Barnes’ Playoff Shutout Earns Him County Athlete of the Week Honors
La Grange sophomore pitcher Trenton Barnes came through in the clutch for Leopards baseball Saturday, tossing a complete game shutout in game three of a playoff series against Salado in order to survive and advance. “His overall performance this year’s been solid,” said La Grange head baseball coach Robert Barber. “Young kid still learning the game, still growing in the game. We’ve gotten a lot out of him this year. He came into the year with a little bit of an arm issue and we’ve kind of worked him back slowly. It’s taken a little bit of time. But here lately, he’s just been fabulous on the mound. We gave him the ball the other day with our season on the line and he accepted the challenge. Went out and just completely dominated a very good Salado team.” Not knowing he was going to pitch the series rubber match until right before, Barnes filled the stat sheet with four surrendered hits, nine strikeouts, and no walks in a ‘win or go home’ outing. “If that young man can continue to do that as he gets older, he’s going to be very, very special to this program.” Barnes’ ability to step up big when it mattered has landed him the go-ahead for this edition’s Player of the Week.
Question: What gives you the advantage to have success as a pitcher?
Answer: “Probably the work I put in after practice and everything. It gives me a little side advantage.”
Question: How does a playoff atmosphere compare to a regular season atmosphere?
Answer: “A lot more fans, a lot more excitement in the dugout, and a lot more emotion. A lot more leadership on the field. The seniors and the juniors kind of took over. It just felt like there was a lot more leadership on the field and everyone wanted to get the ball.”
Question: What’s your favorite sports movie?
Answer: “Major League”
Question: Who’s your favorite character from a baseball movie?
Answer: “Wild Thing. He’s a pitcher in Major League.”
Question: Who do you think is the toughest batter to face in the MLB?
Answer: “Probably either Ronald Acuna Jr. or Christian Yelich.”
Question: What kind of music do you listen to?
Answer: “It depends. Usually country music. Sometimes I’ll throw in some hip-hop.”
Question: How do you prepare for a start on the mound?
Answer: “Get the mind right. Drink a lot of fluids. If I know I’m pitching, I’ll drink a lot of fluids the night before and I’ll stretch a lot. Stretch my whole body out and then get the mind right.”
Question: What’s an amusement park you’d like to visit?
Answer: “Disney World”
Question: If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Answer: “Probably super strength.”
Question: Where would you like to see yourself in the next few years?
Answer: “Hopefully on a college baseball field.”
Barnes has the knowledge and skill set to put together a winning formula, along with expressing clear interest of playing ball in the college ranks, which could likely become a reality.
Fayette Co. Record’s Athlete of the Week
A Weekly Feature by BRIAN PIERSON
Recent FCR’s Athlete of the Week
April 16: Ilse Salinas, RT-C Track
April 23: Keagan Supak, Fayetteville Baseball/Track
April 30: Bravion Rogers, La Grange Track
May 7: Briana Vavra, Schulenburg Softball
May 14: Trenton Barnes, La Grange Baseball
* Read about the new honorees in our Friday editions and then watch their interviews on our Facebook page a few days later.