Eric McInerny wasn’t a heavily recruited baseball player out of high school when (Barton Assistant) Coach Fulghum approached him at a game when he was scouting another player.

McInerny then met with Barton Head Coach Todd Wilkinson and came to Wilson, N.C., for a workout and toured the campus. 

“I recalled going to Dick’s Hot Dog Stand and Fleming Stadium,” said McInerny.  “After that visit, I felt Barton was the best option for me.”

“I liked the idea of attending a four-year school as a college athlete. I attended a few camps where Coach Wilkinson was an instructor and remembered him through recruitment and his vast knowledge of the game.  I liked the fact the school was relatively small, making it a more personable experience.  I was still close to home and felt it was the best fit for me.  That experience led to many memories and relationships that I still have today.”

McInerny turned into one of the best players to wear a Bulldogs’ uniform in the last two decades.

A four-year starter, McInerny remains the program’s all-time leader in doubles (67), total bases (492) and runs batted in (215) while ranking second all-time in runs scored (194) and total hits (281).

McInerny also holds Barton’s single-season record for runs scored (62) and doubles (22) and led the Bulldogs to the 2006 Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship, a season in which he also served as team captain.

“I remember the friendships I established and the camaraderie between teammates.  Our team was a tight knit group of guys that enjoyed being around each other on and off the field,” said McInerny.

Some of McInerny’s most memorable moments include hitting a triple in his first collegiate at-bat (Georgia College & State), first home run freshman year (UNC Pembroke), three home runs in one game (Coker) and four home runs and nine RBI in another game (Chowan).

“The key to my success was consistency,” said McInerny.  “I was fortunate to play in all but one game during my entire collegiate career.  I was never sidelined with any injuries or dropped performance wise.  I came to Barton as a shortstop and was competing against another Hall of Famer (Brock Godwin).  I knew if I wanted to play, I needed to beat him or find a new position.  I ended up finding a new position and worked hard to get into the starting lineup and even harder to stay in it.”

McInerny graduated from Barton with a bachelor’s degree in fitness management and eventually enrolled in Basic Law Enforcement Training at Wilson Community College.

McInerny completed training in May of 2008 and joined the Wilson Police Department.  McInerny served as Patrol Officer before being promoted to Patrol Sergeant which oversees one of the department’s four patrol teams.  McInerny is also a member and Team Leader of the Police Department’s Special Response Team (SRT).

“My goal while playing was to be drafted professionally and continue my baseball career,” said McInerny.  “Eventually, that did not happen, and my career ended before I knew it.  But being inducted into the Hall of Fame proved I accomplished a great thing.  Having looked back at my career, I’m extremely proud of what I accomplished.”

McInerny is a native of Morehead City, N.C., and a graduate of Croatan High School (Newport, N.C.).  McInerny and his wife, Jenny, have one son, Sullivan Brooks.