Buff & Blue Forever: Steve Barmakian
5/27/2021 3:00:00 PM | Baseball, My GW: Celebrating our Stories
Graduate student set shining example for baseball
Back home in New Jersey late last spring, Steve Barmakian had to confront whether his GW baseball career was finished. The COVID-19 had cut short his senior season, and there were no guarantees about the future.
Then, a phone call from Head Coach Gregg Ritchie offered excitement amid the uncertainty. By the time he hung up, the veteran third baseman was all-in for one last ride in Buff and Blue.
"It wasn't really even a choice for me," Barmakian remembered. "I said, 'Of course.' I know he has to ask, but I thought it was funny that he even did. Because in my mind, there was no hesitation. I was not ready to end my career like that."
Barmakian carried that attitude throughout his final collegiate season. Whenever things got tough, it was easier than ever before to maintain perspective. The memories of last spring's abrupt ending brought a newfound appreciation for the daily grind.
The results were a career-best season: Barmakian hit .323 with a .423 on-base percentage, a personal-best 16 extra-base hits, 33 runs scored and 27 RBIs while starting all 44 games at the hot corner for a squad that finished with the most wins in the A-10 South Division.
Beyond those on-field contributions, Barmakian provided a daily lift for everyone around the program throughout an unprecedented season with his familiar brand of passion, leadership and work ethic.
"He's helped grow this program – there's no doubt about it," Ritchie said. "He's made an impact to grow this program through one of the toughest years you could ever imagine.
"He's been an integral part of having growth still happen. It's not just making it through. Steve's helped our program actually take a sizable step forward."
That Barmakian made it to this point is a testament to his remarkable determination.
Coming out of Westfield High School in northern New Jersey as a football and baseball standout, he had the tools to be a difference-maker but plenty of work to do.
Barmakian spent most of his rookie season watching and learning all he could from veterans like Eli Kashi, Joey Bartosic and Bobby Campbell. After earning just four starts and 15 total at-bats, he headed home that first summer with a detailed improvement plan and a chip on his shoulder.
Barmakian faithfully followed every step aimed at physical and mental growth. There was a healthy dose of agility work to become quicker and more fluid in the field, and at the plate, he had to refine his approach to make contact more consistently and use the whole diamond.
"He came back and he was bigger, better, faster, stronger and extremely coachable," Ritchie said. "It was tremendous for the team to see that somebody who had the skill-level that he had also had that attitude of 'Make me better today.'"
Indeed, it was no accident that Barmakian made 169 of a possible 172 starts over his final four seasons while cracking the program's all-time leaders list in hits (197) and runs scored (134).
"I learned through that whole experience that if you really want something, it's worth it to stick with it," Barmakian said. "I know it's cliché, but if you really put the time into improving your craft, it will pay off at some point."
Last spring, Barmakian was prepared for his fourth and final collegiate season before the COVID-19 pandemic brought a sudden halt after 16 games. The Buff and Blue made the most of what they could do while apart, staying connected at every chance via Zoom and even keeping the competition going with a virtual quiz game devised by Ritchie.
Once the NCAA granted spring athletes an extra season of eligibility, Barmakian knew he wanted to return, and from the call from Ritchie asking him back, he took great care to enjoy the journey.
"I think I've truly embraced every moment," Barmakian said. "Having to actually sit there and think, 'Wow, am I never going to play baseball again?' puts you in a mindset where if you are lucky enough to be given that opportunity, you will never let a moment slip away."
For Barmakian, that meant appreciating his time on the field and in the clubhouse with teammates, doubling down on his video study and taking advantage of every chance to get out to Tucker Field at Barcroft Park for extra practice reps.
He became a key voice within the program's five-man leadership council and continually looked for opportunities to pull the youngsters aside for teaching moments.
"I know what it's like to be the freshman on the team that's unfamiliar with things, that can be shy, that can be hesitant," Barmakian said. "I remember how good it felt to have Eli Kashi take me under his wing and explain things to me in a way that the coaches couldn't."
On the field, he was a middle-of-the-order catalyst for a group that led the A-10 with a .293 team batting average en route to a 26-18 overall mark. For his work in the Leadership Management graduate certificate program, he was honored on the A-10 All-Academic Team.
"With a guy like Steve, it's not necessarily ever about this one incredible moment," Ritchie said. "It's just consistent every single day. He's one of the most dependable people you could ever have with you. He's pushed our team just by the way he goes about his business."
It was a memorable spring made even more special by the addition of the new videoboard beyond the left-field fence at The Tuck made possible thanks to a lead gift from his parents, Joe and Leslie.
It's meaningful to see his family's name emblazoned under the state-of-the-art scoreboard, knowing how much it will help the program that's meant so much to him over the past five years going forward.
"There are a million places in this country where you can play great baseball, but it's hard to say the same thing about finding a place to play that preaches the right values," Barmakian said. "GW baseball's values are unmatched, and that's something I realized from my first recruiting visit here. I'm just really proud to be a part of this program."
Then, a phone call from Head Coach Gregg Ritchie offered excitement amid the uncertainty. By the time he hung up, the veteran third baseman was all-in for one last ride in Buff and Blue.
"It wasn't really even a choice for me," Barmakian remembered. "I said, 'Of course.' I know he has to ask, but I thought it was funny that he even did. Because in my mind, there was no hesitation. I was not ready to end my career like that."
Barmakian carried that attitude throughout his final collegiate season. Whenever things got tough, it was easier than ever before to maintain perspective. The memories of last spring's abrupt ending brought a newfound appreciation for the daily grind.
The results were a career-best season: Barmakian hit .323 with a .423 on-base percentage, a personal-best 16 extra-base hits, 33 runs scored and 27 RBIs while starting all 44 games at the hot corner for a squad that finished with the most wins in the A-10 South Division.
Beyond those on-field contributions, Barmakian provided a daily lift for everyone around the program throughout an unprecedented season with his familiar brand of passion, leadership and work ethic.
"He's helped grow this program – there's no doubt about it," Ritchie said. "He's made an impact to grow this program through one of the toughest years you could ever imagine.
"He's been an integral part of having growth still happen. It's not just making it through. Steve's helped our program actually take a sizable step forward."
That Barmakian made it to this point is a testament to his remarkable determination.
Coming out of Westfield High School in northern New Jersey as a football and baseball standout, he had the tools to be a difference-maker but plenty of work to do.
Barmakian spent most of his rookie season watching and learning all he could from veterans like Eli Kashi, Joey Bartosic and Bobby Campbell. After earning just four starts and 15 total at-bats, he headed home that first summer with a detailed improvement plan and a chip on his shoulder.
Barmakian faithfully followed every step aimed at physical and mental growth. There was a healthy dose of agility work to become quicker and more fluid in the field, and at the plate, he had to refine his approach to make contact more consistently and use the whole diamond.
"He came back and he was bigger, better, faster, stronger and extremely coachable," Ritchie said. "It was tremendous for the team to see that somebody who had the skill-level that he had also had that attitude of 'Make me better today.'"
Indeed, it was no accident that Barmakian made 169 of a possible 172 starts over his final four seasons while cracking the program's all-time leaders list in hits (197) and runs scored (134).
"I learned through that whole experience that if you really want something, it's worth it to stick with it," Barmakian said. "I know it's cliché, but if you really put the time into improving your craft, it will pay off at some point."
Last spring, Barmakian was prepared for his fourth and final collegiate season before the COVID-19 pandemic brought a sudden halt after 16 games. The Buff and Blue made the most of what they could do while apart, staying connected at every chance via Zoom and even keeping the competition going with a virtual quiz game devised by Ritchie.
Once the NCAA granted spring athletes an extra season of eligibility, Barmakian knew he wanted to return, and from the call from Ritchie asking him back, he took great care to enjoy the journey.
"I think I've truly embraced every moment," Barmakian said. "Having to actually sit there and think, 'Wow, am I never going to play baseball again?' puts you in a mindset where if you are lucky enough to be given that opportunity, you will never let a moment slip away."
For Barmakian, that meant appreciating his time on the field and in the clubhouse with teammates, doubling down on his video study and taking advantage of every chance to get out to Tucker Field at Barcroft Park for extra practice reps.
He became a key voice within the program's five-man leadership council and continually looked for opportunities to pull the youngsters aside for teaching moments.
"I know what it's like to be the freshman on the team that's unfamiliar with things, that can be shy, that can be hesitant," Barmakian said. "I remember how good it felt to have Eli Kashi take me under his wing and explain things to me in a way that the coaches couldn't."
On the field, he was a middle-of-the-order catalyst for a group that led the A-10 with a .293 team batting average en route to a 26-18 overall mark. For his work in the Leadership Management graduate certificate program, he was honored on the A-10 All-Academic Team.
"With a guy like Steve, it's not necessarily ever about this one incredible moment," Ritchie said. "It's just consistent every single day. He's one of the most dependable people you could ever have with you. He's pushed our team just by the way he goes about his business."
It was a memorable spring made even more special by the addition of the new videoboard beyond the left-field fence at The Tuck made possible thanks to a lead gift from his parents, Joe and Leslie.
It's meaningful to see his family's name emblazoned under the state-of-the-art scoreboard, knowing how much it will help the program that's meant so much to him over the past five years going forward.
"There are a million places in this country where you can play great baseball, but it's hard to say the same thing about finding a place to play that preaches the right values," Barmakian said. "GW baseball's values are unmatched, and that's something I realized from my first recruiting visit here. I'm just really proud to be a part of this program."
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