George Washington University Athletics
Chris Barry Homeward Bound By Way Of Baseball
3/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 31, 2003
WASHINGTON, DC - George Washington senior baseball captain Chris Barry (Orchard Park/Canisius) will play childhood friend and rival Kevin Ryan when the Colonials visit the St. Bonaventure Bonnies for a three-game series this weekend. Barry who grew up an hour from St. Bonaventure awaits a crowd of family and friends who rarily have the opportunity to see the Orchard Park native play so close to home. This series is particularly meaningful as Barry wraps up his outstanding collegiate career with the Colonials.
The Colonials are 41-12 all-time against St. Bonaventure having beaten the Bonnies twice in last year's Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Bonnies took two-of-three in 2001, the last time the teams met at St. Bonaventure. Barry has played against Bonnies star Ryan since they both played for rival Legion teams in high school. The two have been friends since meeting in the Adirondacks when they were 11-years old.
Barry has had a standout collegiate career at George Washington. As a tri-captain for the second year, the senior was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week for the week ending on March 9th. During the week he had three consecutive games with a home run and has tallied four this season. With one more homer, Barry will break into the all-time GW Top 10 home run list. He has 21 homers over his four year Colonials career.
Barry has successfully transitioned from second base to center field this year. He combines speed with power and is currently eighth on GW's all-time stolen bases list with 43. He has seven steals this year and had six steals in six attempts to start the year. He is a career .291 hitter and has 154 runs and 95 RBI since starting in 2000.
This year, Barry leads the Colonials in slugging percentage (.578), homers (4), triples (1), total bases (48) and stolen bases (7). He is second in runs (22), RBI (20) and doubles (8). Asked about this weekend's trip back to New York, Barry remarked, "I'm excited to share these games with friends and family. When you work so hard at something, it is gratifying to share it with those who got you there." The weekend series against the Bonnies will be Barry's last collegiate games in New York as he closes out an outstanding Colonials career.
