Just about everybody, with an interest in Twin Counties baseball fixed their eyes on Rocky Mount center fielder Brian Goodwin this season.

They witnessed his .473 batting average. They saw the way he swiped 21 bases. They saw him as a catalyst to Rocky Mount High's 2008 NCHSAA 3-A state baseball championship.

Outsiders, including college and professional scouts, watched intently, too.

With so many sets of eyes focusing on his every move, Goodwin did not go into a cocoon. Instead he worked harder behind the scenes to improve his skills, embraced his role as the area's best all-around player, and earned the 2008 Telegram All-Area Offensive Player of the Year.

Most of all, he had – and is still having – a great time.

"It's definitely still fun," Goodwin said. "It's gotta be fun or else I wouldn't want to keep messing with it."

Goodwin's enthusiasm for the game has not wavered, even with the verbal commitment to North Carolina that is attached with his name. In the rare occasion Goodwin, a junior, finished 1-for-3, he thought about going 2-for-3 in the next game.

"I expect a lot of myself," Goodwin said. "When I'm not perfect, I don't worry, but it kind of bothers me. I have very high expectations for myself ... probably higher than what most people would hold their expectations of me."

The foundation of his five-tool skills is Goodwin's work ethic. There were 6 a.m. batting sessions before school, then more pregame hitting later. Goodwin is currently in his second summer of showcase baseball action that has him traveling as far as California in the coming weeks. He even snuck away for baseball tournaments on fall weekends after playing football for the Gryphons.

"Brian is nothing but class," Rocky Mount coach Pat Smith said. "He understands where he wants to go and he's been given the natural ability. He takes pride in his overall game and that's why he's going to be as good as he's going to be."

Where he's going has been a topic of conversation. Goodwin could be drafted professionally after he completes his senior season. He sees the stopwatches and clipboards in scouts' hands, but has kept his focus.

"I can't tell them because I don't even know," Goodwin said, when asked about what he says to those who make inquiries.

Goodwin hit to all fields this season and said his plate recognition improved. Goodwin had 44 hits – one shy of the state lead – even though he was pitched around or not pitched to at all. He finished with 27 walks. Goodwin took Smith's preseason challenge to be more aggressive at the plate.

The results are staggering. He led the state with 15 doubles. He is on pace to hold at least eight different school batting records, according to the school's unofficial stats keeper, Charles Alston.

Everyone's going to be watching for the foreseeable future.

Goodwin knows he can be better at "everything," including hitting for more power.

One thing Goodwin doesn't have to work on is his humility, even though there are big decisions to make in the next year.

"I'm not that special," Goodwin said.

"If I got hurt, they're not going to shut down everything. Everything keeps going regardless. Right now I don't look at it so much as a business, because it's more fun."

Jessie H. Nunery can be reached at 407-9951 or jhnunery@coxnc.com