By Sean Duncan

Tim Barry made it official last week: He is now the most prodigious hitter in Illinois high school baseball history.

If the 6-foot, 205-pound outfielder from Oak Forest only hit one home run last week, his accomplishment alone of becoming Illinois? all-time home run and RBI king is reason enough to earn the Porsche Exchange Player of the Week honors.

But in typical Tim Barry fashion, the slugger went on a home run binge, blasting seven round-trippers last week to claim the state?s power records. In one powerful swing - a sixth-inning, two-run blast on Friday against Bremen ? Barry became the home run and RBI king.

?It?s a big relief,? said Barry after the record-breaking homer. ?Now I don?t have to worry about it anymore. Now I can just keep going and make sure no one breaks it.?

Friday?s homer gave him 50 for his decorated four-year varsity career, eclipsing Odin?s Curtis Parish?s previous mark of 49. The two-run blast also marked his 194 RBI, breaking the previous record by one.

Coming into the season, Barry needed only nine home runs to break the record ? a modest number for him given his previous totals. Only one problem: no one would pitch to him. At one point he was walked eight straight plate appearances, plus games were getting rained out on a daily basis.

?I?m very limited with my patience,? said Barry, who?s a three-time PBR All-State selection. ?I was tired of getting walked.?

Barry had only two home runs before he blasted a pair last Saturday. Then on Wednesday, the Kansas State recruit launched an amazing four round-trippers in a doubleheader against T.F. North to tie the record.

?I knew the record was there,? Barry said. ?I let it get to me a little bit. Then I just said, ?Whatever,? and I stopped thinking about it and just did it.?

Since his freshman year, it was clear that Barry was a special hitter. As a freshman, he racked up 73 RBI, which ranked second all-time in a single season. He finished with 13 home runs, 15 doubles and batted .495. As his reputation grew, he began seeing fewer pitches to hit. That didn?t prevent Barry from launching 17 bombs last season to go along with a .578 batting average.

 ?He?s the best I?ve ever seen,? said Oak Forest coach Thaddeus Gatton. ?I?ve never seen someone generate as much power as he does. He hits 450-foot home runs effortlessly. ? He gets so hot it?s ridiculous.?

The Porsche Exchange salutes Tim Barry for becoming Illinois? all-time greatest slugger.

View past Porsche Exchange Player of the Week winners.