Bret Fleetwood said when he was growing up in Brownstown, he was always active in sports.
“I was the type of kid who liked to try any sport,” he said. “Somebody asked my parents if I would like to play baseball, so I decided to try it and see what it’s like, and I’ve been playing since third grade.”
On the diamond, Fleetwood would play in right field for the Braves — his favorite defensive position.
“I liked right field more because it was slower-paced,” Fleetwood said.
In the outfield, the Braves relied on communication to get outs.
“Normally, the center fielder has control over who gets the fly balls,” Fleetwood said. “I liked defense, but I’ve never been good at throwing, so I was mostly an offensive player.”
Fleetwood said he kept an open mind when he went up to bat.
“I really didn’t know what to expect on the first pitch,” he said. “I knew where my strike zone should be, and I swung at anything that was relatively close. I tried to draw walks.
“Most of the time, I got a fastball on the first pitch, but sometimes, they threw me a curve. I tried to make contact, and one game, I got a good hit over second base.”
On the schedule, Fleetwood looked forward to the games at BCHS.
“I really enjoyed the home games because we know the weather and know the field very well,” Fleetwood said.
He said he tried to work hard in practice.
“Practice is very important,” he said. “You always have to believe in your ability and try not to get down on yourself. If that happens, then you are just going to make more mistakes.”
The recent grad preferred the afternoon games and said he thought the Braves played a very competitive schedule that prepared them for the sectional.
“I just liked being able to play with all my friends and meet new people,” Fleetwood said. “I honestly couldn’t see myself going anywhere else to school. I’ve taken every AP (Advanced Placement) class here.”
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Name: Bret Fleetwood
School: Brownstown Central High School
Parents: Bret Fleetwood, Tara Fleetwood
Sibling: Baylei
Sport: Baseball, four years
Organizations: National Honor Society, Booster Club
Plans after high school: Attend University of Southern Indiana and study computer science
Favorite TV show: “The Walking Dead”
Favorite musician: All Time Low
Favorite team: Cincinnati Reds
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