By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Two members of the Del Rio Rams baseball family are heading off ply their trades at the collegiate level.
Del Rio High School seniors William “Will” Cooper and Matthew “Matt” Mendez each took part in a signing ceremony Tuesday as they officially committed to play collegiate baseball. Cooper will play for McMurry University in Abilene while Mendez is headed to the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg.
Alex Rodriguez, a third member of the Rams baseball team, also signed his letter of intent to play for Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.
The three baseball players were also joined by five other student-athletes in the largest signing ceremony in Del Rio High’s history. A total of 10 student-athletes signed letters this year.
WILL COOPER
Cooper, the son of Bill and Emily Cooper, plans to play for the McMurry Warhawks. While at McMurry, Cooper said he planned on studying business management.
Cooper was a utility player for the Rams. A three-year varsity letterman and two-year starter, he began the season at first base, but soon head coach Nick Mendez used Cooper primarily as a pitcher and a designated hitter. Cooper’s parents said coaches at McMurry plan to use their son strictly as a pitcher meaning his hitting days could be behind him.
However, Cooper’s mother, Emily, added that the school has a tradition that if a pitcher throws a no-hitter then they get to take batting practice.
Mendez spoke about Cooper’s role with the Rams and how he became the team’s ace.
“With the ball in his hands we had our best chance at winning. He fought with every pitch and showed courage and leadership he developed over time. He showed Eagle Pass what he was made of; that’s for sure,” Mendez said, referencing Del Rio’s 3-1 win over the Eagles on April 1 in which Cooper tossed a complete game four-hitter, allowing just one run while striking out 12.
Mendez also spoke about Cooper’s improvement over the years, bolstered by a desire to be better and by the support of his family.
“Will was always working towards getting better. Things didn’t always come easy and expectations were sometimes unrealistic. The big kid has to always do it right … no room for mistakes. Well mistakes were made and lessons were learned and he just kept getting better. He kept improving year by year and was absolutely supported and pushed to reach higher than even he believed he could go by his loving parents,” Mendez said. “He had to stay one step ahead of his baby brother. It’s a small step at this point.”
Cooper used his time at the podium to thank a variety of people, but began his speech by offering thanks to God.
“I want first praise and thank God for allowing me to be here signing today as well as for guiding me through high school, looking out for me throughout all the ups and downs, without the lord I wouldn’t have had the strength to work hard and achieve my dream of becoming a collegiate athlete,” Cooper said.
Cooper then shifted his words towards his family.
“My parents have always been my number one supporters. They always pushed me to be the best version of myself that I can be and they always told me that no matter how much you love something or how much you hate something you always give 110 percent because your effort is what makes you who you are. They have always been my rock and always will be.
“I want to thank my brother, Wade. He always pushes me as well, though it definitely has led to its fair share of fights at time,” Cooper said, drawing laughter from the audience. “He has made me the pitcher that I am.”
Cooper closed his remarks by thanking his teammates and supporters, but especially all the coaches he’s had along the way. He thanked his Rams coaches, his travel ball coaches from the Angels, his first Little League coach David Ortiz and many others.
“The support I have received from all my coaches has been so huge as it has helped mold me into the best version of me that I can be,” Cooper said.
MATT MENDEZ
A multi-sport athlete for his first two years at Del Rio High, Mendez decided to focus on baseball during his sophomore season. The decision wasn’t an easy one, according to his father, but it was one Matt made on his own and stuck to for the remainder of his high school career.
Mendez was joined at the signing ceremony by his parents, Nick and April Mendez, and by his sister Mia Mendez.
A four-year member, starter and letterman for the Rams varsity baseball team, Mendez has been a solid contributor for the team at shortstop. A multiple-time all-district selection, Mendez initially declared he would play baseball at Abilene Christian University before announcing he would commit to play for the Vaqueros at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley at Edinburg.
While at UT-RGV, Mendez said he plans on majoring in history and minoring in education.
His father, Rams head coach Nick Mendez, spoke about how he son grew up around sports, but it was baseball that had his heart from a young age. He spoke about Matt hitting off a tee or throwing a ball against the family home for hours, stopping only to eat and to sleep.
“He would come in, completely beat, then get up and do it all over again,” Nick said.
The elder Mendez also spoke about how difficult it was for Matt to be viewed as more than just the “coach’s son,” but added that Matt took on every challenge with the same determined mindset regardless of what others thought about him.
“These last five years have been tough on us as a family but at the same time they have been the best years of our baseball life,” Nick Mendez said, speaking while trying not to cry. “More is expected of the coach’s son. He has to be perfect. This way of thinking is impossible but it is the way it is. From losing family to giving up a sport that he loved he dealt with it all with character and a chin held high.”
The younger Mendez used his time to offer thanks to the people who got him where he was, and like his father he often had to pause to avoid breaking down with emotion.
“This has been a long journey, and this is the payoff right here,” Matt began. “I first want to thank God for giving me the ability to play the sport I love and forever being by my side on and off the field.”
From there, Matt spoke about the game he loved and how it molded him not only as a player, but as a person.
“I’ve played baseball since I was four years old. It has taught me how to work hard, how to not need others’ approval, how to be accountable and how to be a good teammate. The most important lesson the game has taught me is that I cannot simply wake up and expect to be good without putting in the extra hours,” Mendez said.
While Mendez thanked his teammates, friends and coaches, he used most of his time to thank his family for all their support.
“To my dad … thank you for being my role model. Thank you for always setting the example of how to be a dad; of how to be a man, a grown man; of how to handle your business, thank you
“To my mom … thank you for always being my number one supporter. You’re always in the back corner. You always taught me how to have patience and how to be poised. On the outside you’ve always been so calm, and on the inside I know sometimes its heartbreaking seeing all I go through.
“To Mia … thank you for being my rock; for being somebody I can go to and just let it all out. Thank you for having an open ear, and thank you for just being my little sister. I love you,” Mendez said.
Matt also thanked his grandparents and close friends whom he considered family members.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
