Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Alex Swanson - Base Bandit

Tony Altobelli

Attention Pacific Coast League baseball pitchers: If Corona del Mar

High leadoff hitter Alex Swanson gets on first base, be creative with

head fakes, nods and any non-balk motions you can think of or he’ll be

standing on second in no time flat.

“I really study the pitcher when I’m on base,” Swanson said. “With a

right-hander, I focus on his front foot and go as soon as it starts going

up. On the lefty, it’s a little tougher. I try to take off on first

movement, but it’s not as easy.”

So far, Swanson has been a perfect 24 for 24 on stolen bases, leading the

Sea Kings and all of Orange County in that department.

“He’s on the move virtually every time he gets on base for us,” Coach

John Emme said. “He’s a great weapon to have and he creates a lot of

havoc when he gets on.”

As of late, Swanson has really put that high-quality speed to good use,

going 4 for 8 with four stolen bases in the final two games of the Pride

of the Coast Baseball Tournament action last week, catapulting him to

Daily Pilot High School Athlete of the Week honors.

“Going into this season, I was hoping for 40 stolen bases, but I think I

might have been shooting a little too high,” Swanson admitted. “Overall,

I just wanted to have fun and be a part of a positive atmosphere this

year. So far, it’s been a lot of fun. I just can’t believe it’s coming to

an end pretty soon.”

Of course, it’s a little easier to have fun when you’ve got a CIF

Southern Section Division IV baseball title under your belt.

“That was great being able to play at Anaheim Stadium last year,” Swanson

said. “Last year I was used primarily as a pinch-runner, but it was a

great learning experience for me. It helped me to be a better ball player

for this year.

“The whole point of playing baseball is to have fun,” Swanson continued.

“If you’re not having fun, what’s the point of even playing?”

Just like in the movie, “Major League,” Swanson has had to battle “Willie

Mays Hayes Disease,” which is hitting too many fly balls and not

utilizing his speed to its maximum, according to Emme.

“There are no bad hops in the air,” Emme said. “He needs to chop down at

the ball and force the defense to make the plays against him. His speed

will take care of the rest.”

According to Swanson, if his bloodlines have any say in the matter, look

for the 5-foot-10, 150-pound speedster’s frame to change dramatically.

“I take after my grandfather a lot,” Swanson said. “He was a baseball

player and he was small and fast as a high school kid. But after he

graduated, he grew four inches and put on 50 pounds. I hope that’s in my

future as well.”

What Swanson lacks in vocal participation, he more than makes up in

effort as far as being a senior leader goes.

“Alex is a quiet guy, but by the end of the game, he’s one of the

dirtiest guys on the team,” Emme said. “He’s always diving all over the

place and making a mess of his uniform. To me, that’s the best kind of

player to be.”

Swanson will get an opportunity to reunite next year with former CdM

teammate Eric Wiethorn when he moves on to Orange Coast College in the

fall.

“I really want to eventually go to a UC school, but grades are the

important thing right now,” Swanson said. “I’m not sure what my major

will be, but I am interested in both business and creative writing, so

we’ll see what happens.”