Student Spotlight: Going Global

By Blake Metiva

A select few can say they’ve represented their nation on the biggest stage, but for one Delta student he has those bragging rights.

Manuel Mendham is a 21 year old who is specializing in health fitness. He first found softball when he was a child at a tournament in his hometown of Vassar. “I probably started at eight or 10. Every year they had a tournament in Vassar and I played with whatever team.” Mendham’s first shot would come after one of those small town tournaments.

“I mean it’s weird, what are these team USA coaches doing here? In this tiny town? I figured I’d take my shot,” he noted “the worst they can do is cut me.”

Mendham would make the team, and he’s been a staple ever since. He’d debut at the 2019 under-17 World Baseball Softball Confederation Americas qualifier. He was one for five with a run batted in and two runs scored.

His best moments in the red, white and blue? Hitting a home run against Japan that sparked the US to a 9-1 victory . “That was by far the best feeling in my life. It’s by far the highlight of my athletic career,” he said. “They were pretty much the number one ranked team there, so to get the team sparked off the home-run, it was awesome.”

In September of 2024 Mendham received a text from the team USA coaches. He’d gotten the call up to represent the US at their next tournament: “In September of last year they took a group of guys out to California. They had a good idea of who was going,” he stated. “I had a really bad tournament because I broke my hand in July. To get that text from my coaches was a huge reassurance.”

While Mendham and the US didn’t have the tournament they hoped, representing the nation is one of the biggest achievements you can have.

What does Mendham have to say for those looking to get into the sport? “Reach out to me and we’ll get you on the team. It’s so much fun. It’s fast paced and competitive.”