KELSEYVILLE >> The irony of course is that Logan Barrick, every bit the superstitious pitcher for the Kelseyville Knights during the 2017 high school baseball season, finished the year with a record of 13-0. Yep, that would be lucky No. 13 for the hard-throwing and history-making senior.
However, it was far from an unlucky number for the right-hander, who set the Lake County record for most victories in a single season.
How superstitious is Barrick, who also own more lifetime wins (30) than any other Lake County player dating back at least 47 years? The answer is pretty superstitious, not that it’s uncommon in the sport of baseball.
Here’s what a typical game day for Barrick was like during the season:
“Alarm goes off at 6:40, hit the five-minute snooze twice. Get up at 6:50. Wake up Brock (his younger brother). Wake up dad. Put on my game underwear, sliding shorts, jeans, Jordan shirt, Kelseyville baseball jacket, hat (in that order), then walk out to the living room where I will put on my left Nike sock, left Nike shoe, right Nike sock, right Nike shoe. Give my dad a high-five and knuckles and leave. Take the long way to school, drop Brock off, park in the very same spot by the JV baseball field, in line with the third-base line on the softball field. Walk up to school at 7:45, go to my locker, go to the store where I get a Mountain Dew (which I have since stopped drinking), and get a bean and cheese burrito.
“Then I go to (Pat) Nunes’ class where I sit on the ramp and eat my burrito and hold the door open. I take the last gulp of my Mountain Dew when the second bell rings and I go in. I then sit in the same spot in front of Kyle (Ellis). After that, I will go through my day until fifth period (tutor class) when I will go down to my car and put my uniform on. Buttoning and tucking in my jersey is always last. I will also put my jacket back on no matter what. After that, I wait until I’m out.
“If it’s an away game, I go to the store and get a Monster (drink) and an almond Hershey (candy bar) and then I sit on the third seat from the back (in the bus) on the right with the window down. If it’s at home, I’ll drive to Food Center where I will also get a Monster and an almond Hershey, and then I will park by the telephone pole by the tennis courts.
“Home or away, I will bring my bat bag, set it down at the beginning of the dugout and then go in front of the dugout and set my bat in the sun. I will also set Kyle’s there. I will then clip my bag at the end of the dugout and put my left cleat, then right cleat on. I will set my shoes on the rack above, with my jacket on top. I then give take a sip of my Monster and (eat) a piece of my Hershey. I then warm up with Randy (Pfann, the catcher), which includes an extensive long toss and throw in all my off speed 10-plus times. Then I sprint to center field and everyone follows, and then I pick a spot for us to stretch. I call the stretches. Then I bring everyone up and we break out to something I can’t say. Then I throw a little more. Then I go put on my batting gloves, spit on them and grab my bat and go to the outfield where Ean (Valenzuela) will throw me soft hit balls before anyone else. I always sit in the same spot in a chair next to my mom on the near end of the dugout with the same helmet, my bat and my gloves at my feet, and I eat a piece of licorice before every at-bat.”
