Posted: February 13, 2013

From Star staff reports

WINCHESTER — James Wood senior Addison Barber wasn’t expecting to get an offer when he attended a baseball camp at Old Dominion University last summer.

A left-handed pitcher who went 5-2 with a 3.56 ERA for the Colonels as a junior, Barber had hopes of playing college ball but wasn’t sure at what level.

Turns out Division 1 was the answer.

After showing off his stuff on the mound the first day of the camp, Barber was offered a preferred walk-on spot and, after taking a visit to the campus in October, committed to the Monarchs later that month.

“It was a surprise and a big eye-opener that maybe I can compete at this level,” said Barber about the offer. “I didn’t really go down there expecting anything, but they said they liked my pitching and wanted me to play for them.”
The 6-foot, 155-pound Barber had been contacted by other schools, including the Virginia Military Institute and Division 3 Ferrum, but felt Old Dominion was where he wanted to be.

As a preferred walk-on he won’t be receiving an athletic scholarship heading into his freshman season, but he is guaranteed a spot on the team and could earn a scholarship down the road.

In Barber the Monarchs, who went 19-34 overall and 9-21 in the Colonial Athletic Association last season, will be getting a crafty lefty who’s touched 85 mph with his fastball and also works in a curveball and changeup.

“I’m not a power pitcher, I try to work on spotting the ball and keeping it low,” Barber said. “I try to work the count and pitch to my strengths.”