JANE LEE
Sports Editor
It is alright to be jealous of Barry Enright. After all, he has something we do not.
This something he carries around with him is strong and can have the effect of making another certain object curve, slide and move at fast speeds.
It leaves some people frozen, while those watching this happen are left in awe. Upon first glance, it does not look like anything out of the ordinary, but it could eventually bring great fortune and success to the Pepperdine junior.
This special something can be found on display every Friday afternoon at Eddy D. Field Stadium. The can’t-miss phenomenon is Enright’s right arm, and what a sight it is.
It is the arm that made him a standout baseball and football player in high school, the arm that first brought Waves pitching coach Sean Kenny to Enright’s house up in Stockton, Calif., and the arm that has, ultimately, guided his life as a pitcher.
“I think the first time I threw a pitch was when I was 7,” Enright said. “I always pitched and played shortstop and came to Pepperdine hitting, but my first start wasn’t too good so they had me focus on pitching.”
Not a bad move. Enright posted a 10-1 record his freshman year, earning WCC Freshman of the Year honors.
“I always loved playing those other positions, but coming here and just focusing on pitching has made me that much better,” he said. “Now I thrive for it. I love rooting my team on during the days I don’t pitch but, honestly, it is boring. When I get to pitch, it’s like a whole new world out there.”
But just because he only makes an appearance on the mound once a week, Enright will be the first to tell you it is not as easy a world to live in as some might think. Sure, the life of a baseball player does not get much better, but the mental challenges that face a pitcher are like none other.
“It’s not just the day that you’re pitching that’s tough on you,” he said. “If you don’t prepare the week of your start, it’s going to catch up with you.”
High school baseball players only face 25 to 30 games a season, while college teams play upwards of 60.
“It’s wear and tear on your body and wear and tear on you,” he said. “So on the mental side, it is pretty tough. Once you get out there, you’ll do fine as long as you’re prepared.”
Enright, who holds a career record of 29-4 and is tied with former Wave and current Oakland A’s pitcher Dan Haren for third place on Pepperdine’s all-time wins list, says making smart choices is another key in finding success as a pitcher.
“As lame as it sounds, it’s about getting a good night’s sleep and eating well,” he said. “You can’t go down to Jack in the Box or McDonald’s because that will affect your body. You have to be smart in general and make right decisions, rather than going out and partying or being a drunk. You just have to keep your head on straight.”
Fun can be had in the fall, Enright says, but when it comes to January, “everyone is basically here for the same goal.”
“You want to get to the College World Series, so you gotta be able to play for it,” he said. “So it’s nothing but business time come spring.”
And as a pitcher, slacking off at any point is not an option because the fate of the game is ultimately decided be the two opposing men on the mound.
“You get all the fame and all the blame,” Enright said. “If you have a great outing, they’re going to write you up great. If you have a bad outing, they’re going to say the pitcher gave up this many runs.”
Enright, however, loves that about his job.
“I live for the pressure.” he said. “To have success I think you have to. It’s what a lot of people look for in you, so it’s a big component. You have to go out there during that big game and know that you’re facing a good pitcher and your offense might score just one or two runs, so you can’t give up any.”
Not giving up many runs is something Enright does best, as confirmed by his career ERA of 3.69. Game days are big for the right-hander, whose consistent routine keeps him in check.
“I go through the same thing every time, whether it be stretches or going to Subway and bringing back the same food,” he said. “It’s basically all the same routine.”
A trip to Woodranch with roommate and Saturday starter sophomore Brett Hunter is made every Thursday night, but come game time, it is all play and no talk.
“Just before the game and during the game, I’m in the zone,” Enright said. “No one talks to me unless I talk to them.”
The silent treatment obviously works wonders for Enright, but talking off the field has recently included the likes of major league scouts, who see the pitcher as a popular option for this year’s MLB first-year player draft.
“It’s not a reality right now,” Enright said. “You sit down with the scouts and advisor and with my agent, and they tell you how high in the draft you could go and what to sort of expect. But at this point, it’s always been a childhood dream, so until it comes true you don’t want to latch on too much.”
And once again, Enright shows he has his head in the right place.
“Right now, all of the focus should be on winning baseball games here because as long as the team’s doing well, individuals do well,” he said. “So I’m just doing what I need to do to help the team win on Fridays, and hopefully everything else will fall into place.”
As he sits in the dugout of the place he’s called home for three years, Enright can’t imagine a life that does not include the field of dreams.
“Hopefully I can get to the majors as quickly as possible,” he said. “I always promised my mom I would get my degree, but I don’t know if I’ll end up leaving after this year or next year, so time will tell. But ten years from now, I hope I’m with a big league club, well-established and having success.”
And if he makes it to the Big Show before Barry Bonds is walking with a cane, Enright would love nothing more than to face the slugger.
“I’ve always wanted to pitch against Bonds,” he said. “I absolutely think he would rip whatever pitch I put out there, but I’ve always wanted to do it just because of the chance of maybe getting him out. I know he’s kind of crippled, but I just want to see if I could match up against him.”
Getting Bonds out would not be an impossible feat coming from a guy who has thrown upwards of 94 miles per hour and models himself after legend Roger Clemens.
“I love his intensity and his work ethic on and off the field,” Enright said. “I just admire the way he carries himself, and obviously he’s a great pitcher, too.”
Great is a word many would presently use to describe Enright, so it is a scary thought to think of how much better he could be in just a year’s time.
For now, though, you can find the life of a pitcher on display at the same place every Friday. Enright and his right arm are sure not to disappoint.
03-29-2007