Timber Creek's Zach Barrett is running with the Wolves.
So to speak. Barrett, a two-sport athlete at Timber Creek, has moved from school to school because his father is a football coach, who is currently with UCF.
One and done, Timber Creek's Zach Barrett
He has found a home with the Wolves.
"I've moved nine times in my life and so far this has been the easiest [transition]," Barrett said. "The second day I was here, Coach Grove made the point to come meet me; and this is four months before baseball."
After his father took a position as UCF's running backs coach, Barrett transferred to Timber Creek from Port Orange Spruce Creek for his senior year of high school.
In the fall, he started at quarterback and led Timber Creek to its best football season ever, advancing to the regional finals. In the Orange County Senior Bowl, he threw two touchdowns and led the East to a win over the West.
"Once I got in here, they told me they weren't going to give me anything right away but were going to give me the chance to work for it," Barrett said. "I knew once I got that opportunity, I was going to make the most of it."
After football season, he began conditioning for baseball. Baseball coach Scott Grove decided to use him as a reliever this season.
"As a starter you have to pace yourself, but the way he is as an athlete, he is just 100 percent boom boom boom," Grove said.
In relief against Boone last week, Barrett stepped in and struck out seven of nine hitters.
"When he comes in we know he just closes the door. He's just a great leader, a great kid and just something we didn't have last year," Grove said.
Whether it is in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, or the ninth inning with a 3-1 count, Barrett likes to be in control when it matters most.
"When the pressure is there, I rise to the occasion. And that's when I want the ball in my hands," Barrett said.
He said his most memorable moment of his career so far is his late-game touchdown pass against Tampa Fletcher, starting inside his own 10-yard line with less than two minutes to go.
"After coming here and getting the opportunities I had, I owed it to my team to give us the best opportunity to win," Barrett said.
Barrett also hopes to be in the situation where is arm is called on again, maybe in the baseball state championship in the last inning, facing a top-notch recruit and it is up to him to close the game.
"If I got to get a job done, that's what I thrive off of," Barrett said.
In February, Barrett committed to play baseball for his father's former employer, Bethune-Cookman.
The familiarity with the program was a factor in the decision.
"I was familiar with it because of my dad being around them before," Barrett said. "I fell in love with it, I'm glad I made the decision."
Barrett playing two sports was a positive for the baseball team, Grove said, because Barrett was able to bring the leadership from the football field to the baseball diamond.
"I wish we had him all four years," Grove said. "He's probably the most well-liked kid at our school. He's got a great personality, great parents -- just a great kid all around -- and we're just really fortunate that he ended up in our lap."
"I've moved nine times in my life and so far this has been the easiest [transition]," Barrett said. "The second day I was here, Coach Grove made the point to come meet me; and this is four months before baseball."
After his father took a position as UCF's running backs coach, Barrett transferred to Timber Creek from Port Orange Spruce Creek for his senior year of high school.
In the fall, he started at quarterback and led Timber Creek to its best football season ever, advancing to the regional finals. In the Orange County Senior Bowl, he threw two touchdowns and led the East to a win over the West.
"Once I got in here, they told me they weren't going to give me anything right away but were going to give me the chance to work for it," Barrett said. "I knew once I got that opportunity, I was going to make the most of it."
After football season, he began conditioning for baseball. Baseball coach Scott Grove decided to use him as a reliever this season.
"As a starter you have to pace yourself, but the way he is as an athlete, he is just 100 percent boom boom boom," Grove said.
In relief against Boone last week, Barrett stepped in and struck out seven of nine hitters.
"When he comes in we know he just closes the door. He's just a great leader, a great kid and just something we didn't have last year," Grove said.
Whether it is in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, or the ninth inning with a 3-1 count, Barrett likes to be in control when it matters most.
"When the pressure is there, I rise to the occasion. And that's when I want the ball in my hands," Barrett said.
He said his most memorable moment of his career so far is his late-game touchdown pass against Tampa Fletcher, starting inside his own 10-yard line with less than two minutes to go.
"After coming here and getting the opportunities I had, I owed it to my team to give us the best opportunity to win," Barrett said.
Barrett also hopes to be in the situation where is arm is called on again, maybe in the baseball state championship in the last inning, facing a top-notch recruit and it is up to him to close the game.
"If I got to get a job done, that's what I thrive off of," Barrett said.
In February, Barrett committed to play baseball for his father's former employer, Bethune-Cookman.
The familiarity with the program was a factor in the decision.
"I was familiar with it because of my dad being around them before," Barrett said. "I fell in love with it, I'm glad I made the decision."
Barrett playing two sports was a positive for the baseball team, Grove said, because Barrett was able to bring the leadership from the football field to the baseball diamond.
"I wish we had him all four years," Grove said. "He's probably the most well-liked kid at our school. He's got a great personality, great parents -- just a great kid all around -- and we're just really fortunate that he ended up in our lap."
