state final, tossing a shutout to beat Marysville-Pilchuck, 1-0, to claim the title.

Her high school coach, Jerry Humphreys, calls her "the best clutch player I've seen." Her summer coach, Larry Farnworth, simply calls her a "dream player."

Farnworth, Ambler's ASA coach with American Pastime from California, adds, "She's got an unbelievably powerful bat. She's a very good pitcher and she's also a very good outfielder. She brings it all to the party."

Humphreys goes on to say Ambler's work ethic, attitude and physical ability are outstanding, but are overshadowed by the fact that she is such a great competitor "And loves the game so much."

Longtime Blue Devil scorekeeper Stephanie Mayer was going to retire three years ago, but in a key game during Ambler's freshman year, Mayer witnessed Ambler's potent bat leading a comeback over Eastmont High. It was the first of many impressive Ambler at bats.

"The scorekeeper looked at me and said ‘Coach, I guess I'll be here for four more years," said Humphreys. "She wanted to be around for more Ambler heroics."

Mayer hasn't been disappointed, as Ambler routinely delivers.

"When I first saw her hit in eighth grade, the ball just exploded off her bat," said Humphreys, who led Walla Walla to third-place finishes in 2009 and 2010. "We knew she was going to be special even then."

Ambler credits much of her success to her father, Chip. He played baseball at Lamar University in Texas and instilled a competitive nature in his daughter at an early age.

"It started when I was young and I've always wanted to be like him … to be the best in the state, the Northwest, I just love competition."

It drives her daily.

"The best part about softball is the competition, and the difficulties it brings," Ambler said. "I love to play to keep pushing myself into the best ball player I can be, before it's time to hang up the cleats."

With Ambler in the circle and in a power spot in the batting order, the Blue Devils will be a heavy favorite to repeat. As Humphreys puts it, "new team, same dream."

In addition to Ambler, key returnees include all-league picks Andrea Hamada (SS, defensive player of the year), Traeann Payne (OF), Libbie Jimenez (2B) and Mariah Gerling (OF). Ambler's stats are well documented, but others in the lineup will gain their share of headlines. Hamada batted .404 with 14 doubles and five homers. Jimenez was also among the team leaders with a .510 average, 30 RBIs and six home runs

"We're looking pretty good," said the 5-foot-7 Ambler. "We lost two starters, but we've reloaded with some freshmen who will come through."

The Blue Devils enter the season ranked No. 11 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Preseason National Softball rankings presented by the Army National Guard.

Winning state and being named MaxPreps All-American are Ambler's top softball moments - and there have been many. However, of the 125 games she played in 2011, the Washington state title game was the best.

Ambler hit a solo home run for the game's only run. But it was the seventh inning that stands out more.

"They (Marysville-Pilchuck) had the bases loaded with one out," Ambler recalled. "They tried a squeeze, but it came right back to me and we forced the runner for two outs. I struck out the next batter, their No. 4 hitter."

Humphreys tells it a bit differently.

"She came out blazing in the seventh," he said. "Her first two pitches were the fastest we had ever seen thrown. We coaches just looked at one another and said ‘Wow.' Then with an 0-2 count, she plunks the batter. The next batter goes to our third baseman who airmails it over first. We got an out, but then loaded the bases. They tried the squeeze and Ambler makes the play. She then blows a riseball right by their cleanup hitter. It was only the third time all season that batter struck out."

"It was exciting," she said, but was quick to note that had the same bases-loaded situation occurred a year earlier, the outcome might have been different.

"At the end of my sophomore season, I knew I needed to work on my mental game. So I read two books – 'Heads Up Baseball' and 'Mental Toughness'. I put myself into situations in every practice.

"The key parts the books have taught me how to identify the mission I'm on throughout games," she said. "I take control of my thoughts and attitude, playing one pitch at a time and not getting ahead of myself. And using relaxation, imagery. And self-talk to prep me for games."

Ambler, who has maintained a 3.78 GPA in the classroom, is also sports editor of the school newspaper. She doesn't write about herself, but if she did, she'd say the Blue Devils' top pitcher throws about 62 mph, has a rise, drop, curve and a changeup.

Her best pitch?

"Changeup … and locating any of my pitches," said Ambler, who hopes to go into medicine after college.

Though she had interest from Washington, Oregon and Oregon State and many others, Ambler has signed to play softball for the University of Connecticut.

"I had taken a lot of visits, but didn't find what I was after. Then I stepped on campus at UConn and experienced it all. When I left, I knew I didn't want to go anywhere else. It was just a feeling. It's somewhere I can experience a different culture and can become independent. It will be a life-changing thing for me."

At UConn, Ambler will pitch and play outfield. Her goal? "To help UConn establish a national presence. And win the Big East Player of the Year honor.

"I want to go to a place where I can change it, and instead of just UConn being known for basketball, I want it to be like, 'Hey, UConn can play softball, too.'"

That bodes very well for UConn. We all know Ambler's record of reaching her goals.