Senior outfielder John Barnes did not know much about Oswego State and head coach Scott Landers when he decided to come here. But, he had an idea of the direction the program was heading in.

Landers, on the other hand, knew what he was getting with someone like Barnes and what he could accomplish with his rare athletic talent as a 6-foot-2, 220-pound athlete.

Freshman year for Barnes, like most freshmen, had its growing pains. Barnes considered it a “tough year personally,” but took the learning experiences with him that shaped him into the player he is today.

“[Barnes] was an exceptional athlete [coming as a freshman],” Landers said. “He is still is an exceptional athlete. You don’t find them very often at this level. He was just raw. In his first year, he turned out to be raw and made his mistakes and struggles. I think the sky is the limit for John Barnes.”

In Barnes’ sophomore year, he stepped into a more reliable starting role and improved in the same way the program was each season. After a disappointing postseason finish for the team in 2016, 2017 was destined to be the year the Lakers get over the hump.

The team was dominating SUNYACs his junior year. Barnes suffered a bad hamstring injury toward the end of the season as the Lakers were making their playoff push.

The Lakers went on to win the SUNYAC regular season title and were granted the 2017 SUNYAC Championship after the weather prevented postseason games from happening. Barnes was able to be healthy enough to play in the NCAA Div. III New York regional championship at Onondaga Community College.

“[Barnes] is a 100 percent gamer,” Landers said. “When it comes to crunch time, I think that’s when he’s in his best. It’s a nice feeling when the game is on the line and he’s in there or he’s up to bat.” 

Barnes played well in last year’s New York regional and notably made a critical base running play as his hamstring injury continued to linger. He slid headfirst to score an insurance run at home plate in the bottom of the 8th inning to go up 6-4 over Southern Maine in the semifinals. Barnes also hit a two-run homerun in that game.

“It was either I was going to pull my hamstring or score the run,” Barnes said after the game.

Barnes reflected on that game and that play at home plate in particular that advanced them to the New York regional championship.

“I’m an ultra-competitor,” Barnes said. “I’ll do anything to help the team win, and that’s really what it comes down to. I don’t care if I got to hurt myself to help the team win, and that’s just what’s going to happen.”

The next day, Oswego State advanced to the NCAA Div. III College World Series for the first time in program history. Barnes, in the past, played on summer ball teams that were close to the big stage, but never made it through.

“It’s a great feeling,” Barnes said. “Last year, going to the College World Series, there’s nothing like it. It’s always been a dream of mine to go to the College World Series.”

Now, in Barnes’ senior season, he is looked upon more by his teammates, but he has always had a leadership mentality since he came to Oswego State.

“I try to lead by example,” Barnes said. “I accept that role as a leader. I like that role, and it’s something I’m comfortable with.”

Along with his leadership comes his consistency. Barnes may not be a stand-out guy in the program like some of his former and current teammates, but his consistency has been an important trait to the progression of himself and the baseball program since he has been here in 2015.

“I just try to get better each year and work on the things I struggled with the year before,” Barnes said.

Landers talked about his relationship with Barnes and how sometimes it takes a “talking to” or a “kick in the butt” to get him going to be at his best.

“I know when that happens, he’s going to come out blazing, guns firing,” Landers said. “That’s the kind of the guy we want on the field. He does not take well to criticism and responds very well to it.”

Barnes, in 2018, is fourth on the team, batting .350 to go with two homeruns and 15 RBI. After a seldom 8-5 start for the Lakers, they are on an eight-game winning streak as SUNYAC play is in full swing.

“We’re playing well right now,” Barnes said. “We’re getting better each day. It sucks practicing inside, but you got to do what you got to do each day to get to the College World Series again.”

Goals were accomplished last season, but with one last shot at it, Barnes is not satisfied just yet.

“I’d like to win the National and SUNYAC Championship this year and beat [SUNY] Cortland, and actually earn it the right way and not the weather be the factor,” Barnes said. “The end goal to beat them in the SUNYAC Championship would be the sweet way to go into a regional.”

Hopefully for Barnes and the Lakers, they will get that chance to beat SUNY Cortland to end the regular season on April 27 and 28 at Laker Field and host the SUNYAC Championship the following week.