Boulder Creek grad earns national honor
MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~ 7/14/2010

A senior season in which Bryce Eisenbart led his team to the 5A Div-II state semifinals, during a 26-15 season, keeps getting better.
The 2010 Boulder Creek High School graduate, who broke the state record for hits in a season with 73 and the record for doubles with 24, added another accolade to his resume by being named to the 2010 National High School Baseball Coaches Association’s All-American Team last week.
Eisenbart was one of three Arizona players to earn second team honors, and one of only four players total from the Grand Canyon State to be recognized.
“It was pretty crazy to see my name on an All-American team,” Eisenbart said. “You look at some of those names, the No. 2 overall pick is there. There is some serious talent on that list.”
Along with being a dominant force at the plate, where he hit team-bests with a .537 batting average, 13 home runs and 58 RBIs, Eisenbart also starred on the mound for the Jaguars. In 80 innings the right-hander went 10-4 with a 1.84 E.R.A.
“I want to continue to work both on my hitting and with my pitching,” the 18-year-old said. “I love to play every day, but I also like to be the one on the mound with my team relying on me.”
Coach Joe McDonald said Eisenbart’s accomplishments were hard to put into words.
“He was absolutely unbelievable for us,” the coach said. “He had some awesome individual accomplishments, but he never cared about those things. He’s not an individual. He put team first.”
While most scouts view him as a pitcher moving forward McDonald said he is confident Eisenbart will prove himself more than capable at the plate next season at Paradise Valley Community College.
“The first time I ever saw him play I knew he was a real talent,” the coach said. “It took him some time to mature on and off the field, but once it happened we got a player and person that is pretty special. From the first practice of the season until the final at bat of his career it was almost surreal some of the things he did. We always knew we’d get a quality effort.”
Though he was disappointed when his name wasn’t called in Major League Baseball’s June Amateur Draft, Eisenbart said he’ll use that as motivation moving forward.
“I was a little heart broken I have to admit,” he said. “I thought it was really close. I was on the phone with a couple teams during the draft, but my name was never called. I want to go to PV and prove myself. I’m more dedicated to the game. I know college kids won’t take it easy on me because I was an All-American. I’m sure that’s like having a target on my back, but I’m going to work hard in the weight room to get stronger. Hopefully I’ll do enough to be picked next year.”
To view the complete list of All-Americans go to baseballcoaches.org/2010bcaallamericanteams.pdf.