The Salisbury University baseball team has experienced its fair share of success in recent seasons. It recorded over 30 wins in its 2017 and 2018 campaigns and has reached the NCAA Regionals in three consecutive seasons.
Senior infielder Jack Barry looks back fondly on his time with Salisbury, appreciative of the memories made along the way.
“It’s been fantastic,” Barry said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more from a college baseball experience and just a college experience overall.”
Barry has also experienced his share of individual success as a member of SU’s baseball team.
As of April 3, Barry has recorded 182 hits, 26 home runs and 137 RBI’s over his three-plus seasons with the baseball team. He also holds a .338 career batting average and a .474 on-base percentage.
Last season was Barry’s most productive, batting at a .413 clip and reaching base in over 50 percent of his plate appearances.
When looking back on his decision to attend Salisbury, Barry feels that he made the best possible decision.
“If you could take me back four years and ask if I wanted to play college baseball here again, I would do it in a heartbeat,” Barry said.
Many Division III baseball players never experience this level of success, on an individual or team level. Barry, however, is not satisfied with only reaching regionals.
“The goal here is to win a World Series,” Barry said.
While he has been on close teams in the past, Barry feels that this team’s bond could be a driving factor in the team reaching the World Series.
“This is probably the closest group of guys I’ve ever been a part of,” Barry said.
He also acknowledged the time the seniors have spent together as a large factor for the team’s success this season.
The team lost 12 seniors last season, only one of which spent all four years with the program. The 2019 senior class, a highly-touted recruiting class for Salisbury, is comprised of eight seniors that have spent all four years with SU.
“The core group of seniors has been together for four years, and it’s our last ride,” Barry said. “It’s really just been a blessing to be a part of this team the last four years.”
This team’s core has experienced the aforementioned success of the university over the past few seasons. The only thing missing? A national championship.
“I’ve gotten to go to regionals and won the conference championships with those guys, and it’s been really special,” Barry said. “Hopefully, we can win the big one this year, which is the national championship, that’s really the only piece we’re missing.”
As of April 3,the SU baseball team boasts an 19-4-1 overall record. It holds a 9-0 record in the conference, tied with Christopher Newport at the top of the Capital Athletic Conference.
Barry feels this team can reach the World Series and looks back to his sophomore season and how close it was to achieving that goal.
The 2017 SU baseball team saw its season end on May 21 at the hands of Roanoke where the Sea Gulls lost the second game of the doubleheader.
“We were 12 outs away from the World Series,” Barry said. “We always talk about that as that last point we want to get back to, to put ourselves in a position to get back to that World Series.”
By NICK LEWIS
Staff writer
Featured photos: Junior Jimmy Atkins with senior Jack Barry during a pause in play. March 2, Jack Barry running to home plate. March 5 (Emma Reider images).