Little Marauder Gets Inspiration from Big Leaguer

Benny Mendizabal hit his first career homerun against Berkeley Preparatory April 26 to help the Marauders clinch an appearance at regionals.

Mendizabal is a second-year player, first-year starter for the Marauders. He is listed at 5 foot 10 inches, 150lbs. This makes him about the second smallest guy in the starting lineup.

But Mendizabal plays bigger than he is. Batting in the bottom of a senior-laden lineup, he does not get many chances to drive in runs.

He got that chance in the district semifinal versus Berkeley Prep. With his team down 3-1 in the second inning, Mendizabal came up with a man on second. He proceeded to smash one over the left-centerfield wall to tie the game up.

“That was the first homerun of my career," he said. "Little league, travel ball, my whole career."

Mendizabal started playing baseball in Safety Harbor Little League. His dad was a shortstop in high school and played at the collegiate level at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Mendizabal's dad was a major influence in his early career. But he was not the only one.

The Mendizabal family is good friends with major league baseball player Miguel Cairo. Cairo, a former Ray, currently plays with the Cincinnati Reds. He also served as a guiding glove during Mendizabal’s youth.

“We would hang out, throw the ball around, he was an inspiration,” Mendizabal said.

Mendizabal hopes that the lessons he learned from his dad and from Cairo will help him with his career in the long term. Mendizabal hopes to pursue baseball in college. But more importantly, Mendizabal hopes the lessons help propel his team through regionals and maybe to an appearance in the state championship series.