Barre, Huggins Provide Steady Influence for Park Vista

Tyler Huggins (left) and Austin Smith discuss whether it’s a ball or strike during practice.

Park Vista has a case of Tyler-squared. And that’s a good thing.

Senior Tyler Barre is the returning starter at catcher who caught the majority of the innings last year. Junior Tyler Huggins also saw a lot of action behind the plate late in the season because of injuries.

“We’re blessed; we have two catchers that the pitching staff and coaches have confidence in,” said Park Vista manager Larry Greenstein.

Except Greenstein doesn’t know how much each will catch since they can also play in the outfield. Barre played centerfield when starter Trey Amburgey was injured before the playoffs began.

“They’re both going to catch,” said Greenstein. “Barre is one of our leaders. He’s probably going to be our go-to guy back there. Not that Tyler Huggins can’t handle it, he’s already proved that he can. But Tyler Huggins is also a good athlete and he can play a lot of positions. Both run well for catchers, both are athletic and are good hitters. Both possess strong arms, frame well, block balls well, and are very good receivers.”

Barre batted .289 last season with a team-leading 20 RBIs and has committed to play at UMass-Boston. Huggins hit .345 (10-for-29) during his call-up from junior varsity.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a rivalry, we just want to catch as much as we both can,” said the 6-foot-2 Huggins. “We’re both willing to do whatever we can to do that. It’s more of a competition. He’s my friend, but we compete on the field.”

Barre, who is 5-11 and weighs 150 pounds, knows he is one of the team leaders, especially as a catcher.

“It’s a leadership role and I’ve got to command the pitchers from behind the plate,” said Barre. “I’ve grown up with them since the Tornadoes travel team, when we were about 12. We know each other really well. We have great chemistry. I prefer to catch. Outfield is boring to me. I’ve always been a catcher, my whole life. I just love to be in the game the whole time. I don’t find it fun unless I’m behind the plate.”

Huggins, or “T-Hugs” as he is known by, likes catching but would rather play more in the outfield.

“But at the same time I do want to catch because that’s my primary position,” Huggins said. “I hope to do what I started to do last year — just be aggressive, drive in runs and do my job as a hitter.”

Greenstein isn’t worried about who is catching and who is in the outfield.

“Both are going to have to be on the field somewhere,” Greenstein said.

The Cobras finished 19-7 overall and won the District 8A-10 title with a 6-2 record. Greenstein knows they won’t be able to surprise teams this year.

Starting catcher Tyler Barre might also see time on the mound for the Cobras.

“Everybody knows what we had last year and what we have coming back so I won’t say we have the bullseye on our back, but no one is going to be shocked if we start beating some teams,” Greenstein said. “Last year, it was ‘How’d they do that, who are these guys’?”

Barre and Huggins will have a lot of help to try and defend their title.

Shortstop Matthew Mika led the team with a .405 average and 30 runs scored. Dual-threat Austin Smith is the No. 1 pitcher and batted .392 with 19 RBIs, second on the team. He won five games last season, striking out 74 in 56.2 innings with a 2.47 ERA. Third baseman Nyle Newland batted .308. All are juniors.

Bruce Bechtel, a senior who missed last year with an arm injury, and Colin Smith, who transferred from Summit Christian, are among those expected to be among the starters after Austin Smith.

“We’re young, but we do have a lot of experience, that always helps,” Greenstein said. “Last season, we knew we were real young, and said let’s see what we have. This year I think we know what we have. The kids believe in themselves. They’re confident, but not cocky. They know they have to play the game hard. They do. They practice hard. They play hard. They love playing the game. And now they’re a year older.”

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