Luke Stout
#23 on the
Hillsborough Community College
baseball team
The Busy Life of an HCC Baseball Player
September 19, 2022 I sat down with Luke Stout for an interview. Playing a sport makes for a busy, and heavy schedule along with school. Looking into the life of balancing and playing a JUCO sport at Hillsborough Community College we see how it’s done.
Number 23 on the Hillsborough Community College baseball team, Luke Stout, fills every position. From Midwest City, Oklahoma, he’s been swinging since he was three and fell in love with running the bases ever since.
Luke was scouted by the HCC baseball coach in Jupiter Florida during a tournament.
“I’ve never heard of Jupiter Florida until then.”
This tournament was an invite-only, top scouting attraction.
He chose to join the team for many reasons; His parents don’t have to pay for his college as he is on scholarship, Florida is the best for JUCO baseball and he felt called to play here.
As there is stigma around community college nonetheless playing a JUCO sport, Luke says playing here despite that is, “beneficial in his recruiting process.”
Luke waves his hands in the air to mock what people may think, “Oh you’re not going D1, whatever.”
Yet, regardless of anyone’s doubts he confidently says, “I 100% suggest playing a JUCO sport.”
Playing a sport during/for the school must make it difficult to balance work, social life and the game. Asking him about how he manages this he widened his eyes and stretched, “Yeah. I’m very busy.”
That was clear when I had to reschedule my interview twice and got a different baseball player…
Luke has a busy schedule, with workouts every morning before class and practice everyday for 3 hours (usually 2-5pm). He has classes Monday through thursday. Each player must log in to study hall and get at least 5 hours in. I questioned “only” five. He shut me down with his recap of how busy he is and that 5 is a good amount of hours. Fair. Luke says they hold ‘Punishment Tuesdays’, where if someone on the team were to be caught doing something they shouldn’t, they run or do some excessive work. So far nobody has gotten a punishment.
They have games one or twice a week now. They are not currently in season, but they do have tournaments. When fall comes it’s more like 3 to 4 games a week.
“I feel I have it all balanced very well because I’m an extroverted person.” He shrugs, “I can get stressed and anxious at times.”
Having such a busy schedule and playing everyday I was curious to know if he ever gets burnt out. He didn’t hesitate to reply with a no and how much he loves baseball.
Luke’s major is to be an engineer and he says his next steps are to be drafted or go to one of his dream schools. Another strong goal he has is to become a missionary or pastor. Luke mentions that mostly everyone has similar goals and that he is close with his team as well as some other sports teams at HCC.
Luke Stout impressively manages it all.
Thank you Luke Stout for letting me ask you questions at my kitchen counter. You’re a kind and bright kid who will do great things.
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Olivia Crandall 
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