© Picture credited to Bill Ruth 2020
Benjamin Ruth ‘23 has been playing baseball since he was four, starting with the Lansing Baseball Program, and he’s never let his commitment to the sport waver, even through a global pandemic. I had the chance to interview him and ask some questions, about playing baseball in general, playing through COVID-19, and what he’s learned from the experience.
Aya OULIDA ’23: Explain the basic rules of Baseball:
Benjamin RUTH ‘23: Baseball is a simple sport, like everyone says. Throw the ball, hit the ball, and catch the ball.
AO: What do you like most about Baseball?
BR: The competitiveness between the teams creates a rush during the game, it is a competitive sport and a team sport, and it’s a mental marathon not a sprint. Putting in the hard time and effort is the greatest reward of all in baseball. This is a non-forgiving game, but that’s what makes it so great.
AO: Why do you play baseball?
BR: Baseball brings families together. It is amazing to be around friends and teammates, most of the friends I’ve made are from baseball. Baseball creates a strong bond that lasts for life.
AO: What are three traits a leader should have or develop?
BR: A leader should have dependability, they should be able to respect their players and understand their struggle within and without the sport. A leader should also have commitment to the game and to the team, while also putting in the time and effort to better themselves as a player and as a leader.
AO: What are three traits that a teammate should have?
BR: A teammate should be able to communicate, asking for help is very important. Commitment to the team and to the sport is the biggest factor to develop as a player. With no commitment to the sport, you can’t better yourself at your greatest weakness, and then you become the anchor of the team. If a teammate doesn’t show commitment, you won’t be able to help the team play. Having faith is another key value, being able to believe in yourself is the first step as an athlete to improve as a player.
AO: What are three traits a coach should have?
BR: A coach should have experience within the sport, whether having a high-school career, or a college career. Whatever it might be, this will be able for a coach to develop his players to the next level. I feel the biggest trait that a coach needs to have is to be able to communicate with his players. My highschool coaches, Cameron and Amato, know what happens in and out of the sport, whether it be an event I went to or how I did on my Algebra exam.
AO: How has your sport created who you are today?
A: Baseball has taught me many life lessons: it taught me to be committed and put in time and work because with time, people will start to notice your efforts. The greatest thing that baseball has given me and taught me is the friendships and the community that I build around this sport will last forever. Having the bond of baseball is one thing that will never get old.
AO: How have your supporters helped you in your baseball career and progress as a person?
BR: Coaches, such as Coach Fazio from Ithaca College, and Bryan Gaal from Baseball U, and my family, have helped me stay focused and to continue to develop as a player. All the skill sets that I have learned have come from these coaches and many more. They also taught me life values. Mainly, when you get pushed down, you have to get right back up.
AO: Has COVID-19 affected your season? If so how?
BR: Covid has hit our season pretty hard, it has taken away our spring season and most of the summer season. The restrictions that were put in place to keep us safe were very helpful. The rules included wearing masks while entering the baseball field, staying 6 feet apart, and every half an inning, there would be a new clean ball that the opposing team had not yet touched.
AO: How have you developed as an athlete during quarantine?
BR: If you have a chance to do something and get better at it, even if it doesn’t seem like it will make a big change in how you perform, take that chance, It will help you. I used the time in quarantine to physically and mentally improve my skill set in baseball, During quarantine I was able to spend more time with family to improve my throwing techniques. Taking the time you have for granted can cause people to push ahead of you and cause you to trail behind. If you have time given to you, you should take it. Instead of sitting down and watching The Office for an hour straight, go outside and work on your athletic ability. I’m not saying you can’t relax, but that extra work you put in, someday it will pay off.
AO: What changed about your season this year due to COVID-19?
BR: There hasn’t been much change to the sport, the only big difference that I have noticed is the umpire has moved back behind the pitcher’s mound.
AO: Do you think things will go back to normal?
BR: Yes, I think that baseball will go back to normal pretty quickly because this is not a contact sport, we are well more than 6 feet away. Also, if needed, umpires can wear masks when behind the plate calling the game. When the vaccine is found, the only “big” change that will happen is we will finally be able to be in the dugout with our team mates.
AO: What quote has pushed you to persevere in baseball?
BR: Head coach at TC3, Billy Crowe, said, “Excuses are the nails that build the house of failure,” Don’t make excuses and if you do you won’t be able to work and if you can’t work you won’t play, and if you don’t play then you lose your love for the game.
AO: What is good advice you have for athletes during this time?
BR: Stay mentally and physically strong, you have to push through and keep working, keep the love of the game, find a way to keep pushing through the changes that are made because of covid.
AO: Who are your role models and why?
BR: William Ruth: William is the person that pushes me most in life, as a ball player and as a person. I see him everyday getting up at 6 in the morning to go lift at the YMCA, just so he can play baseball later in life. He has that personality that just makes you want to work even harder. Also, Holden Lazarus ‘20 and Andrew Alise ‘20: Holden and Andrew might be the best baseball players I have ever seen in my life so far. Seeing them succeed so much in this sport, makes me want to be as good as they are. These are hard shoes to fill, but I am trying everyday to get closer to that goal.
AO: What is your favorite baseball team?
BR: I have been a lifelong Atlanta Braves fan. Ever since I went to my first MLB (Major League Baseball) game at Turner Field, I fell in love.