On this afternoon, it's a familiar one. Chris Barnwell takes a handful of practice swings. It's the fifth inning and he's at the plate for the first time against visiting Marian College. It ends up as a typical appearance for Barnwell. Four balls float by him and he jogs towards first base.
Fans pepper the field with a chorus of boos.
For opposing pitchers, intentionally walking Barnwell is the only guarantee. He's used to that type of treatment. The owner of nearly every offensive school record imaginable and a likely pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft. But when I came to school and Coach Barnett and all the assistants helped mold me and showed me how to work hard and a good work ethic. Basically, he was just the type of guy who came and needed to be polished a bit.