Eddie Calzoncit, Jr. must have felt very comfortable playing on the field at Dell Diamond in Round Rock Saturday, June 15. In the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A-3A-4A All-Star Game he continued with the same hot bat he had there in the state tournament the previous week. Calzoncit and his Blanco Panther teammates played in the Conference 3A State-Semifinal game Friday, June 7 and the State Championship game Saturday, June 8. Calzoncit went six-for-six in the tournament. In the all-star game he went two-for-two. Calzoncit has batted .1000 at Dell Diamond.
Calzoncit was happy to be invited to play with the all-stars.
“It feels good to make it to the game, since they chose from 150 plus players, and then narrow it to 20 players for the South team and 20 players for the North team from all the 2A, 3A and 4A teams,” he said. I was glad to represent Blanco.”
With two outs, Calzoncit, playing for the South team, hit a triple in the third inning with a runner on first and a runner on third to put the South in the lead 2-0. The next batter hit a single to bring Calzoncit in for another run. The South led 3-0. On defense, Calzoncit played second base and made two stops for outs.
Calzoncit hit another triple in the seventh inning, but he was left stranded. The South defeated the North 6-2. With Calzoncit instrumental in three of the six runs for the South, he was awarded the MVP trophy for the game.
“I want to thank my parents, Eddie and Laura Calzoncit, for doing everything they possibly could to make my baseball dreams come true,” Calzoncit said. “It has truly been a family effort. Before the all-star game my dad had to work and couldn’t throw to me, so I have to give a shout-out to my sisters, Mishelle, Andrea and Erika for working with me.”
With a smile Eddie added, “Mishelle especially takes credit for pitching strikes to me that prepared me for all-stars.”
“I also want to thank Coach Bryan Wyatt for pushing me to do my best – to be the best I could be,” he said.
Coach Wyatt felt Calzoncit was an obvious choice for the MVP of the game.
“When he hit the first triple and scored two runners, and scored a run on the next hit, I said that should get him the MVP,” he said. “When he hit the second triple, I felt it was a sure thing. Blanco has had nine players over the years to make it to this all-star game – Eddie is the first to receive the MVP.”
Calzoncit plans on continuing his baseball career at a junior college program and from there continue playing for a four-year college or university.
