ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Nate Seeber

Foundation Academy senior pitcher Nate Seeber pitched recently the entire game against the Apopka Blue Darters, allowing only three hits, walking two, striking out 10 and allowing no runs for an ERA of 0.00. “He’s a bulldog; I tell everybody on our staff to watch him and watch how he approaches the game and watch how he attacks the game,” Foundation Academy head baseball coach Jay Welsh said. “He pitches with such tremendous confidence at all times; everything he does he does confidently. He just has this extreme confidence about him, and he’s just one of those players (who) is amazing.”

Tell us about your years as a baseball player.
I started playing when I was 6 years old, in Little League, with my dad as a coach.  

Why baseball?
My dad always liked it. He put all three of (his sons) in it so we kind of all played it, but I was the one who stuck with it. It’s fun, I like it. I’ve been a pitcher all my life. 

What’s your favorite pitch to throw? 
Probably a slider; it’s hard to hit. 

What do you believe baseball has taught you not only on the field but also outside of it? 
I think just working through the difficulties of winning or losing and then just having a good attitude on the field. Because, I think if you have a good attitude on the field, your team will see it and everybody will feed off of the energy of the leader. And off the field, I think if you have a good attitude, it makes your life better and it helps you as a person. 

Do you have a favorite drill to do at practice? 
I like to hit a lot, but maybe the PFPs, which it’s like pitching and fielding practice. 

What do you think makes you a unique pitcher on the mound? 
I think my attitude. I like to control the game, it’s fun to have all eyes on me. So I can really make it a show. I don’t like the power or anything, but I like to have a good attitude. If we are losing, I like to fight for the win. 

How do you believe you instill leadership in your team? 
I think just having a good attitude. … Winning or losing, I think if you fight through the pain and through adversity, you show your team that even if you are losing, you can still come back and win, because it’s baseball and it’s seven innings. 

Do you have a favorite MLB player?
Bryce Harper. I think growing up I always liked him because he hit a bunch of home runs. But my favorite team … I kind of go where he goes. It’s the Phillies now but I liked him a lot. 

What’s your favorite part about being a part of the Lions’ baseball team?
I think coming in as a senior, it’s probably my favorite part because I can lead the team. Everyone is kind of young … and I think it’s pretty cool that I can be (part) of the energy and lift everybody up. 

What’s your favorite hobby? 
I like playing pickleball, it’s kind of small tennis, or I go golfing. 

What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island? 
Probably my best friend Kyle (Disabatino), a pocket knife and maybe a lighter. 

What’s your favorite movie? 
I like “The Maze Runner” series a lot; those were good movies. 

What TV series are you watching right now? 
I just finished “Outerbanks.” I like adventure shows; it’s a good action-packed series. 

What do you listen to before a game to get you in the zone? 
Honestly, Justin Bieber. (I listen to) this song called “Anyone.” 

Who’s your favorite superhero? Why? 
I’m going to go with Spiderman; he’s cool and he’s a teenager. I like the Tom Holland movies too. 

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? 
Probably time travel, so you can go back and change anything if you messed up something in the past. 

What are three places you’d like to visit? Why? 
I definitely want to go to England, just because I’ve heard it’s pretty cool. New York City, I’ve never been there. And, maybe Hollywood, because it’s a big city and it’d be cool. 

Which one would you choose: Instagram, BeReal or TikTok? 
Probably Instagram, I don’t have TikTok or BeReal. 

If you could go back in time to a specific period of history, what would it be and why?
Maybe back to the beginning of high school and kind of relive (it) and see what would happen — if it’d be different and how it would go. 

What color would you say represents your personality? 
Maybe baby blue, just because it’s a cool color. 

If you could be an animal for a day, which one would you be and why? 
I’d be a dog, just because they are spoiled.