Articles reflect the views of the author and those quoted and do not necessarily represent the views of CCBC or The CCBC Connection.
Seth Mannos
For many people, baseball is just a sport. However, for student-athletes like Joel Tapia, Tyler Sankovich, and AJ Palumbo, it’s a lifestyle—and one that comes with challenges way beyond the field.
Being a baseball player while in school isn’t just about hitting home runs or mastering your curveball. It’s about balancing early morning lifts, late-night study sessions, and road trips that often double as mobile study halls. It’s about learning how to manage your time on a level most students never experience.
The Balancing Act
A typical day starts pretty early. “We’re up before most people are even thinking about school,” says Joel Tapia. “We hit the gym, head to class, grab a quick bite to eat, then it’s practice or a game. After that, it's schoolwork until late at night.”
For these players, time is always running. A game might take three hours, but the preparation—stretching, warmups, postgame recovery—adds even more. Add homework, projects, and exams, and it’s bound for exhaustion.
Tyler Sankovich reflects on the pressure. “Some nights you’re just beyond drained. You played nine innings, and now you have to write an essay or study for a test. But you always find a way. You learn to plan your time, minimize distractions, and just get it done even when you don’t want to.”
Learning Life Skills Early
The grind might be tough, but it builds more than just athletic strength and ability.
“Being a student-athlete taught me how to have self-discipline,” says AJ Palumbo. “There’s no skipping assignments because you’re tired. You’re held accountable to your coaches, your teachers, and your teammates.”
Palumbo also points out how traveling for games can be an opportunity, not a setback. “Away games mean long bus rides, but that’s time to do homework. I bring my laptop and just lock in and stay focused so I don’t have to do it after the game when I am exhausted.”
Support Systems and Sacrifices
Behind every successful student-athlete is a support system. Coaches who understand academics come first. Teammates who remind each other to stay on top of school, and families who support from the sidelines and from home (are also important). Still, there are sacrifices.
“You don’t always get to hang out like other students,” Tapia says. “There are times you have to sacrifice missing out on stuff. But it’s worth it when you’re out there playing a game you love and still performing well in class.”
Advice to Future Student-Athletes
When asked what advice they would give younger players, the trio agreed: stay organized and focused.
“Use a planner to write stuff down,” Sankovich recommends. “The worst feeling is realizing you forgot a big assignment because you were focused on a game or got distracted by something else.” Palumbo adds, “Don’t be afraid to ask for help—from teachers, teammates, whoever. You don’t have to do it alone.”
A double life of balancing academics and baseball isn’t easy. But for players like Tapia, Sankovich, and Polumbo, it’s a challenge they embrace. They don’t just want to be great players—they want to be all around great students, teammates, and leaders.
When you’re a student-athlete, your biggest win isn’t just on the scoreboard—it’s in how you grow, on and off the field.
