Person reaches pinnacle

The Eunice High Bobcats will be represented at this year’s College World Series for the first time ever when the LSU Tigers take the field against the TCU Horned Frogs at 2 p.m. today at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.
“As I was watching the finish of LSU/ULL game Sunday night, it hit me that a former Bobcat would be playing in Omaha,” said Eunice High head baseball coach Scott Phillips, referring to former pitching ace Zac Person.
“I couldn’t be more excited for Zac and his family because I know how much he has overcome to be where he is today,” commented Phillips.
Person was an All-State, All-Acadiana, and Underarmour All-American in his senior season at Eunice High School.
He pitched his team to the Class 3A state semifinals in 2011 and also pitched in the LHSAA All-Star game that year.
“Zac was a dominant high school pitcher with a great breaking ball,” said Phillips. “But it wasn’t always easy for him.”
Phillips recounted how Person struggled to throw strikes and keep his composure during his freshman and sophomore season.
As a junior, Person tore his ACL in November and really wasn’t much of a factor for the Bobcats that season.
“Going into his senior year, we knew there was potential but not sure where it would take us a team”, commented Phillips.
“Needless to say, he had a great senior season and went on to play at LSU Eunice.”
At LSU Eunice, Person finished with 143 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA in 118.1 innings.
Phillips recalled that Person’s goal was to become an LSU Tiger and he turned down offers to play elsewhere because of that desire.
“Zac is a fierce competitor on the field as we have seen watching LSU games this season, but he is also one of the nicest young men you will ever meet. People have told me how Zac goes out of his way to sign autographs and pose for photos.”
Person’s appreciation for where he is likely comes from all that he has had to overcome, including an injury he suffered as a 12 year-old which led to surgery on a fractured growth plate in his throwing elbow. But he never gave up on his dream of playing baseball.
Phillips texted Person on Monday, congratulating him and he got a return text in which Person said how excited he was and how he couldn’t wait to get to Omaha.
“Zac’s an example of someone who set his goals high and worked hard to accomplish them,” said Phillips. “You never know where you might end up.”
On Tuesday, with the No. 259 overall pick in the ninth round of the MLB draft, the Houston Astros picked Person.
Person, who went 17-0 in two seasons at LSU Eunice before arriving at LSU, goes into the World Series with a 2-0 record and a 3.34 ERA, striking out 34 batters in 29.2 innings pitched.
Person is the third Eunice High baseball player to be selected in the draft, following Stuart Turner in the third round in 2013 to the Minnesota Twins and Chris Fruge in 1988 by the Chicago White Sox in the 28th round.

Zac Person facts
Registered a 17-0 record in two seasons at LSU-Eunice with 143 strikeouts and a 2.35 ERA in 118.1 innings ... his 98 strikeouts in 2013 were the sixth-highest total in LSU-Eunice history ... helped lead LSU-Eunice to the JUCO national title in 2012 and national runners-up finish in 2013 ... set Eunice High School record for strikeouts in a season with 182 in 2011 ... had a 14-4 career high school record with 246 strikeouts and a 1.24 ERA ... voted All-Parish MVP, All-District MVP, All-Acadiana MVP and First Team All-State in his high school senior season ... named 2011 1st Team Louisville Slugger All-American and the 2011 Louisiana High School Coaches Association Pitcher of the Year.