Baseball | Sheppard, Funkhouser carry Oak Forest during Barry's drought
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The slugger is stuck on 41.
That statement only could have applied to four players in the history of Illinois high school baseball, according to Illinois High School Association records. Three are from Oak Forest, and they're all without a single homer so far this season.
Brian Wheeler graduated in 1978 and Scott Pickands in 1986, so they're droughts are understandable.
Tim Barry's is too, because all hitters struggle, though this one is a surprise based on his typically prolific rate of production.
There's a bright side to the season-opening slump that leaves the senior left fielder eight home runs shy of equaling the state-record 49 Odin's Curtis Parrish hit from 2000-03. It is hasn't caused the young Oak Forest team he leads to stumble out of the gate.
The Bengals' only other senior starter, shortstop Bobby Sheppard, and junior pitcher Kyle Funkhouser (2-0) are the primary reasons Oak Forest has a 3-2-1 record through Wednesday against strong competition, following a split of one-run games with Lemont this week.
"Tim is struggling," Oak Forest coach Thaddeus Gatton said following the Bengals' 3-2 victory over Lemont ace Josh Ferry on Tuesday. "He's opening up a little early. He's going to start hitting. It's just a matter of when. For us to (start 3-1-1) while he's slumping, it's great for our program."
Barry, who will continue his career at Kansas State if he does not sign with a Major League organization, was clearly pressing in the third inning Tuesday against the Illinois-bound Ferry.
With two outs and a runner on third, he rung up a 3-0 count as Ferry appeared to be pitching around him. Instead of accepting a walk, Barry chased curve balls out of the strike zone to end the inning.
On Ferry's next pitch, the unassuming Sheppard timed a fastball and smashed it over the fence in right-center field.
"He's the best pitcher I've ever hit a home run off," Sheppard said. "I've faced some good pitchers in travel ball, and he's way up there."
Gatton is surprised that none of the schools that recruited Barry came away trying to land Sheppard.
"Bobby is phenomenal," Gatton said. "He does not have a scholarship yet, which shocks me. He's a leader on the field and a great kid. He's going to make some college coach happy."
That statement only could have applied to four players in the history of Illinois high school baseball, according to Illinois High School Association records. Three are from Oak Forest, and they're all without a single homer so far this season.
Brian Wheeler graduated in 1978 and Scott Pickands in 1986, so they're droughts are understandable.
Tim Barry's is too, because all hitters struggle, though this one is a surprise based on his typically prolific rate of production.
There's a bright side to the season-opening slump that leaves the senior left fielder eight home runs shy of equaling the state-record 49 Odin's Curtis Parrish hit from 2000-03. It is hasn't caused the young Oak Forest team he leads to stumble out of the gate.
The Bengals' only other senior starter, shortstop Bobby Sheppard, and junior pitcher Kyle Funkhouser (2-0) are the primary reasons Oak Forest has a 3-2-1 record through Wednesday against strong competition, following a split of one-run games with Lemont this week.
"Tim is struggling," Oak Forest coach Thaddeus Gatton said following the Bengals' 3-2 victory over Lemont ace Josh Ferry on Tuesday. "He's opening up a little early. He's going to start hitting. It's just a matter of when. For us to (start 3-1-1) while he's slumping, it's great for our program."
Barry, who will continue his career at Kansas State if he does not sign with a Major League organization, was clearly pressing in the third inning Tuesday against the Illinois-bound Ferry.
With two outs and a runner on third, he rung up a 3-0 count as Ferry appeared to be pitching around him. Instead of accepting a walk, Barry chased curve balls out of the strike zone to end the inning.
On Ferry's next pitch, the unassuming Sheppard timed a fastball and smashed it over the fence in right-center field.
"He's the best pitcher I've ever hit a home run off," Sheppard said. "I've faced some good pitchers in travel ball, and he's way up there."
Gatton is surprised that none of the schools that recruited Barry came away trying to land Sheppard.
"Bobby is phenomenal," Gatton said. "He does not have a scholarship yet, which shocks me. He's a leader on the field and a great kid. He's going to make some college coach happy."
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