DiAndreth brothers bring competitive nature for top-ranked Hempfield
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Wednesday, April 25, 2018 | 6:00 PM
Born two minutes apart, Hempfield senior twins Nick and Isaiah DiAndreth even made their arrival into the world a competition.
Their natural sibling rivalry blossomed into a who-wants-it-more event. They've been keeping score ever since.
It's a constant race to be No. 1.
As youngsters it was all about getting to sit up front in the family car — “You had to call shotgun,” Isaiah said.
Nick added, “We fist-fought for that. Our parents had to make it a fair shake and let us take turns.”
That later turned into who could take down the larger harvest during deer season; who could hit a golf ball farther at the driving range; who could bowl the higher series or game.
These days, it's about dueling for takedowns in the popular survival video game, Fortnite.
“I got him there,” Nick said.
“Grades, too,” Isaiah said. “We study for the same test and try to get better scores. It's about academics first, then sports.”
The DiAndreths simply love to compete, particularly against each other, in any contest, on any day of the week. Their competitive bond has been contagious to the Hempfield baseball team, which just this week ascended to the No. 1 spot in the Tribune-Review Class 6A rankings.
Surging Hempfield (11-2, 6-0 Section 2-6A) has won five straight games and 10 of its last 11.
“They're both great players on the field and both can be difference-makers in games,” Hempfield coach Tim Buzzard said of the twins. “They're both extremely competitive and confident and are great teammates and leaders.”
The DiAndreths have the synchronicity of windshield wipers at times but can also be quite divided on issues; congruent and conflicting.
And despite near identical roster specs — Nick is 5-foot-7, 165 pounds; Isaiah 5-foot-8, 175 — they have dissimilar approaches to the game.
“They have completely different styles and different personalities,” Buzzard said. “Isaiah is a man of fewer words. He is super-focused but doesn't say much. Nick is also super-focused but is a lot more talkative. He'll be out there chatting it up with umpires and other coaches. They're just both so tough.”
Nick, starting in the outfield for the second straight season, leads off the Spartans' lineup. The speedster who sets the table is an IUP recruit.
Isaiah, a third-year starter and hit-halting shortstop, bats second. He is headed to Seton Hill.
Buzzard said the pair has played a key part in building the team's chemistry. Their statistics are quite similar — they won't say so, but there's probably some side-game going on there, too.
Isaiah is batting .390, Nick .354. Nick has one more hit, 17, than his brother. They both have 15 runs scored and they each have struck out just once all season.
“When we grew up playing baseball, I was the second baseman and he was always the shortstop,” Nick said. “We have always kind of worked together. We get on each other; in football, we'd say things as we lined up next to each other if one of us messed up. In baseball, we might give advice on a pitcher or a situation.”
The brotherly banter keeps it interesting.
Buzzard said, “You can hear them talking sometimes between short and center field.”
Isaiah was a running back, receiver and free safety in football. Nick played receiver. Talk about twins right or left.
“He always liked the contact, hitting somebody,” Nick said. “I liked getting the ball and running away from people.”
In baseball, Isaiah said he is the power hitter of the two.
“(Nick) is more of the slappy, contact hitter,” he said. “We're different there. He is faster. The thing I want people to say about (years from now) is that we weren't scared of anybody and we never backed down.”
One thing the DiAndreths do agree on: their shoulder-shrugging interest in the team's No. 1 ranking.
They want to win but like their personal rivalry, victories are best enjoyed internally.
Even though the Spartans are in the driver's seat in Section 2, the twins are more interested in what they think of themselves, not outsiders' opinions of them.
“We've never had the spotlight on us to begin with,” Nick said. “And I liked it that way. We just look forward to getting better. I have never played for a team that has a bond like this.”
Isaiah said, “Numbers mean nothing. We're playing well; I hope teams come ready to play us.”
But they may have to call shotgun.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.
Tags: Hempfield Area
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