As the summer came to an end, a group of friends returned home with an entire country knowing their names. With just a couple of weeks before the start of a new school year, the boys packed up their notebooks and pencils, ready to return to their normal lives. But the summer of 2016 was anything but normal. For a team of Maine-Endwell Little Leaguers, it was legendary.
“Every year, it starts to become more and more real that it actually happened. Every year, you turn the TV on around this time and the Little League World Series is going on, and you just start to realize, that was us at 12-years-old. Then you see the team from Japan and all those international teams where they start talking on TV about how many kids are in that area. To just think for a small town of Maine-Endwell to be able to do the unimaginable was so amazing. Those memories hold close to my heart every single year,” said Mike Mancini, 2016 Little League World Series Champion.
For Mike Mancini, who turns 21 in just a couple of days, it was a summer he’ll never forget. The Vanderbilt Junior says even eight years later, he and his former teammates continue to keep in touch, especially during this time of the year.
“When we’re 50 and 60-years-old, we’re still going to be texting each other,” said Mancini.
Following his historic win in Williamsport, Mancini’s athletic career would only continue to flourish. In high school, he’d letter in both basketball and football, all while being able to call himself New York’s fifth ranked baseball player.
“I credit Maine-Endwell for all my success. Just looking back on all of my coaches, Coach Gallagher in the football season, Coach Ocker in the basketball season and Coach Raleigh in the baseball season; all of those coaches shaped me in each and every way, not only to become a better athlete, but to become a better person,” said Mancini.
While Mancini’s high school days were highlighted by multi-sport success, baseball has always been his true love. Following graduation, the 2022 grad set his sights on James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It was there where his success would only continue. As a member of the Dukes baseball team this past season, he’d hit .329 while collecting 15 home runs, 29 stolen bases and 41 RBI’s. Mancini even had a four home-run day at the Raleigh Regional against South Carolina and NC State.
Following a successful couple of a seasons at JMU, Mancini would enter the transfer portal, and now heads to one of the most prestigious baseball programs in the country. The former Spartan now calls Tennessee home as a member of the Vanderbilt Commodores.
“When I truly get to sit down and reflect, every dream and every prayer that I’ve had, and to be sitting here at Vanderbilt University, playing for a prestigious baseball program, it’s such a blessing,” said Mancini.
Now in his junior year of college, Mancini still looks back at his time at Maine-Endwell for shaping the person he is today, both as an athlete, and individual.
“I credit Maine-Endwell with all of my success because the community is so supportive. Looking back when I was nine, ten years old, being a ball boy for the varsity teams, all of those guys could have been blowing off all of the younger guys because they had so much success, but all they did was give back to the younger guys. I credit the Gallaghers, Kyle, Adam and Drew. I was always at their hip at nine-years-old. To be able to watch them, that’s how you want to be when you grow up,” said Mancini.
In year three, Mancini has the chance to achieve his ultimate athletic goal – one he remembers dreaming about as a kid – hearing his name called at the 2025 MLB draft. While his focus remains on the day-to-day, he says it would be a dream come true.
“That’s something I’ve always wanted to do is become a professional baseball player. As the years fly by, it becomes more and more of a reality. It becomes something that I know I can achieve. To be able to hear my name be called, if that does happen, would just be icing on the cake. Every step has been a blessing, every opportunity has been a blessing,” said Mancini.
Even though he’s now close to 1,000 miles away from home, Mancini continues to follow the success of the Spartans. He watched on with a smile as this year’s baseball team captured a state title at Mirabito Stadium.
“You knew one of these years it was bound to happen and for those guys to be able to do it, the Jack Hennessey's, the Liam Hatfield’s, the Brady Palmer’s, all those guys that were able to achieve that. You watch them celebrate, and it’s just amazing. Those guys worked so hard, they put hours and hours of work in. Coach Raleigh, he prepares them so well and to finally be able to clinch that state championship, it’s truly exciting to watch,” said Mancini.
It was 2016 when the world first heard Mike Mancini’s name. We couldn’t be prouder of his success as a whole new audience gets to know him today.