LYNN — Classical pitcher David Barnard isn’t afraid to take the ball in challenging, high-pressure situations. He has twice pitched for Lynn in the Babe Ruth World Series. He has taken the mound for Classical in the Nipper Clancy Tournament and the Division 1 North state tournament.
But the situation Barnard faced this spring has been far more difficult than anything he’s seen before. Barnard suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during football season in an October loss to Danvers and missed the first 19 games of his senior baseball season.
“It’s been an experience,” said Barnard, a right-hander. “The overall season went well. We went 14-6. When you’re on the field it’s a different point of view. It’s just been different from my previous three years. I’ve been able to help the boys out when they’re down and encourage them when they’re up. It’s been a cool experience.”
Barnard, a linebacker on the gridiron, suffered the injury attempting to make a tackle. He felt pain shortly after the play but couldn’t put his finger on the extent of the injury. Barnard underwent surgery in November.
“I was a little shocked at first,” Barnard said. “I didn’t know I had done it when I hurt myself. I hadn’t realized I did that exactly. I was a little worried I wasn’t going to play this season. I was upset and aggravated because I wanted to be out there my senior year.”
Although he hasn’t been able to take the field with his teammates, Barnard has done everything he can from the dugout. He showed up for the first day of tryouts and hasn’t missed a game or practice since.
“He’s been there every single day and he’s been the emotional leader,” Classical coach Mike Zukowski said. “I didn’t expect it, but it goes to show the character he has and his upbringing. He’ll go down as one of my top captains.
“He’s way beyond his years maturity-wise. I don’t think many grown men would’ve persevered what he’s gone through. He has taught the coaches lessons and hopefully the kids on the team lessons. No matter what’s in front of you, you have to work hard. He’s the prime example of that. Not only is it a baseball lesson, but it’s a life lesson.”
Make no mistake about it, Barnard would rather be pitching than watching. He was set to reclaim his role as Classical’s ace, forming a potent starting rotation alongside senior Kyle Finnigan and junior Aidan Dow.
“It’s frustrating because I want to be out there and I want to play,” Barnard said. “I can only help them with encouragement and things like that. It’s definitely frustrating because I want to be out on the field and I just can’t.”
Instead, he can only focus on trusting the recovery process.
“You always go through tough times but you have to stay the course,” Barnard said. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You have to keep it even-keeled because you want to be able to believe in yourself. You want to be able to keep pushing forward.”
Barnard made his season debut in last Friday’s regular season finale, a 6-2 win at Somerville. He pitched a scoreless inning and delivered a sacrifice fly at the plate.
“It was awesome to get back out there,” Barnard said. “I miss that nervous feeling that you get before you step on the mound or get an at-bat. It was awesome to be back on the field. I was very excited. I felt really good. Nothing hurt, nothing went wrong. I felt 100 percent.”
Barnard’s return to the mound was much easier said than done. He pushed himself to be ahead of his recovery schedule and his dedication paid dividends.
“He kept working very hard on his own, with us, at physical therapy,” Zukowski said. “I know he was trying to beat the odds. The doctors told him he’d be ready at the end of July. At his last appointment they told him he looked strong and they said, ‘We’re going to let you do what you need to do.’ I was happy for him getting back on the field at Somerville.
“Everyone was happy, everyone was giddy,” Zukowski said. “It was really nice to see him back on the field.”
The Rams (14-6) drew the No. 2 seed in the Division 1 North state tournament. Classical earned first-round bye and awaits the winner between No. 7 Andover and No. 10 Boston Latin.
“(A state tournament run) would be awesome,” said Barnard, who will play baseball at Division III Worcester State. “It would be a great way to end our senior year. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
