By Sean Duncan

Tim Barry is the most feared hitter in Illinois, a reputation he began molding since the first day he stepped onto Oak Forest?s campus as a freshman. The 6-foot, 205-pound outfielder's offensive numbers in his three varsity seasons are staggering: 41 home runs and 170 RBI. His home run total has him tied for second on the state?s all-time list behind Odin?s Curtis Parish (49), while his RBI mark is just 23 shy of the state mark of 193. And his 78 RBI during his freshman year currently ranks second all-time behind Mattoon?s Gil Metzger (80).

Despite his reputation, the three-time All-State selection posted another statistically staggering season as a junior last spring: .578 BA, 17 homers, 43 RBI. Barry is verbally committed to attend Kansas State University next year.

A conversation with Tim Barry:

When you step to the plate, do you think about hitting home runs?

At times I do think about it, and at times I don?t. Normally, just go ahead and try to find my groove. That?s it. When I think about it, I don?t hit them. The times when it happens, like at the beginning of the year, I think confident enough and I?m really not. I just try to work things out in my head.

What goes through your head when you?re in the batter?s box?

What I think about is hitting the ball right back at pitcher?s head. When the pitcher throws, I see his nice little facial expression he has, and I get a little angry and try to hit him with the ball.

You enter your senior season with the very real possibility of breaking the state home run and RBI records. Is this something that weighs on you?

I think about it, yes. During games, I don?t think about it. It has no impact on me at all. I just try to be the best I can be. ? I want to get it, but if I don?t get it, I don?t get it. I just want to do my best. All it does is make a new challenge for me. I try to find new challenges every step I take.

What makes you such good hitter?

The same things that I?ve been taught at an early age - just staying balanced and staying back, nice and easy hands, not gripping bat too hard.

Your raw strength obviously plays a significant factor in your home run production. Your shoulders and forearms are pretty ridiculous. Do you live in the weight room?

No, I only lift weights three days a week, but I run six days a week. The shoulders are natural, can?t say where I got them. The shoulders just came with everything. The rest I?ve worked very hard at. I guess I got the shoulders from all the catching I did.

Last year against Richards, you hit a ball that went a remarkable 572 feet. That type of power had to even surprise you, right?

Every time I?m at Richards? field I hit the ball pretty far.  I can?t explain the feeling, but it felt good. I felt I didn?t swing as hard as I should?ve. I was surprised about it, but not too surprised. 

(Note: Barry?s blast was measured out by a local sports reporter)

Your freshman year you earned first-team All-State honors after you tallied 78 RBI and 14 home runs. What kind of expectations did you have going into the year?

My freshman year I didn?t think I would do so hot. I thought I might hit three or four home runs, that?s it. I was playing with good players and I was the four-hitter. I showed coach how I could handle varsity pitching. After that, I got my confidence and my teammates were very supportive. ? After my freshman year, I figured three more years of this and I?d be on top of everyone.

The summer going into your junior year, you earned the CABA World Series? Most Outstanding Hitter when you blasted 11 home runs in 10 games while helping Top Tier win the championship.

I really surprised myself there. I just kept my groove every day. If I find my groove, I do same thing every day. I was eating diff cereals every day until I find groove.

(Note: He finally settled on Special K with strawberries)

In five years, where do you see yourself?

I hope I?m playing in the major leagues. It?s always been my dream to play in the major leagues. I know for fact that I can be in the major leagues.

What aspect of your game do you think you need to improve on?

Throwing the ball.  As far as I know, I top out at 89 mph from the outfield. I need to work on my arm strength.

What?s your advice to aspiring young players?

Train really hard and work on the techniques that good teachers show you. As long as you?re comfortable in what doing, just work hard on it.