Meggie Meidlinger & USA Women's Baseball - a team of Champions that work together

Women"s Baseball World Cup: 6 elite women"s baseball teams (Mexico, Venezuela, Canada, Japan, China Taipei, USA) competed at the World Cup in Thunder Bay, Ontario, August 2024.USA vs Japan: Japan"s 39-game winning streak (since 2012) ended when Team USA defeated them in extra innings, with Meggie Meidlinger pitching the final 2 1/3 innings to seal the victory.Meggie"s Experience: Meggie shares her pride in representing the USA, how the team of 20 athletes worked together, and her personal experiences in the high-stakes game against Japan.Teamwork & Preparation: Meggie emphasizes the intense preparation, roles, and teamwork necessary to face top-tier international teams, describing it as fitting together like a puzzle.Pitching as a Closer: The mental intensity of a closer was discussed, with Meggie drawing parallels to the mindset of MLB pitcher Pete Fairbanks of the Tampa Bay Rays.Tournament Achievements: Team USA brought home silver, moving from a 4th to 2nd world ranking. Meggie also highlights individual accomplishments within the team, including awards for Best RBI and Best Win/Loss Average.Future Goals: Now that the World Cup is over, the players are transitioning into the off-season, focusing on personal development and training for the next round of competitions.Notable Quotes: Every time I get to represent USA across my chest is an absolute honor." - Meggie MeidlingerPersonal Projects: Beyond baseball, Meggie continues her work in architecture and missionary work in Uganda through the organization Baseball at Heart, which promotes girls" baseball. https://www.instagram.com/baseball_at_heart/Baseball in Uganda: Meggie discusses her involvement with Baseball at Heart, a girls" baseball organization in Uganda, and the positive impact they are making. Listeners can support the organization via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/baseball_at_heart/.@MLBDevelops Initiatives: Meggie highlights her participation in MLB’s programs like GRIT, EDI, Trailblazer Series, and Breakthrough aimed at identifying and developing young female baseball talent in the U.S.Trailblazing Women in Baseball: Making waves including Olivia Pichardo at Brown University and Kelsie Whitmore with the Oakland Ballers.Remembering Mamie "Peanut" Johnson: Meggie shares her cherished memories of meeting Mamie Peanut Johnson, one of the first women to play in the Negro Leagues. They discuss her trailblazing legacy and what it meant to be a female pitcher in a male-dominated sport.·The All-American Girls Tournament: Looking ahead to the upcoming  tournament in Durham, NC, Mark and Meggie talk about the growth of the tournament, the talent on display, and their hopes for the future of women"s baseball.·Baseball History: The episode also explores legendary players like Jackie Robinson and the overlooked history of women in baseball, including stories like Jackie Mitchell, who famously struck out Babe Ruth.Shu Shu Wirth project, a standout player from the Blue Sox, who stole 89 bases in one season and left a lasting mark on the game.Giving Back to the Game: Meggie reflects on the life lessons & friendships baseball has given her, emphasizing the importance of giving back to the sport by helping to develop the next generation of players. All-American Women’s Baseball Classic being held in Durham, October 11-13 Several of the players will be from the WBSC women baseball champions will be there to play.  Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward"