Bruce Nyland is one of the senior leaders on the Alpharetta baseball team. He plays catcher, providing a calming influence behind the plate for pitchers. Staff writer Jake Gantz spoke recently with Nyland about this year's team:

Q: What do you do in the dugout to get into the head of the opposing pitcher?

A: We get everyone together and get this clap going. We start this slow clap when [the pitcher] is in his motion, and we get faster and faster. Right before he throws the ball, we get really fast, and it gets everyone into the game. We'll just get the clap going and do it for a couple pitches to get the pitcher rattled. It's just a fun way to keep everyone in the game and get them together.

Q: What is your best play ever in baseball?

A: Back when I was a freshman and I was playing varsity, it was the first game of the season and we were playing Westlake. It was a real close game, back and forth. We ended up getting down to where we needed one more run, and I came up to bat. I'd already struck out like three times this game. I hit a ball that one-bounced the wall in center, and it scored the guy from first. That next inning, we loaded the bases, and I came up to bat. I got hit by the pitch to win my first high school game. I thought that was a pretty good way to start off high school.

Q: What was your funniest moment?

A: One time there was this game where our coach came out of the dugout and started arguing with the umpire. He got all into it and started doing the thing where you kick dirt on the umpire and was getting all [upset]. He ended up getting thrown out. Our batter was up, and the umpire makes a terrible strike-three call. Our batter just went out there and drew a line with his bat seven to eight inches outside just to show the umpire, and he got thrown out right there, too.

Q: You play baseball, so what are your superstitions?

A: Lately I've really liked wearing my wristbands. I have a couple different colors that I wear for catching mostly —- so when I block the ball, I keep it off my forearms. I try to match them with the colors I'm wearing that day. If I'm wearing a black jersey with white lettering, I'll end up wearing the white wristband. If I'm wearing a maroon shirt, I'll wear my black wristband.

Q: What is something that people are surprised to learn about you?

A: You'd probably just end up seeing how calm I am. I don't let a lot of things bother me. I don't get all jumped up about something that doesn't really matter. I get along with pretty much anyone. I don't have any people I dislike.