Taking Another Step

There are bonds between sisters, and it's been said that the bond between twins is even greater. The Northwest softball team is about to find out firsthand if the ties between the three Millspaugh sisters, two of whom are twins, can help lead them to great things. Erica and twins Alex and McKinsey will likely make up a third of the team that takes the field on most days for Northwest this spring. The Grizzlies have suffered one-run losses in the first round of the Class 6A state softball tournament each of the last two seasons, most recently a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in 2008 to Olathe Northwest. Erica Millspaugh is one of four Grizzly seniors looking to break the trend. She also hopes that her twin sophomore sisters, Alex and McKinsey, can increase their contributions in their expanded roles this season. Erica likes the team's chances at state this year with a senior-laden group. "I definitely think that this team has as good of a chance as any the last few years to go to state and actually do well," she says. "I feel like we have a really solid team this year. The four of us (seniors) have played together since we were little. We know each other really well and are a close-knit group." The twins saw limited playing time last season, but Northwest coach Merri Copeland thinks that will change. "The twins didn't get to play as much as I wanted them to play," says Copeland about the 2008 season which resulted in an 18-5 record. "They had a lot of other kids that they were playing behind. This year they should see a lot of playing time and all three of them should pretty much be in the games together." All three playing together in games that count is something for which their father, Dave Millspaugh, has prepped them since they were very young. An older Millspaugh, Brittany, now 24, is also a former Grizzly softball player. Dad has been tossing around the softball with his daughters for nearly a quarter century. "It worked really well to bring the sisters together on the same team. They seem to get along well," Millspaugh said about last summer, in which the sisters consolidated forces, following their first spring high school season together. "It was also easier for me. To make it to 15 tournaments in the summer was hard, and last year it was only 7-8." Dave has made some sacrifices to get the girls to tournaments over the years when he could've been working his job as a mail carrier. "We work most weekends, so it does make it tough for tournaments," he says. "I basically use all of my vacation time for tournaments. My wife always jokes that here we go on another vacation to a tournament." It appears that his work with the girls has paid off - Erica and the twins developed into competitors at the prep level at a young age. Erica started 21 games last spring for Northwest at third base and catcher. She tied for the team lead in stolen bases last season, going a perfect 8 of 8. Alex plays the same positions as her senior sister and hit .360 in 17 games in 2008. McKinsey is a pitcher and shortstop who had the second-most innings pitched last season and a perfect fielding percentage in 18 games. It was quite rewarding to the older sister to have the twins join her on the team at Northwest. "They were used to advanced competition," says Erica, "but it was actually pretty nice having them on the team last year at Northwest. When we are on the field, they are still my sisters, but they are a part of the team. We know each other really well, so that helps a little bit with making plays and keeping each other up if we aren't doing that well." Erica has never felt left out of the sisterhood, but she also realizes that the twins might have a little extra something that gives them an advantage on the field. "I think I'm really the only one on the team that can tell them apart, so I help everyone else with that," Erica says. "There is definitely some kind of twin thing going on - like they can read each other's minds when they make plays." This family of girls is focusing on making plays to help Northwest to where they want to go. The reality is that this is the last year that all three will play high school softball together. The end is something that Erica is not looking forward to and she tries not to give it much thought. "I was actually looking into colleges in the fall and softball was an option, but I was offered some good business scholarships at Wichita State University, so that is something that I really can't pass up," Erica said. "I will definitely miss softball and the fact that I won't be playing is already having an impact on me this year." An impact is exactly what three Millspaugh sisters on the same team will have for the Grizzlies this spring. The cohesiveness between the sisters has never been up for debate; the only question yet to be determined is how far they can help along a softball squad bent on getting back to state.