Sibling duos, even a trio, in Hometown Current area baseball, softball teams

For many, teammates can feel like a second family. For some, these teammates can be actual family.

Being able to play sports alongside a sibling can create a special bond.

Here is a look at some Hometown Current sibling duos (and in one case trio) for the softball and baseball seasons.

SANKOT TWINS

Will and Wade Sankot are twins who play on the Belle Plaine baseball team. The sophomore duo has played key roles in the teams success this year.

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When asked to describe their relationship in a word both said “competitive.”

“It’s been fun and exciting to play together and we push each other to do better,” Will and Wade said.

The Sankot twins are also a part of the Plainsmen’s pitching rotation and often get to catch for each other.

Will leads the team in hits this season (12) and is batting .343 with 10 RBIs. He’s pitched 15 innings with a 2.33 ERA.

Wade is tied for third on the team with seven hits and is the team’s leading pitcher with 28 innings pitched with a 2.50 ERA with 33 strikeouts.

“Will and Wade have a great knowledge of the game and push each other every day when they arrive at the ball field. Both have contributed to our team success this season,” Belle Plaine head coach Matthew Mengler said.

ACHENBACH TWINS

The English Valleys softball team is off to a hot start this season with a 10-2 record.

Aubrey and Addison Achenbach both start for the Bears and typically play left and right field.

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“We always fight, but we always come back and make up,” Aubrey said when describing their relationship.

“Addison once kicked me and broke two of my fingers when we were younger.” Aubrey cited as an example of what can be a love-hate relationship.

Both look back at this now and laugh.

Addison described a similar symphony to her sister and said it’s “special” to be able to play alongside Aubrey.

Aubrey is currently second on the team in batting average, hitting .406 with 13 hits.

Addison has eight hits on the season and has stolen eight bases.

The twins are part of a young core of players for the Bears and will be key contributors for the rest of this season and years to come.

HOYT TRIO

Chance are Mason are triplets (along with their sister Skyler) and freshman, while Garrett is a senior for the Iowa Valley baseball team.

When asked to describe their sibling relationship in one word here is what they had to say:

“Hectic”- Garrett

“Psychotic”- Chance

“Crazy”- Mason

With all these words being synonyms, the boys show how close they are to each other.

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“It’s been super cool getting to seen how my little brothers progress and how far they have come at the high school level,” Garrett said.

“We are much better as a group than by ourselves,” Chance said.

“It’s been fun, I’ve been playing sports with my brothers all my life and baseball has been a sport we all have excelled at,” Mason said.

All three have contributed on the bats for the Tigers this season with their 82 total RBIs. Garrett has five on the season while Chance and Mason, fittingly, both have nine.

The Hoyt brothers have been playing sports together for years. They remember a lot of great times they’ve had together so far.

“The practices have been the best memory for me when we are all just laughing,” Garrett said.

“Seeing Chance dancing in left field and both goofing off has been fun to see.”

Both Chance and Mason mentioned the same funny memory.

“I’ll always remember when we were in the batting cage and Garrett got hit in the chest and he dropped down and I thought it was pretty funny,” Chance said.

“That’s my favorite memory too. It was hilarious,” Mason said.

The Tigers have won six of their last eight heading into their game tonight against Keota.

KRIEGEL SISTERS

The Iowa Valley softball team has a sibling duo of its own.

Eva has been dressing varsity as an eight grader, while Izzy is a junior.

Izzy had 13 hits on the season through their first 12 games, with six RBIs.

The other Kriegel on the team, Lydia, who was top 20 in Class 1A in batting average (. 556) through 12 games, is their first cousin.

Lydia will have the opportunity to play alongside her sister next season as she becomes an eligible 8th grader.

GROVE BROTHERS

Cael Grove, sophomore, and Myles Grove, senior, are both on the English Valleys baseball team.

In Cael’s eight at-bats this season, he has three hits and also yields a .923 fielding percentage.

Myles leads the team in innings pitched (15 2/3) and has a 1.000 fielding percentage on 11 chances.

The Bears scored their season high in runs (7) in a loss to Montezuma Wednesday.