Sports Spotlight - Windermere Observer: Austin Stoetzer

The Dr. Phillips Predators 14U travel baseball team is having a strong fall season most recently winning the championship for the Silver Bracket at the Nations of Orlando “Fall Classic” in Apopka. Helping to lead the way has been Austin Stoetzer, 13. Stoetzer has been valuable to the Predators on the mound, at the plate and on the field as the eighth-grader looks to improve himself for high school ball next year.

It seems you’re having a pretty strong fall. What’s your assessment of how you’ve played so far?

I think I’m doing pretty (well). I’ve been getting better at pitching and just overall playing on the field.

What are you focused on improving this fall?

I want to get better at pitching, quite honestly. It’s been helping me out a lot in games. Mostly, I want to improve my speed and mechanics.

What do you enjoy most about playing the game?

Just being with the team, making great plays and trying to win.

Baseball-wise, who is one of your role models?

It would have to be my coach, James Parr. He’s helped me a lot with pitching and other positions.

What’s your favorite baseball team? 

That would have to be the (Philadelphia) Phillies. It’s my dad’s favorite team, and it’s just become mine, too.

What’s your dream job?

It would have to be a paleontologist. It started as a love for dinosaurs when I was little, and it has just grown. I’m pretty sure it came up through some books I was reading when I was younger.

What’s the last good book you read?

The “Divergent” series. I like the characters and how they develop through the whole series.

Do the movies that have come out recently do the books justice?

Yeah — they’ve been pretty close to the books.

What do you like to do with your spare time?

Just to play video games. My favorite is “Star Wars: Battlefront.” It’s really fun to play as a Stormtrooper. I also get to play against my dad.

So who wins more often — you or dad?

Me.