HOW MENTAL HEALTH REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR HAMILTON HIGH’S BASEBALL TEAM THROUGH THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE GAME

The life of a student-athlete is hard, and for some, the pressure to do well in both academics and athletics can affect their well-being in ways that often go unnoticed. This is especially true in baseball, a sport full of ups and downs, where even the top athletes will experience constant failures, making it hard mentally for them to stay positive. 

 

There are over eight million high school student-athletes across the country, many of these athletes face the challenges of balancing sports, academics, and the pressures put on them. Most often they don’t have the support or resources they need to manage it all by themselves. 

 

For some athletes, the demands asked of them can be overwhelming, leading to stress and anxiety, often causing negative side effects. These issues are commonly found in competitive sports like baseball, where athletes must learn to handle the constant emotional highs and lows.  

 

According to the Journal of Clinical Sports Psychology, studies show that 30% of student-athletes experience symptoms of depression, while 33% report anxiety, often caused by the demanding 30-35 hours per week they dedicate to athletic activities.  The study also highlights how the pressure of balancing academics and athletics can lead to burnout in athletes and emotional struggles. These mental health struggles are often unreported or overlooked, as athletes believe it is weak or looked down on for them to admit to their struggles or to get help.

 

At Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona, the baseball team has established itself as a top program in Arizona with nine state titles. Their players have committed not only to putting their all into the sport but also putting their all into managing the mental challenges of their sport. They have developed strategies to tackle baseball’s challenges by prioritizing mental health, balancing academic demands, and competing at a top level under nonstop pressure.

 

Ben Ball is a junior at Hamilton High School and a star athlete on the varsity baseball team. Ball is committed to playing Division 1 baseball at the University of Arizona once he graduates from Hamilton and is a great example of someone who has managed the pressures he's faced.

 

Ball juggles a demanding schedule consisting of school, practices, games, and constant travel around the country for his sport. Despite these challenges, he has put in place an effective way to prioritize his mental health. Ball has been balancing his athletic commitments and focusing on the importance of having a strong foundation throughout his journey through High School. 

 

“School comes first. No matter how good of a player you are, baseball is going to end one day. So, I focus on getting a strong foundation in my academics, and I try to manage my time so that I can take care of myself mentally too,” Ball said. 

 

This perspective has helped Ball through the highs and lows of competing at the top level in his sport during high school by maintaining focus and being mentally strong even during challenging times.

 

“The biggest thing for me is realizing that it’s just a game,” Ball said. “If you strike out or have a bad day, the world’s not going to stop spinning. You have to learn from it and move on. In baseball, one day you could go 4 for 4, and the next you’re 0 for 4. It’s all about staying present and not letting the lows get to you and reflecting on what went wrong and trying your best to fix it.”

 

Baseball players at the high school level often face a lot of pressure, with the mental demands the sport takes on athletes impacting both their performance on the field and their overall well-being. 

 

Senior Cole Berge, a Tulane University commit and a standout player on Hamilton's varsity team knows all about the mental challenge the game of baseball presents to its athletes. 

 

“Baseball is a sport of constant highs and lows,” Berge said. “The highs are great, but there are more lows than highs because it’s a game built around failure. Batting .300 is considered good, but that still means you fail seven out of ten times.”

 

Berge relies on strategies to prioritize his mental health. He emphasizes the importance of keeping his mind at peace, which he achieves by having a support system by his side that he can talk to every day.

 

“Keeping my mind at peace is huge,” Berge explained. “I’ve learned to talk to my parents, my brothers, and my friends instead of keeping it in. It’s what keeps me in a good head space.”

 

This approach allows him to stay motivated, even when the pressures of baseball and academics begin to stack up.

 

A study, conducted by Health Psychological Research involving 200 high school student-athletes, found that 91% of participants reported experiencing stress due to sports, with 58% experiencing moderate to extreme levels of stress. Moderate stress levels are linked to better performance, while higher stress levels are linked to more negative performance from athletes. Moderate stress levels often cause heightened focus and motivation leading to better performance and higher stress levels were associated with feelings of anxiety and difficulty concentrating leading to more negative performance. 

 

Boston Kellner is a senior on the Hamilton High School Varsity baseball team and is committed to playing Division 1 baseball at Texas A&M next spring. Despite his packed schedule and the pressure of excelling both academically and athletically, Kellner reminds himself every day of the importance of staying in the present and maintaining a steady mindset and stress level, especially in a sport like baseball that's full of having more failures than successes.

 

“I try to keep a good schedule. Every day I wake up, check my notebook, and stick to the plan I’ve set for myself,” Kellner said. “Whether it’s schoolwork, practice, or just taking a moment to breathe, staying consistent and present helps me handle the pressure and keep my stress in check.”

 

Kellner’s approach to balancing the demands of high school baseball and academics has taught him valuable lessons and helped him gain a lot of experience he hopes to pass down to younger players stepping into the pressures of high school athletics.

 

“I would tell the younger guys to remember why they play their sport in the first place. For the love of it. It’s all about having fun and enjoying the process, even when things get tough. You must stay grounded and not let the pressure overwhelm you. Just focus on what you can control each day and stay true to the work you’re putting in,” Kellner said.

 

All three athletes emphasized the importance of having a good support system in place and avoiding giving in to social pressures. Instead, they suggested focusing on building meaningful relationships and positive connections with friends who share the same goals and values. Having a strong and close network of supporters can help you navigate the challenges of balancing it all. 

 

Hamilton’s baseball players show what it takes to succeed both on and off the field. Their success on the field has been in part due to their success in managing the mental demands of the game. Their ability to find solutions to challenges of such a mentally stressful sport like baseball, while also being able to prioritize their academic responsibilities, can serve as inspiration for current and future student-athletes.