By William Soquet
Contributing Writer
Activity: Baseball
Parents: Lindy and Clint Petasek
Twitter: @APetasek
Alex is a pitcher, first baseman and outfielder for the Hornets baseball team.
What is a memorable moment from your baseball career?
“Beating Bay Port at their own field last year was pretty fun. All of us were just focused on what we wanted to get done, and we all were ready to go. Everybody knew their job and it felt like we executed well. That’s how we won.”
Is it hard to fight the weather early in the season?
“It’s definitely difficult with the Wisconsin weather — we’ve had a lot of crazy weather in the past. I feel like I can get done what I need to get done, and the weather is more of an external variable that we can just get past and deal with it, try and get in a rhythm as best we can.”
What is your favorite position to play?
“Probably pitcher. You feel like you’re in control of the game. I like being part of the game, and I feel like as pitcher, you control the pace and rhythm of the game. That’s your goal as a pitcher, to get the hitters off balance.”
What is the best part of your game?
“I excel best at fielding, it’s probably my best asset. I feel like I’m always focused when I’m fielding — not that I’m not focused when I’m pitching or hitting, but I’m extra focused when I’m fielding.”
What are the keys to making a play in the field?
“You always have to be ready. You have to be looking for the ball, even before it comes to you. You have to be thinking about the situation before it happens. You have to react to the situation as best you can, and I feel like I react to it pretty well.”
Where is your favorite place to eat after games?
“Applebee’s is our main one. We also have senior breakfasts before games — and when we do that, we go to Perkins.”
What is the atmosphere of the senior breakfasts?
“It’s more focused on the day of the game. On days when it’s not a game, it’s usually before a practice, so we’re trying to get our minds right before the practice or before the game. That’s why we hold the senior breakfasts.”
Who is on top of your music playlists right now?
“I’m really big into country, so probably Zach Bryan, Jason Aldean and Bailey Zimmerman.”
What is a current favorite TV show?
“One of mine is ‘Outer Banks,’ they just came out with a third season, so that’s pretty cool. Other than that, ‘Cobra Kai’ is a show that I enjoy watching.”
What is your favorite movie?
“I love ‘Field of Dreams.’ It’s such a baseball movie and it’s got such a baseball environment and style to it.”
What are a couple of your hobbies?
“When I’m not playing baseball, I like weightlifting. I like playing table tennis. My coach says it’s good for hand-eye coordination. I also like playing pool — it’s not good for hand-eye coordination, but I just like playing it.”
Are you better at table tennis or pool?
“Both of them are pretty recreational, but I would say that I’m pretty good at table tennis.”
You’re also a youth baseball umpire. What’s that like?
“Being an umpire isn’t always the easiest job. The goal is to make everybody happy, but at the end of the day, no one really is. It’s tough mentally to make the right call every time, to be unbiased and to make sure nobody gets mad at you at the end of the day.”
Where is a favorite place you’ve traveled to?
“I love traveling. A favorite place I’ve been to would probably be either Fort Myers, Fla., or St. Louis, Mo. I love the St. Louis Cardinals. I’ve been a fan since I was like 3. We went there when I was 3, and I absolutely fell in love with the city.”
What is your favorite quote?
“I like Derek Jeter’s quote, ‘There may be people that have more talent than you, but that doesn’t give you an excuse to let them work harder than you.’ I feel like that sums up any baseball player, because if you work hard at it, who knows where it’s going to go!”
What’s your favorite subject?
“Probably social studies. I took an AP U.S. History class that I really enjoyed last year. It was a really fun class, we got to learn more about presidents and all the events of U.S. History. I thought it was a pretty fun class.”
What do your plans after high school look like?
“I’m still undecided right now. I’m hoping to find the right fit for me academically and athletically, and hopefully I can make a decision. I do know that I want to go to college for an accounting major.”