Antioch junior Zach Rubin has managed to compete in two of his favorite sports in one season.
In the spring, Rubin splits his time between baseball and bass fishing. He said he has been involved in both since he was 4 years old.
“It’s a lot of long days,” he said. “I can’t be on my phone much. I have to grind it out.
“I practice baseball more, which is more of my goal for college. I love to fish in my free time, but it’s definitely my hobby.”
Rubin, who has played varsity baseball for the past two seasons, had success in both sports at the end of his sophomore year. He and Evan Schmidt, who also plays baseball, qualified for the state finals in bass fishing by placing second in the Chain O’Lakes North Sectional. They finished 14th in the two-day state tournament in mid-May.
Rubin then had two hits and scored three runs during Antioch’s 8-2 win against Grayslake North in the Class 3A Deerfield Regional semifinals and went 2-for-3 in the regional championship game, which the host Warriors won 2-1.
Rubin, who mostly played at third base for the Sequoits (14-19), struggled at the plate during the regular season and said competing in the state finals in bass fishing was beneficial.
“It helped ease my mind and helped me stop focusing on baseball for a bit,” he said. “It was nice showing the community what I can do in baseball and also going into my junior year with some momentum.”
Antioch baseball coach Frank Fracek said he encouraged Rubin and Schmidt to take several days away from the team.
“We just told them to go and win state,” Fracek said.
Fracek noted that Rubin is an exemplary team player.
“He’s universally liked and respected by his peers,” Fracek said. “He’s mature, responsible, kind and thoughtful. He’s well-rounded with his interests. He’s talented and competitive and knows how to handle himself.”
Anthony Sacchetti, a 2023 Antioch graduate who plays baseball at Bryant & Stratton, recalled that Rubin was mature beyond his years as a freshman.
“One thing that stood out to me was how responsible and respectful he was at a young age,” Sacchetti said. “He was always doing what was asked of him, whether that was with our workouts, practice or schoolwork.”
Antioch senior Nathan Yeager, a center fielder and pitcher, agrees that Rubin is a good teammate.
“Zach is a quiet guy, but when it comes to baseball and his teammates, he’s always the one picking them up and bringing energy,” Yeager said. “He’s truly a team player.”
Rubin, who said he has a 4.6 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society, also participates in the Sequoit Sidekicks club at Antioch.
“I hang out with kids who have some sort of a disability, and we do activities with them, like bowling, floor hockey and corn mazes,” he said. “We help them feel included and make sure they have a lot of fun.
“It’s helped me learn how to understand people and listen better. I’ve learned about different disabilities and how to encourage others and also that someone with a disability doesn’t mean that they are less functional. There’s nothing wrong with needing guidance or care.”
Fracek said Rubin’s final two years at Antioch will be interesting.
“I’m excited to see how he evolves and what him getting better will look like,” Fracek said. “Because he’s so good and mature, I can’t wait to see the process he goes through to get him to where he needs to go.”
Rubin will continue to fish. He said he brings his gear to out-of-state baseball tournaments during the summer.
“I’ll find places to fish when I have some free time,” he said. “I’ve taught a lot of my teammates how to fish, and some have started to bring their own rods.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
