Alex Mussenden played well against King and Freedom last week.
After starting the season with a 1-1 record, Strawberry Crest’s baseball team bounced back with a pair of wins on March 8 and 9. The Chargers shut out both Freedom (9-0) and King (5-0) and were led offensively by sophomore Alex Mussenden. Mussenden went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in against the Patriots on March 8 and followed up against the Lions the next day by going 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. He’s now second on the team with a .455 batting average and five hits and leads all Chargers with four RBI, three doubles, a triple and four runs scored (a three-way tie with Tanner Kelley and Juan Gonzalez Uribe).
Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at JKline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.
What’s working for you this year?
I guess getting up there and swinging. I mean, not thinking too much and just doing my thing, trusting myself.
What are some of the biggest things you learned from your freshman year with the team that have helped you this year?
Maybe just to stay calm and trust my ability. Let it ride.
How would you say you’re doing this season, in your opinion?
I would say I’m doing pretty good. There’s definitely some stuff I’ve got to work on and get better at, but I’ll get there.
What’s the number one thing you’re trying to improve this season?
My stolen bases and limiting my strikeouts.
Last year was a pretty crazy experience for a freshman, with you getting playing time on a state championship series team. What was the ride like for you?
It was a fun time, a real fun time. Just the experience was the best, watching and learning from the upperclassmen how they carried themselves.
How has the experience from making that run to Fort Myers carried over to this year’s team?
We definitely have some more confidence. We’ve kind of got some swagger.
What makes this year’s team work well?
We lost five seniors, but the people filling in for those roles are doing really good and we’re gonna make another shot this year.
How long have you been playing baseball?
Since I was 4.
What got you into it?
My dad was a big baseball player in high school.
What made you stay with the game for 11 years?
Just having fun. Like, I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. Baseball’s just the greatest sport out there.
What’s been your favorite moment with this team?
Every day is super fun with these guys. We’re a great team. We get along really well.
Do you have any superstitions?
Not really. I mean, me and (Alex) Marshall set up the flags and there’s a little sewage thing. Every time we go by it, we spit in it.
