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Players Still ‘Go to School’ at Little League World Series

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT — From dropping their bats to picking up their pads, some players in the Little League World Series aren’t forgetting about their...

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT -- From dropping their bats to picking up their pads, some players in the Little League World Series aren't forgetting about their schoolwork.

The team from California has mandatory class every day in South Williamsport.

That team from San Diego had a big win Monday night at Lamade Stadium and they will play again Tuesday night to stay in the tournament. But in between these crucial games is study time in a classroom that overlooks the field.

The Little League team representing the West region is a force to be reckoned with on the field. And off the field they're not just good athletes.

Each day, the kids from the San Diego area put down their bats and pick up their tablets. Their coaches set aside about an hour or two each day for the kids to do their homework.

"We try to stay on it as much as possible, as much as our schedule allows us to," said West Region coach Arturo Maldonado.

"We've already started school," said West Region player Antonio Andre. "We can't miss any of our assignments. We can't fail school so we just continue working."

These kids go to school year-round and the kids say their new school year started in mid-July. Even though they are the only team at the Little League World Series in a classroom each day, they say they don't mind.

"When you go back after the World Series, you're going to be super behind so you might as well do some of your homework here," said West Region player Mark Cervantes.

Their coaches say all of the homework is done on iPads which their school supplied.

"The teachers can email them their work and they can push it back," Maldonado explained. "The only thing they're not able to do are the tests."

The kids tell Newswatch 16 baseball is their favorite part of the Little League World Series, but it may not be the most important.

"It's always school first for us. We finish our homework and then we worry about the game," said Andre.

"I've been just focusing on trying to ace all my classes so I can just have a better life when I'm older," Cervantes added.

"That's why you call them student athletes," Maldonado said. "They're a student before they're an athlete."

All of their homework is done and the West Region plays Tuesday night at Lamade Stadium.

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