May 4, 2006

University of Illinois baseball coach Dan Hartleb announced the signing of one student-athlete to a national letter of intent Thursday. Right-handed pitcher Billy Barrett (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township HS) will join the Illini at the beginning of the 2006 fall semester. He joins eight other current high school seniors who have signed National Letters of Intent to become part of Illinois Baseball.

"Billy has good size and can throw three pitches for strikes," said assistant coach Eric Snider, who was the lead recruiter on Barrett. "This is his first year throwing a lot of innings for a very good Lockport team, so he's really come into his own as a senior."

Barrett is currently 6-0 with a 1.08 ERA for the 19-4 Porters, who are the defending Illinois Class AA state champions. The 2005 Lockport squad went 40-3 on its way to a state title, but lost it entire starting line-up to graduation. Barrett has been a big reason for the success of the 2006 team, according to Lockport coach Jim Hall, who will be retiring following the 2006 season after compiling a .744 winning percentage in 16 years at the helm of the Lockport program.

"He's been our No. 1 guy without a doubt," said Hall. "He's got arm strength and stamina and he's been pretty dominant. Billy's a big reason we are what we are."

Billy Barrett
Freshman • RHP • 6-3 • 210 • R/R • Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township HS
Notes: Currently 6-0 with a 1.08 ERA in 38 innings...Has given up only 24 hits...Has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 52:10...Fastball has been clocked at 88 mph...Also has command of a curveball, changeup and slider...Part of 2005 Illinois Class AA state championship team...Plans to be a pre-law major at Illinois...Member of National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society...Also participated in soccer, football and basketball at Lockport.