Brian Barnett had crossed Eric Maupin's path yearly since they were 9 years old. Those days playing against each other in Little League All-Star games grew to be some of the best battles in high school as both tried to lay claim to conference titles. Some where along the way that competitive relationship became a friendship.
When Barnett committed to Western Nevada and Maupin took off for Washington State following their senior seasons, that was supposed to be the last time their paths crossed on the baseball field. But, like the game of baseball itself, things change.
The duo is now working together in the hopes of returning the Wildcats (13-3 SWAC, 19-9) to a Scenic West Athletic Conference title while showing scouts that they are capable of playing on the next level.
"He's a good player," Maupin said of Barnett. "I liked playing against him, we've had a lot a battles in high school. So it's good to finally on be on his side instead of pitching against him and playing against him."
Maupin will make his home debut at noon today when the Wildcats play Colorado Northwestern at John L. Harvey Field.
Maupin doesn't let Barnett forget that he got the best of him in high school. He led the Galena Grizzlies to three High Desert League titles, besting Barnett's league-rival McQueen Lancers every season.
So far though, it is Barnett who has made the most of his first year and half of college. The sophomore outfielder leads the SWAC in runs scored (19), RBIs (20) and is tied for the lead in doubles (9) with teammate Lance Ray.
"I don't feel like there's another guy in the league (like him), he changes the game," WNC coach D.J. Whittemore said. "He can hit the ball out of the park at any time and obviously he's leading the conference in doubles. He's just such a tough and consistent performer."
Barnett also has something extra to play for this season: Respect. He won't say that he feels slighted by not even being selected in last year's Major League Baseball first-year player draft despite being named the SWAC Player of the Year. But being listed at 5-foot-11, a few inches short of the prototypical baseball player size of 6-2, he thinks he has more to prove.
"I didn't really realize that I did until the last couple of years," Barnett said. "I found out it's all about being over 6-foot, 200 pounds, just that stereotypical stuff. I really don't care, I like being 5-10, 5-11. I like being the little guy, if that's what they want to call me, because I feel like I can com
pete with all those guys. It does give me motivation because I don't feel that I'm too small to play this game."
Unless Whittemore has some magic potion laying in his office, it's unlikely he can coach Barnett to grow taller. So instead, Barnett is driven by watching little guys in the majors make the biggest impact they have ever made. San Francisco Giants' pitcher Tim Lincecum won the National League Cy Young award last season, despite being just 5-foot-11 and Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, Barnett's favorite player, won the American League MVP at 5-9.
Maupin, on the other hand, is looking to rebound from one season as a Washington State Cougar he would rather forget. He didn't get as much as an at-bat during the season after he tore his patellar tendon during winter ball and had to redshirt his freshman year. He transferred to WNC, who recruited him out of high school, over the summer and still has two years of eligibility at the junior college level.
"I just think I didn't make the right choice coming out of high school," Maupin said. "I didn't really agree with the coaches, I really just didn't have a lot of fun up there."
As a Wildcat, Maupin is playing a similar role to his days in high school. He's played all over the field and has picked up six innings on the mound with seven strikeouts and three walks. His senior season of high school he was 11-0 with a 0.97 ERA and hit .457 from the plate and earned league Pitcher of the Year honors.
"He's an incredible athlete," Barnett said. "He can do it all: Play outfield, play first base, catch, pitch and of course he can swing it."
Maupin isn't ready to go back to a Division I team like Barnett, who has committed to play at Nevada next season, and isn't sure what he would do if was drafted again. He was selected in the 48th round after high school, two rounds from the final round.
"I've played Division I, I don't know if I was with the wrong program or what, but I didn't enjoy it that much," Maupin said. "If the opportunity (to go pro) is there it would take a lot of thinking. I can't think of round or number right now, I'd just have to weigh my options when it comes."