The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Barker adds to family legacy of coming up clutch
AKRON » Big moments run in the Barker bloodline.
Junior Jake Barker added to that with his tworun double during Chardon’s five-run sixth inning against Hoban in their Division II state championship victory June 11 at Canal Park. Barker’s contribution in the frame helped push the Hilltoppers to an 8-5 victory as they claimed their first state championship in baseball.
Jake has followed in his brother’s and father’s footsteps to produce in big moments. His brother Blake caught two touchdown passes in the Hilltoppers’
state championship game victory in 2020, and his father Len threw a perfect game for the Indians back in 1981.
Jake has always known he could add to the lineage created before him. He was happy to do it on the biggest of stage of the baseball season.
“I was sitting there waiting for a pitch that I wanted to see,” said Barker. “The first one was low and that allowed Will (Francis) to come home and take some of the pressure off of me. The next one was a slider right over the middle and I was able to smoke it.”
The big sixth inning all started with two hits and three hit-by-pitches for Chardon before Barker stepped into the batter’s box. Barker believed the Hiltoppers just needed to string some positive momentum together to take the lead back.
“When we have runners on, we want to get the ball in play any way possible,” said Barker. “We’ll find a way to drive them in eventually and keep putting people on base. Eventually, we got them around and got the lead. I was just happy to be able to provide the spark that we needed.”
Chardon coach Brian Long was ecstatic to see Barker go 2-for-4 in the contest. After a rough game in the semifinal against Bishop Hartley, Long knew that Barker was going to find his rhythm.
After Barker singled in the third inning, Long had all the confidence in the world Barker would give them the lead.
“He’s the greatest Barker right now,” said Long. “But for a kid to be able to come back from that type of performance, we believe in him. For him to come out today and rip that two-run double is something special. The resilience in him is big and he’s going to be something special.”
Long was also pleased with Barker’s composure in the game as he took up the role of the big bat and came through when Chardon needed him most. He also turned it around on the defensive end as he controlled the first base side of the field.
As the five-hole hitter, Barker knew he would have moments like the state final and that more are on the horizon. While he is one of seven hitters who return for the Hilltoppers next season, Barker remembered things that seniors Christian Hall and Kyle Maronde passed on to them.
Jake also had some lastminute words of wisdom from his father and brother.
“Christian and Kyle, whenever we’re down they’re always getting us up,” said Barker. “When we were down they told us to stay ready. We got out there and were able to get it back and more. Both my dad and brother told me just to see the ball and hit the ball. That’s what I did and was happy I could contribute in a big way.”