Nate Seeber

Foundation Academy senior pitcher

Nate Seeber pitched recently the entire game against the Apopka Blue Darters, allowing only three hits, walking two, striking out 10 and allowing no runs for an ERA of 0.00.

“He’s a bulldog; I tell everybody on our staff to watch him and watch how he approaches the game and watch how he attacks the game,” Foundation Academy head baseball coach Jay Welsh said. “He pitches with such tremendous confidence at all times; everything he does he does confidently. He just has this extreme confidence about him, and he’s just one of those players (who) is amazing.”

Tell us about your years as a baseball player.

I started playing when I was 6 years old, in Little League, with my dad as a coach.

Why baseball?

My dad always liked it. He put all three of (his sons) in it so we kind of all played it, but I was the one who stuck with it. It’s fun, I like it. I’ve been a pitcher all my life.

What’s your favorite pitch to throw?

Probably a slider; it’s hard to hit.

What do you believe baseball has taught you not only on the field but also outside of it?

I think just working through the difficulties of winning or losing and then just having a good attitude on the field. Because, I think if you have a good attitude on the field, your team will see it and everybody will feed off of the energy of the leader. And off the field, I think if you have a good attitude, it makes your life better and it helps you as a person.

Do you have a favorite drill to do at practice?

I like to hit a lot, but maybe the PFPs, which it’s like pitching and fielding practice.

What do you think makes you a unique pitcher on the mound?

I think my attitude. I like to control the game, it’s fun to have all eyes on me. So I can really make it a show. I don’t like the power or anything, but I like to have a good attitude. If we are losing, I like to fight for the win.

How do you believe you instill leadership in your team?

I think just having a good attitude.

… Winning or losing, I think if you fight through the pain and through adversity, you show your team that even if you are losing, you can still come back and win, because it’s baseball and it’s seven innings.

Do you have a favorite MLB player Bryce Harper. I think growing up I always liked him because he hit a bunch of home runs.

But my favorite team … I kind of go where he goes. It’s the Phillies now but I liked him a lot.

What’s your favorite part about being a part of the Lions’ base ball team?

THE BASICS

Age: 18

Sport: Baseball

Position: Pitcher

Grade: 12

School: Foundation Academy

I think coming in as a senior, it’s probably my favorite part because I can lead the team. Everyone is kind of young … and I think it’s pretty cool that I can be (part) of the energy and lift everybody up.

What’s your favorite hobby?

I like playing pickleball, it’s kind of small tennis, or I go golfing.

What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island?

Probably my best friend Kyle (Disabatino), a pocket knife and maybe a lighter.

What’s your favorite movie?

I like “The Maze Runner” series a lot; those were good movies.

What TV series are you watching right now?

I just finished “Outerbanks.” I like adventure shows; it’s a good action-packed series.

What do you listen to before a game to get you in the zone?

Honestly, Justin Bieber. (I listen to) this song called “Anyone.”

Who’s your favorite superhero?

Why?

I’m going to go with Spiderman; he’s cool and he’s a teenager. I like the Tom Holland movies too.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

Probably time travel, so you can go back and change anything if you messed up something in the past.

What are three places you’d like to visit? Why?

I definitely want to go to England, just because I’ve heard it’s pretty cool. New York City, I’ve never been there. And, maybe Hollywood, because it’s a big city and it’d be cool.

Which one would you choose: Instagram, BeReal or TikTok?

Probably Instagram, I don’t have TikTok or BeReal.

If you could go back in time to a specific period of history, what would it be and why?

Maybe back to the beginning of high school and kind of relive (it) and see what would happen — if it’d be different and how it

What color would you say represents your perMaybe baby blue, just because it’s a cool color.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B from Gainesville with a narrowed down number of potential causes for Rayne’s condition.

The first possible cause may be that Rayne could have caught some sort of cold virus that attacked her body cells.

“(The doctors) said sometimes viruses can do this, (but) I’ve never heard of this,” Deidra City said. “I don’t remember her being sick. … They said she could’ve had (cold) symptoms and not realize it.”

In 2019, Rayne was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation of the brain, a condition where the brain tissue extends into the spinal canal.

“Her tonsil plate and her brain sit in the base of her neck, lower than it should be,” Deidra City said. “So her brain actually sits on her spinal cord. She’s had it probably since birth. … So, (the doctors) said that because hers is past five millimeters, that could be causing some of the neurological changes in the legs: the walking, the weakness, the numbness. So, we have a follow up outpatient (visit scheduled) with a neurosurgeon to go over some studies and exams.”

The mother and daughter are scheduled to pay another visit to the pediatrician on Tuesday, March 21, and will be back to Shands on Friday, April 7.

“I’ve been trying to double up the appointments,” Deidra City said. “If she has to see two doctors, we can make one trip.”

Despite not having a diagnosis, Rayne and her mother feel hopeful that she will soon go back to normal. In fact, she is scheduled to start physical therapy soon at AdventHealth Sports Med & Rehab in Apopka.

“It’s really heartbreaking to see her go from an outgoing person always playing sports and just always doing stuff to (a point where she) can’t even walk, it’s heartbreaking,” said Jennifer Stein, Deidra City’s best friend and Rayne’s second mother.

Community Support

The Citys have always been residents of Ocoee. Deidra City — a single mother — has lived her entire life there, and her two children, Rayne and Anthony, have too.

“Our world and our community have been so supportive,” Deidra City said. “Our inner community in Ocoee in general, her friends.

… We’ve had her school teachers come to the house and bring her balloons and flowers.”

Despite this being her first year as a lacrosse player at Ocoee High School, Rayne’s lacrosse teammates have been playing their 2022-23 season in honor of No. 22 — her jersey number.

“I played the first game and that following Monday was my last normal day on the team,” she said. “I probably won’t be back to lacrosse this year.”

As a single mother, Deidra City usually works three jobs — and 80 hours a week — to be able to provide for her two children and four cats. However, with Rayne needing round-the-clock care, she was only able to keep one job: the one that allows her to work from home.

“I’m only working 40 hours a week,” she said. “So, that’s a whole paycheck missing, and without Rayne’s, that’s another paycheck.”

Despite not being worried about medical expenses because of a good insurance coverage, the family is worried about the daily expenses such as mortgage, food and anything house related. However, after getting home from the hospital, the Citys already received the medical bill: $132,000.

“I don’t know what my portion will be, but that was the medical bill (so far),” Deidra City said.

Rayne’s boyfriend, Jackson Nielson, has been a huge help to the family as he has contributed to her care since she was admitted at the hospital.

“He’s been really helpful,” Rayne said. “He stayed a few nights at the hospital with us. … He’s helped me a lot and my mom a lot.”

“I was able to take some breaks because he wanted to learn how to get her up and take care of her,” Deidra City said.

Even Oliver, one of the family cats, has been of support to Rayne during these hard days.

“He’s an emotional support ani- mal,” Deidra City said. “When she’s sick, he sits outside her bedroom door and meows. He follows her from room to room and when she lets him in the room … he sleeps on her bed.”

Rayne was preparing to take her SAT and was an active organizer of the Mr. and Miss Ocoee Pageant.

“I missed the SAT, I missed the pageant, I missed probably six lacrosse games by now,” she said. “I am a very committed person … and it’s very disappointing because I go to every practice, I make sure I am having a good attitude while I’m there just trying to make the most our of it, and, now, I’ve missed all of it.”

Hundreds of people Rayne and her family have encountered in their life have contributed to helping making this situation a little easier.

“I don’t want her to get depressed over it,” Deidra City said. “She’s going back to normal; it’s just going to take time.”

GOFUNDME HELP RAYNE AND HER FAMILY gofundme.com/f/ugvvmwraynes-recovery

OPENING DAY PARADE

The WOBR League will celebrate the opening of its 2023 spring season with an opening-day parade of 10 to 20 floats that will start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 25.

Family. Friends. Community.

If you could be an animal for a day, which one would you be and why? I’d be a dog, just because they are spoiled.

— ANDREA MUJICA

According to Fitzpatrick, the parade will start at the old Ocoee City Hall on Bluford Avenue and will head north, crossing over to Silver Star Road to later head toward Rewis Street, then Flewelling Avenue and reach the park right after the baseball fields.

“We will then have the teams lined up so we can announce each one as they enter the field,” Fitzpatrick said.

“The parade brings a sense of community,” Fitzpatrick said. “We push that we are one big family (and one) big community.”

TEAM INFORMATION:

FACEBOOK: West Orange Babe Ruth League EMAIL: westorangebabaruth@gmail.com