Orange Observer: Sports Spotlight — Alex Britton

Despite having his senior baseball season cut short at Olympia High School, outfielder Alex Britton looks to the future as he prepares himself to play at the next level for the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University baseball team.
 

How did you first get into baseball?

I first got into the sport when I was about 8 years old. I had always watched it on TV with my grandma, and then one day I was like, “Well, let me try this out,” so I went over to the Y, and I decided that I wanted to play.
 

What has been your favorite thing about playing at Olympia?

It’s really competitive in our area — the teams are really good. Over the years, you get with a group of guys — obviously, the seniors leave — but you start getting closer to guys. It’s fun to be able to just work everyday to compete toward one goal and knowing that these are your friends — you’re in classes with them, but you also get to be on the field and play the game that we love every day.
 

Is there a highlight moment that stands out for you during your time at Olympia?

Definitely last year’s regional semifinal at Lake Brantley. We went there, and that was the biggest crowd I’ve ever played in front of. The game was just upbeat and really close, and obviously they had beaten us the time before, so there was a little bit of revenge that we wanted to have on them. Everything was tense, but we were having fun.
 

What’s your favorite part about playing outfield? The hardest part?

My favorite part of playing outfield is I think it is the most athletic position on the field. When someone hits the ball, you have to trust your instincts and just go after it …  you just have to cover a lot of room. And, honestly, that’s probably the most challenging part about it, too — if your instincts aren’t correct or if you second-guess yourself, that’s the difference between you catching the ball and them getting a double or triple.
 

What are the best words of advice you’ve been given about baseball?

Baseball is a game of failure — a lot of people say that, but it’s true. When you’re younger, you’re obviously a little bit immature, so when you get out, you think it’s the end of the world and you get upset. Playing baseball just teaches you that it’s OK to mess up sometimes, but it’s about how you bounce back. It’s honestly more of a mental game than it is a physical game, because you just learn how to persevere through struggles and slumps.
 

What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in yourself over the last four years of high school baseball?

Definitely my confidence. When I was younger, it was intimidating seeing all these big guys and you’re like, “Compared to them, I’m just a little kid.” Once you grow older, in order to play at the next level — and this level — you have to have confidence in your own abilities rather than just thinking about how scared or how intimidating those older guys are.