Spotlight on Future Shocker Sisters: NCAA’s #2 Home Run Hitter, Addison Barnard, Will Be Joined in 2024 by Younger Sis, Avery Barnard… with More Barnard’s Possibly Down the Line!

Addison Barnard, the sophomore utility player at Wichita State, was in very good company this year when it came to hitting NCAA D1 home runs.

Addie finished second with 33 dingers in 52 games and just one above her at 34 was Oklahoma Sooner All-World hitter Jocelyn Alo while four behind the Shocker slugger at 29 was Tiare Jennings, also an All-American for the National Champions from OU.

One major difference, though: The Sooner stars accumulated their round-trippers in 62 games for the 2022 season while Addie was just one off the lead despite playing 10 few games.

While Alo has graduated and playing pro ball, Barnard and Jennings were sophomores so both return to challenge for the home run race in 2023.

But the following year, the 2024 season, Addie will have a familiar face in the dugout to cheer for her as her younger sister Avery Barnard, a 2023 Wichita State infielder commit, will be a freshman during her older sis’s senior year.

Avery plays for the Extra Elite 80 club power Nebraska Gold—ranked #44 in the preseason Top 50 and, last fall, led the team in batting average.

The No. 2 sis will, admittedly, have very big shoes to fill and ultimately replace in the American Athletic Conference program.

Extra Inning Softball correspondent Joy Roeder caught up with the Barnard family, including parents Curt and Deann Barnard as well as Avery, to learn more about their family’s favorite sport and, get this: they aren’t the last of the family’s line on the fields.

The third oldest of the softballers is Reese, who plays 11U as a third baseman and outfielder while set to graduate high school in 2028, and outfielder while the youngest of the quartet of athletic girls, Baylor, plays 9U as a pitcher and infielder and will graduate in 2030!

Two very interested parties in the recruiting process are Larry Swift, the Director of Nebraska Gold’s organization, and Craig Boyer, the Nebraska Gold 16U National team head coach.

Swift says it’s been a good fit between the Nebraska Gold program and Wichita State.

“We have three players from our organization play for Wichita State and we look forward to continuing a great relationship with their coaching staff.

Boyer reveals that he has a personal interest in the family of four softball-playing daughters.

“I grew up with Avery’s parents Curt and Deann Barnard in the Wymore, Nebraska area,” The 16U coach says. “I that knows Avery will bring the Barnard family’s mentality of ‘Never give in, because hard work pays off’ to the Shockers!

*****

Q&A with Parents Curt & Deann Barnard:

Any advice for parents with two daughters that will play in college one or more years in choosing to go to the same school or not?
It’s definitely not a decision to take lightly when sending your daughters to the same school. There are always good and bad moments wherever you go, but the key is letting them make the choices for the right reasons. It must be about what they want and then you support that decision 100 percent.

How much did you as parents weigh in on Avery’s decision to go to Wichita State?
It took Avery a lot longer to commit because we were more hesitant than her to have her go to the same school as Addie. It’s always hard to live in someone else’s shadow as Avery has done. I feel like she has now matured enough to embrace her sister’s accomplishments and know that she can also have her own success. She knows she is not the same as Addie, but she has many other talents to offer.

Obviously, you are Wichita fans sending two daughters there.  What stood out to you and continues to keep your confidence in the school and the softball program?
I feel like this program has been a great fit for Addie. She has been supported by the coaches and it shows by her success. The coaches are looking to improve the program and their future plans show that it is going in the right direction. We couldn’t be more excited to continue to support the program. The biggest gift is having the ability to watch them together again on the same field. It’s exciting!

*****

Q&A with Avery Barnard:

What stood out to you about Wichita State compared to other schools and softball programs?
The coaches were definitely a huge factor that helped with my decision. They know the game so well and they push everyone to their best ability. There program was just what felt like home compared to others.

What were the fears committing to the same school as your sister? 
There never was any fears of committing to the same college has my sister because of the experience I already had of playing with her. I have just learned to overcome the comparisons and just be myself.

What are the steps you feel you need to take to make combat the pressure of living up to the Barnard name?
I think I will create a new dynamic style to our last name by bringing different strengths to the plate.

What advice if any did you get from Addie and your parents?
Addie advice was never doubt myself because she knew what I’m capable of and the right program would find that in me as well. My parent’s advice was always telling me to blaze my own path and not let the comparisons get to me. They know I had my own strengths.

What things do you want to focus on in your softball skill set to prepare for your collegiate career?
There isn’t anything specific skill wise that I’m going to keep working on because I know I can improve on every skill needed for the game.  I will keep working on mental toughness knowing I will be playing at one of the highest levels and not everything is going to be easy or given to me.

— Joy Roeder, Extra Inning Softball correspondent