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High School | Blog | 3/25/2009

Central Illinois' hidden gem

Ben Diggle

High schools across Ilinois continue to open up their seasons. One of the schools doing so on Tuesday was Eureka.

Eureka is a bit of an unknown throughout the state, but it boasts a prospect resume that is the envy of most schools across the state. The Hornets boast one current major leaguer and two minor leaguers as well as one current Division I player.

The major leaguer is Tampa Bay Rays utility man Ben Zobrist, who has taken a magellan-like route to the big leagues.

Zobrist graduated from Eureka in 1999 and even after that June graduation, he had no offers to play college baseball. A trip to Bob Schlemmer's Central Illinois Exposure Day at Illinois Central College after graduation brought one offer -- from Olivet Nazarene University, an NAIA school in Kankakee.

"I'll never forget that," Schlemmer said. "He signed his letter-of-intent right on the picnic table."

After two years at ONU, he transferred to Dallas Baptist, which was in the process of transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division I.

Zobrist was a standout for the Patriots and ended up being selected by the Astros in the sixth round of the 2004 draft. Just two years and one trade to the Rays later, he was in the big leagues.

And then there's the Eigsti family. Jake, the oldest Eigsti brother, starred at Eureka and upon graduating from EHS 2002, took his game to Indiana State. He was selected in 29th round of the 2006 draft by the Mets as a second baseman

The middle brother, Ryan, who one-upped big brother by taking Eureka to the 2004 Class A state finals in Springfield on the strength of a 90 mph fastball. He eventually earned Peoria Journal Star Player of the Year and accepted a scholarship to Bradley, where he blossomed into all-Missouri Valley Conference catcher. Ryan was selected in the 15th round of the 2007 draft by the Royals.

The most recent Eigsti brother is Jerrord. He was a two-time Peoria Journal Star all-area selection and then accepted a chance to walk-on at -- welcome to full circle -- Dallas Baptitst where he is currently a freshman shortstop.

As for the 2009 edition of the Hornets, they opened the year with a 9-8 victory over Heyworth. Junior catcher Tyler Facker, beginning his third year as the Hornets starting backstop, went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs on opening day.

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