One of the biggest accomplishments an athlete can achieve is reaching his/her lifelong goal within the sport they love. With hard work and dedication to the game, senior Varsity baseball player Michael “Sonny” Mentone committed to play Division II baseball at University of Illinois-Springfield.

“To finally commit was one of the most exciting moments in my life,” Mentone said. “Finally all of the hard work and effort has started to pay off.”

Mentone has dedicated many years of his life to baseball and has been playing since he was just five years old. He has been fortunate enough to travel to many places around the country and play some of the best teams in the nation. This has been his favorite part of baseball throughout the years, giving him new experiences and memories. As with anything, there are always challenges that you will face in the sport that you commit to. One of Mentone’s biggest challenges that he faced while playing baseball was overcoming arm injuries.

“These are usually the hardest and most stressful times for me as a player,” Mentone said.

Yet despite these injuries, Mentone works hard on and off of the field. Months before the start of the season, he starts working out and training his body to get back into the routine of the game. Training gets him mentally and physically ready for the start of the season. Mentone dedicates his time to improving himself and gets to school at 5:45 every day, lifting weights and working on becoming a better pitcher.

“Preparing for the baseball season is very crucial,” Mentone said. “You can’t jump right into the season and expect yourself to be prepared.”

Mentone cares about his teammates and always has their backs. His teammates have respect for him because he challenges others to improve and work hard in order to better the team. Not many people recognize his achievement and how good of a baseball player he is because of his humbleness. His attitude never goes unrecognized to his team.

“Sonny is a great player and I’m proud that he committed Division II,” senior Jake Emer said. “He always has the team’s back and best interest at heart.”

The Sequoits look to have a strong year with Mentone’s help on the mound. With his team behind him, they look to improve from last season. Mentone is a key player, and with his encouragement and dedication to his team, the Sequoits have the potential to improve their game.

“Sonny has worked hard this offseason to prepare himself to lead what should be a very solid pitching staff,” coach Chris Malec said. “His fastball, velocity and curveball movement really set him apart.”

Mentone’s goals for the future are to successfully complete four years of college baseball and finish with a degree. He believes his education is important and is willing to commit to the many challenges a college athlete will face. He knows there will be bumps along the way, but given Mentone’s positive attitude and dedication, it will lead him to a successful future.