High Point Enterprise Article/ This was cool

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Easter Sunday Article on Barry and Will
The hits keep coming for father, son

By Steve Hanf
Apr 12, 2009

Don Davis Jr. | HPE

Nearly 25 years after setting records that still stand today for then-High Point College, Barry Kellam has watched his son Will Kellam turn into Southwest Guilford's top batter in an impressive senior campaign.

Plenty jumps out when reading an article about Barry Kellam, the left-handed third baseman for High Point College in 1986.

Opponents thought he was "nuts," reported former High Point Enterprise writer John Delong. Panthers coach Jim Speight called Kellam "a piece of work," what with his myriad headbands and a photo of the "Road Warriors" in his cap, the better to glance at before each at-bat for inspiration.

Kellam even possessed a bevy of oddball nicknames: Animal - an homage to his wrestling heroes - along with Goose and Mr. Science and The White Knight.

Will Kellam digested all the information held in that yellowed newspaper clipping and everything else he knew about his dad's college baseball career - and took one thing from it:

"Will had seen all that stuff when he was growing up and he said, "I want to be better than you.' " the elder Kellam relayed with a smile.

Mission accomplished.

"He's a better hitter now than when I was growing up," Barry praised.

And that says a lot about Southwest Guilford's senior first baseman.

Barry Kellam transferred to High Point College with a full scholarship following one year at Southeastern Community College in Whiteville. All he did for the Panthers, who then played in the NAIA ranks, was compile hitting records that remain untouched to this day.

From 1984 to 1986, Kellam batted .404. In the history of HPU's program of players with at least two seasons and 200 at-bats, the second-best career batting average belongs to Otis Foster (1973-75) at .380. Likewise with on-base percentage, Kellam stands head and shoulders above the rest at .520 for his career. Justin Wishon (1998-99) sits a distant second at .449.

Now that's a piece of work - eccentricities and all.

It's no wonder that Will Kellam paid attention to his dad's advice on batting.

"It's been pretty fun (following in his footsteps)," Will offered. "I just try to do everything he did - see it and rip it, just like he used to."

Barry coached Will from ages 6 to 14, in everything from AAU ball to Babe Ruth leagues to serving as a Southwest Middle assistant. Will said the best hitting tips from his dad have involved hand-eye coordination and following through properly on his swing.

"He's taught me everything," Will said. "Basically, he's where I learned everything from about hitting."

For his part, though, Barry decided his official coaching days would end when Will hit high school.

Will, caught up in the High Point school choice plan his freshman year, ended up at Western Guilford and played well for the Hornets' varsity in part-time action. Redistricting the following year brought him back to Southwest - "my first choice. I always loved it here," explained Will - and a breakout sophomore season ensued with Cowboys head coach Reid Holmes and assistant Ken Morgan.

"I was ready to hand him over to Reid and Ken Morgan," Barry explained. "I want to enjoy being a parent. It's been a lot more fun."

Not that Barry appears to have a ton of fun during the games. Admittedly superstitious, he often strikes a solitary pose down the right-field line, at times quietly rooting on Will and at other moments shouting out encouraging words.

Will enjoyed an all-conference season as a sophomore, finishing with 37 hits, 22 runs batted in and a .415 bating average. The success failed to carry over, however, as his junior year began with a 2-for-31 slump.

"It was pretty tough, but you've got to work through adversity," Will said. "You've got to stay positive with yourself."

Will found his stroke late in the season and rallied to bat .272, finishing among the team leaders with 21 hits. And this spring, he's developed into Southwest's best hitter - "mountain man" appearance and all, as the Cowboys have labeled Will due to a dark beard and the long hair flopping out of his hat.

"That's my style, my personality," he said with a smile.

Added Holmes: "We all have our different personalities. His personality is unique," the coach said. "His teammates admire him because he is probably as competitive a player as we have. I think the kids feed off his competitive drive."

Will has worked hard, Holmes said, to channel that competitive nature in a positive way instead of getting down on himself from one at-bat to the next, one game to the next.

Just last week against Glenn, the senior struck out - just his second K of the year - and returned to the dugout obviously frustrated. He pounded his fist into his glove several times, growled at himself a few times ... and later laced a two-run double. The next night against Western Guilford, he hit the first home run of his high school career and later laced a double. He's currently batting .487 - 19 hits in 39 at-bats - with a home run, seven doubles, one triple and a homer along with 16 RBIs.

"He's really swinging the bat well," Holmes praised. "We need some guys to get on board and follow his lead."

College coaches have begun to notice Will's offensive exploits. Standing just 5-foot-8, 200 pounds, the right-hander isn't a prototypical college first baseman, but Will fully intends to play at a small school - "maybe in the mountains," he said hopefully - and follow in his father's footsteps.

Can Will match his father's lofty college stats? Proud Dad wouldn't put it past him.

"He works hard at his game - a blue-collar worker," Barry said when asked about his favorite memories seeing Will's game develop. "Watching him grow up to be a man. That he still loves to play. He's still competitive."

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© 2009 by The High Point Enterprise. All rights reserved

 

Yes it is.....

Barry "Goose" and I were teammates at HPU, and dormmates as well. He could hit like h****. Sick, smooth swing to say the least. Definitely a master at making solid contact. This is largely how and where I developed my hitting philosophy.... See it and hit it hard!!! KISS

 

Article

Can I tell Barry who you are Oriole

 

Congratulations to Will...

We have watched him play for many years. He is a great hitter, every AB is fun to watch.... this young man knows how to swing the bat!

Despite his height, he is also one of the best first basemen that I have watched. What Will lacks in height, he makes up for with his great hands and footwork. This young man can play and some team will be lucky to get him.

Wishing Will the best!

 

private message!

you have a PM amstrong!

 

To SportsMom

You brought tears to Barry's eyes when you commented on Will. He wants to thank you very much for the kind words. He wants to say thank you for the comments and wishes you and your family the best and only the best.