By Scott Nickerson
Elmore/Autauga News
Drey Barrett stepped up when the Holtville High School baseball team needed him. The junior pitched a complete game victory in all five rounds of the 2023 Class 5A baseball playoffs, to include Game 2 of the championship series against Sardis, helping clinch the first state championship for Holtville since 1983. In the deciding victory, Barrett allowed only four hits and struck out six, allowing just one unearned run.
“Winning the state championship definitely felt rewarding. All the hard work you put into every year, just for that one goal, makes it so satisfying. Not only for the team but for the town, Holtville, we hadn’t won a State Championship in 40 years, and to do that for the people, school, and community is awesome.”
Barrett cited his favorite memory as the run the Bulldogs made through the playoffs to win the Class 5A title, as well as the adversity they went through to reach that pinnacle. He credits God for his success, as well as the team’s. “This year we really emphasized putting God first in every-thing we do, trusting Him and His word. We played loose because we all knew He was in control. Without that, we 100% do not win the State Championship.”
Barrett’s contributions for the Bulldogs weren’t just on the mound, where he had a 2.64 Earned Run Average and struck out 61 batters. He also had a .366 batting average with 43 RBIs. He had 45 hits, 22 of which were extra base hits.
With the impressive accomplishments on the diamond, Barrett was named an Alabama High School Athletic Association South All-Star, and he was recognized by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He was named 1st Team All State in Class 5A, to go along with being named 1st Team All County. During the season, he was also named Elmore County, AHSAA, and Pest Pro Player of the Week.
To add to his list of honors, Barrett was also named Perfect Game Preseason All-American and Baseball Factory Preseason All-American.
In addition to playing varsity baseball for the Bulldogs since the 7th grade, Barrett has also traveled the Southeast and beyond playing for the Alabama Sox from 6U – 13U and the East Coast Sox from 14U-17U, even traveling to San Diego for one competition August of last year.
The senior has several goals for his final year of high school and beyond. “Go back-to-back, every year, that is every high school team’s goal. We have to make sure we are the last team left.”
Barrett is set to continue his baseball career after high school, having committed to play baseball collegiately at the University of Southern Mississippi. “The place felt like home. I loved it ever since I stepped on campus there for a camp back in October of 2021. The relationships that I made with the coaching staff are awesome. I feel like family there.”
Barrett hopes to make baseball into a professional career, but he still has other interests and hopes. “The goal is to make baseball a career. But a love that I have is in kinesiology. I love working out and researching ways to always get better. I would want to become a coach, or strength and conditioning coach for a team.”
While college and professional opportunities likely await Barrett in the future, he’ll get one more season to represent the Holtville team, fans, and community, and possibly win another state championship.
