Inseparable Bond: Best friends Abby Gentry and Akayla Barnard lean on each other miles from home
CONWAY, ARKANSAS - The last time Akayla Barnard and Abby Gentry were on the turf at Farris Field on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas it was as foes last May.
When they rerturned last Friday, it was as South Dakota State softball teammates for a game against Purdue.
In that game last spring, Gentry's Bryant Hornets rode a five-run seventh inning to get past Barnard's Cabot Panthers, 8-5, to win the Class 6A state championship.
Now, in their freshman seasons, the duo who are "like sisters" per Gentry's mother, Melanie, have been everyday starters thus far for the Jackrabbits.
They helped South Dakota State go 3-2 last weekend in UCA's Michelle Short Memorial Classic that included a two-game sweep of Purdue, a split with UCA and a loss to Southern Illinois.
After wrapping a doubleheader at No. 3 Oklahoma State on Tuesday, the Jackrabbits are back in action in The Natural State on Thursday. They will compete at Bogle Park on the campus of the University of Arkansas in the Wooo Pig Classic, a field that also features the host Razorbacks, Southeast Missouri State and Florida Atlantic.
We're going where?
If you are not familiar with Gentry and Barnard's stories, the first question that likely arises is why would they choose to go to college so far away?
South Dakota State head coach Kristina McSweeney is her second year with the program following a decade of success at Division-II Arkansas Tech from 2013-22 where she compiled a 356-184 record. Under her direction, the Golden Suns won two Great American Conference regular-season titles, four GAC Tournament championships and she was twice named GAC Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2022.
Last year in her first season with the Jackrabbits, McSweeney guided them to a 39-19 record, including a 17-0 run in The Summit League play. She was tabbed as The Summit League's Coach of the Year.
Barnard was initially recruited during McSweeney's time at Tech, and it did not take long for Barnard to mention that McSweeney should also take a look at her loyal sidekick, Gentry.
"I had originally recruited Akayla first and, unbeknownst to me, her best friend was a superstar, too," McSweeney said. "I took the job at South Dakota State, and those were the first two names that I had to have."
While both desired to play for McSweeney, they began to have second thoughts once she took the job at South Dakota State in June of 2022. Located in Brookings smack dab on the East Central state line, the school is nearly 12 hours away from Barnard and Gentry's familiar surroundings in central Arkansas.
"They panicked, of course," McSweeney said of her leaving Arkansas Tech. "I just told them that I am going to love you through this process if you want to come play for me."
Considering McSweeney was going from the Division II ranks to Division I, some coaches may have second guessed whether or not a player will be suited for that level, but she never faltered on either.
"I had no doubt in my mind that they were going to be stars from the get-go," McSweeney said. "Knowing that there was a chance I could not get them (when she left for SDS), my heart was broken.
"Akayla said yes first, then Abby followed pretty quick after and I have loved every second of it."
McSweeney's intuition has paid off thus far.
Barnard has started all 17 games and has a current slash line of .260/.381/.520 with six runs batted in, two doubles, a home run and a team-leading four triples as the team's designated player. Gentry, who can play either corner position, and also catches, is currently slashing .209/.292/.279 with five runs batted in, a double and a triple.
Barnard also pitches, and it was her work in the circle that first caught McSweeney's eye at a Harding University camp in Searcy (Ark.) her freshman year of high school. Barnard's most notable appearance this season was a complete game shutout in a 2-0 win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Feb. 16, in which she allowed only three hits and struck out six.
"I stood out to her pitching, that was mainly what out topic was," Barnard said. "She did not get to see me hit, but from the get-go after I pitched and she was behind the plate calling balls and strikes she was like, 'You are coming to Tech, you are coming on a visit and we are going to make this happen.'
"I just loved how she was wanting me. No other coaches made me feel like that, plus she makes you feel loved as a person and athlete. She knows it is much more than the game of softball."
Naturally, Gentry trusted Barnard's instincts.
"Akayla had a lot of great things to say about Arkansas Tech and that is what kind of opened up the door for me there," Gentry said. "I went on my visit and loved the coaches.
"When I found out they were moving to South Dakota, it kind of hit me like a hurricane because I loved them so much. When they reached out to me again it was mind-blowing. I was just really excited to take that opportunity."
A natural catcher, Gentry contributed effectively at multiple positions at Bryant. She has also been a mainstay for Barnard, as you will typically find her behind the dish when Barnard is in the circle.
Abby Gentry catching during Bryant's semifinal win against Bentonville in extra innings last May. (Photo by Jimmy Jones)
"I have always been a catcher and it has been my go-to," Gentry said. "That is what helped me get recruited and having my best friend as a pitcher helps me be comfortable with that. Playing infield is just another part of the game. I have been really comfortable in the infield since high school, but I am just trying to learn new routines and get better at what I can."
Arkansas Talent Grabbing National Attention
Having had the success she did at Arkansas Tech, McSweeney understands the importance of recruiting within your state's borders.
While she had zero doubts that both Barnard and Gentry could thrive at the D-I level, there are other true freshmen doing the same around the country.
One example is two-time Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year Alyssa Houston, a Benton native, who picked up the first win of her college career in the circle last Friday in Stanford's 6-2 win over Colorado State.
"It is incredible what has been done, because for a long time people said Arkansas was behind," McSweeney said. "I have been saying for a while, if you are not winning with Arkansas kids, what are you doing?
"I am going to try and take everyone one that I can. The game continues to grow and that is the investment people have put into softball. You have to tip your hat to programs like U of A (Arkansas) and UCA last year, they just put Arkansas softball on the map."
After playing at UCA's field last weekend, the next destination is Northwest Arkansas and the Razorbacks.
That slate of games will feature multiple Arkansas natives, including Hannah Gammill (Beebe) for the Hogs and Cally Kildow (Gravette), a former Hog who is playing her grad transfer season with the Lady Owls.
Rekindling former relationships is a part of the game, but that is not Gentry's primary focus.
"You kind of have to think of it as not knowing them," Gentry said. "Just being a freshman in college, this is all new. You have to take it as a new experience, make new adjustments, meet people and have amazing teammates."
Peas In a Pod
Since they were 12, Barnard and Gentry have essentially done everything together. From 12-16 years old, they played on the same team in travel softballball for Arkansas Premier Fastpitch and were coached by Gentry's father, Shawn.
At 17, they both moved on the play for Tulsa Elite, but for different teams within the organization, before reuniting again on TE's 18U squad.
When they were not playing travel ball, they were putting on their own individual shows as two of the premier players in the Arkansas ranks.
While competing in the 6A-Central Conference, Barnard led Cabot to the state finals in both her junior and senior seasons. Despite a 3-1 loss, she was excellent in the 2022 game against Bentonville, allowing only one hit while striking out eight batters and also smashed a home run.
"She was absolutely amazing," Bentonville head coach Kent Early said of Barnard's performance. "I have the utmost respect for her."
Her senior year, the state title was on the line against conference foe Bryant and Gentry. Barnard was coming off of a dominant semifinal performance in a 1-0 win over Rogers, but the Lady Panthers were unable to match runs with the Lady Hornets late. Down 5-3 heading into the seventh inning, Bryant reeled off five runs and Kadence Armstrong finished it off in the circle when she got Allee Autry swinging for the final out.
Barnard finsihed her senior year with 182 strikeouts in 108.1 innings pitched. She was also dominant at the plate, slashing .507/.544/1.181 with 43 runs batted in and 14 home runs.
Akayla Barnard connecting on a ball with Abby Gentry catching behind her during the 2023 6A state final. (Photo by Jimmy Jones)
Though both finals losses stung, Barnard has moved on.
"At the end of the day I put my best foot forward and did what I could," Barnard said. "I feel like I threw my arm out for both games and it led me to not pitching my junior or senior year during travel.
"That was actually the hard part coming into this (college) is I did not get the high-level experience facing those D I athletes. But, overall, it was just an amazing experience and I hope Cabot gets another chance to go back."
Gentry is, and rather quietly, one of the most dominant hitters to ever play Arkansas prep softball. She finished in the Top 10 of 16 different offensive categories in the Arkansas Activities Association record book. Her career slash line is one you hardly even see in video games – .545/.603/1.050 – along with 149 runs scored, 119 runs batted in and 32 home runs in 299 at-bats, plus 32 stolen bases.
Last year as a senior, Gentry slashed .580/.692/1.295 with 36 runs batted in and 14 home runs.
Despite all of the storylines in that finals game – playing in her first ever state championship and against her best friend's team – Gentry took the same approach that she has always known and continues to follow to this day.
"It was just another game," she said. "You can not look at it as a big opponent, you just have to take it game-by-game. We knew Cabot was a good match for us and we just had to play our game."
While Barnard and Gentry will continue to depend upon one another through their college careers, and beyond, being in a new state has provided them the opportunity to form many new relationships.
"We have had our difficulties, but who doesn't when you do something new," Barnard said. "Abby and I have been long-distance best friends (being at different high school), not every day in-person best friends so that has been different.
"It definitely makes it easier because we knew each other and knew people going in, but we have made friends with older and younger girls throughout softball."
(Photo of Akayla Barnard (left) and Abby Gentry (right) by Kyle Sutherland)
-- Kyle Sutherland | kyle@scorebooklive.com | @k_sutherlandAR
