THE PREPS : Boys’ Athlete of the Week : Barber Learns He Can’t Carry Team on His Bat

Last season, John Barber felt it was up to him. As one of only five returning players on the Anaheim High School baseball team, he was determined to make the Colonists successful.

Perhaps he was a little too determined.

“John hit only .270 last season. It was a little disappointing,” Anaheim Coach Dave Torres said. “He was trying to do too much. He put too much pressure on himself. It really hurt him.”

This season, Barber stopped pressing and started hitting.

“One of my goals was to not take so much on myself this year,” he said. “I’ve relaxed and it’s worked. I’m seeing the ball a lot better.”

Barber, The Times’ player of the week, went seven for 10 with two doubles, a home run, five runs scored and eight runs batted in last week. His performance helped the Colonists clinch the Orange League championship, their first title since 1981.

This season, Barber is hitting .385 with nine doubles and 25 RBIs.

“My feeling is that if our nine or 10 kids go out and do what they’re supposed to do, we’ll be successful,” Torres said. “That’s what I’ve stressed to John.”

Barber, a senior second baseman, isn’t asked to do too much, just hit and field beyond belief. Both of which he has done this season.

A few examples:

In the Loara tournament, the Colonists were leading Los Alamitos by a run, but the Griffins had a runner on third with two outs in the seventh. A ball was hit up the middle and Barber dived to his right, smothered it, got up and threw the runner out at first to end the game.

“No one but me thought I could get him,” Barber said. “But once I got to the ball, I knew I had him. The game was over at that point.”

A few games later, the Colonists trailed University by three runs late in the game. Barber stepped up with the bases loaded and promptly tied the score with a three-run double.

“You need a double up the alley, you hope that John is coming up,” Torres said. “You need a clutch defensive play, you hope they hit the ball in John’s area.”

Barber’s play has improved this season after a year of inconsistency. He spent the summer playing in a Metropolitan League against competition that included college athletes.

He was able to relax during the summer and his hitting improved.

“Pitchers threw strikes in that league,” Barber said. “If you get better stuff to hit, you’re going to hit better. It was also less competitive than the high school season, so I was able to relax. I just carried that into this season.”

Torres also talked with Barber about pressing. He told him that the Colonists had 12 players returning, so he didn’t have to try to do everything.

“John is real competitive and all the kids like him,” Torres said. “He leads and they follow. I just told John to go out and have some fun.”

And Barber has. At other teams’ expense.

TOP PERFORMERS

James Johnson of La Quinta had two home runs and six RBIs in two victories last week.

Dan Kaminsky of Trabuco Hills shot a hole in one in a 194-222 Pacific Coast League victory over Laguna Hills Monday at Coto de Caza. Kaminsky was the medalist as he shot a two-over-par 38.

Eddie Lavelle of Corona del Mar won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the Sea View League track and field finals Friday.

Steve Montgomery of Fountain Valley allowed only two earned runs in two victories last week.

Chris Sheff of Laguna Hills had six hits in two victories last week to break the Orange County career record for hits. Sheff has 122 hits, breaking the record of 120 set by Mitch Kaylor of Sonora.

John Barber

Anaheim High School

Position: Second baseman

Height, Weight, Class: 5-10, 170, Senior

Last Week: Barber was seven for 10 with two doubles, a home run, five runs scored and eight runs batted in.

Season: Barber is hitting .385 with nine doubles and 25 RBIs.