Avon twins make team more like family

Brothers maintain a competitive edge to their relationship

Most athletes look at their teammates as brothers or sisters, but for Tommy and Will Kocar, that’s especially true.

The Avon seniors have been playing baseball together since they were 7 years old, and growing up playing sports together has given the twin brothers an experience they will not soon forget.

“Ever since Little League, we’ve always been on the same team,” Tommy said.

“(We were) never separated,” Will added. “We always had our dad as a coach, and it always just put both of us on the same team.”

Tommy, a shortstop and pitcher for the Eagles, and Will, a catcher, have enjoyed a lot of success playing for Avon. Each has a fielding percentage of over 95 percent, while Will’s 11 hits lead the Eagles.

With Avon consistently falling among the top teams in the conference, both in baseball and football — the Kocars’ other team — the brothers have developed a competitive edge on the field while still having fun with each other.

“Even though we play two different positions, since I’m catcher and he’s shortstop, I still have to give him a hard time if he misses one of my throws out there when I try to

to throw down,” Will said with a laugh.

“I mean, it’s always competitive, but after the game, it’s always in good fun where we have to make fun of one another, always have to one-up each other, just have to joke around with it and make sure we’re both having fun in the game,” Tommy added.

In baseball, though, the brothers are not able to take out some of their daily frustrations on each other like they can, say, in football.

“Sometimes you have to get a little anger out from your brother not letting you do something at home, just take it out on the field a little bit,” Tommy said. “It’s always a good time,”

Not all siblings can safely say they enjoy spending most of their time with each other, but, for the Kocars at least, they’ve used their time as teammates to push each other to become better players as Will has committed to play baseball at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

“You always have someone to talk baseball with about every day because they were on the field with you so they see some things that you were doing wrong, or maybe that you were doing right and they can tell you,” Will said. “You know that they’re just trying to look out for you.”

As their senior season continues, both Will and Tommy hope to claim that coveted SWC title after narrowly missing out on it last season to Midview, and to make it back to the district final, but this time, leaving with a win.

The Eagles are 11-1 (8-1 SWC) and currently in second place.

“Every team in the conference is really good and could beat you any day,” Will said. “I hope to have a good season, hopefully winning conference, since it’s our last season and it’s with my brother.”

“With all the practices, by this point we’re still having fun and the grind is still going,” Tommy added.

RANDY MEYERS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Avon shortstop Tommy Kocar has been playing on the same as his brother, catcher Will, since Little League.