Photo courtesy of Mike Eisenbach
Maddox “Mad Dog” Eisenbach
Maddox “Mad Dog” Eisenbach is 12 years old and is going into the 7th grade at Tomlin Middle School. Maddox was one of the kids from Plant City who represented in Cooperstown in New York where he and the Plant City Warriors played for a week.
What was it like playing in
Cooperstown?
It was an awesome experience getting to play baseball in another state with my teammates. One of the coolest parts was seeing the mountains in the background while we were playing. It felt like something I’d only seen on TV.
What was your favorite memory at Cooperstown?
Winning the Team Skills Competition out of 94 teams was definitely one of my favorite memories. That was really exciting. I also had a lot of fun pin trading with players from all over the country.
When you weren’t playing baseball, what were you doing in your free time?
I was definitely pin trading with my teammates and other players. We also played Wiffle ball, visited the Baseball Hall of Fame, sang karaoke, and played Nerf basketball in the barracks. Spending time with my coaches and teammates made the whole week even more fun.
How different was it playing in the cold in New York compared to the heat in Plant City.
It was really different. We had one game that started at 11:30 at night when it was around 40 degrees outside. My muscles got really tight, and the dew on the grass made the field slippery. Even though it was freezing, it was really cool getting to play until almost 1:00 in the morning.
How did it feel playing on the same historic fields where MLB stars have played?
It was really cool knowing that players like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Mookie Betts once played on the same fields where I got to play. It made me feel like I was part of something special.
Did you prefer the morning or night games, and why?
I liked the morning games better because the night games were freezing!
What advice would you give future players going to the Cooperstown tournament?
Have fun and enjoy every minute of it because the week goes by really fast. It was one of the best weeks of my life, and you’ll make memories you’ll never forget.
What’s a sport you haven’t played on a team yet that you’d like to try?
I’d like to try soccer or volleyball. I’m hoping I’ll get the chance when I try out for the teams at Tomlin Middle School this year.
