Washington County Enterprise-Leader
LONG TWINS INFLUENCED BLACKBURN TWINS IN SPORTS
FARMINGTON — Lauren and Lindsey Blackburn are among various sets of twin sisters to play softball for Farmington coach Randy Osnes.
They were inspired by the play of Cassy and Stacy Long, who were part of a Farmington state championship team in their freshmen season. Stacy played outfielder and shortstop and Cassy was named Most Valuable Player of the state tournament before going on to play for the Lady Razorbacks.
“I think the first sport that caught their attention in Kindergarten was softball because we were close to Cassy and Stacy Long and watched them play for Coach Osnes,” said the girls’ mother, Debby Blackburn. ”They actually picked their favorite jersey numbers from what Cassy and Stacy wore. Cassy was number 22 and Stacy number 7, but number 7 was taken so we doubled it to 14.”
Farmington beat Pulaski Academy for the 2000 state title and the Long twins helped the Lady Cardinals to state runner-up finishes in their next three seasons.
The Blackburn twins have played competitive softball since fifth grade with Lindsey making All-Conference as a sophomore and both girls receiving the honor as juniors. They were part of Farmington’s 2011 state championship in softball.
Debby and the girls’ father, Trevitt, picked out several names they liked before the twins were born, but it was the girls’ older brother, Jake, who decided their names from a list.
Debby said the girls were influenced athletically by both Trevitt and her, noting Trevitt was a three- sport athlete at Mena High School in the 1980’s while Debby played tennis at Mena and at Ouachita Baptist University.
According to Debby, Johna Selph talked Lauren and Lindsey in to playing basketball for her in the Fourth grade, which is when they first started playing with current Lady Cardinals, Haley Maxwell and Tichina Scales.
The girls have also played competitive basketball in the summer. Lindsey was a cheerleader in eighth grade while Lauren chose to play volleyball and has been a starting setter since. Lauren was named All-Conference last year. Lindsey decided to play volleyball in ninth grade and was All-Conference, too.
What Lindsey appreciates most about the community are the people of Farmington, saying she and her friends are all close.
“Sports-wise I like how all three of my coaches [Brad Johnson, girls basketball; Randy Osnes, softball and Marshall Ward, volleyball] are such good coaches and I’m so blessed to have them,” Lindsey said, noting other schools complain about the coaches they have.
Osnes describes Lauren as incredibly athletic with an extremely good arm who underwent a learning process in moving to the catcher position last season.
“She thought it was in her best interest to concentrate on softball this year,” Osnes said.
Both girls are going to focus on volleyball and softball as seniors and have left their hardwood careers behind them. Debby thinks one of the good things her twin daughters have gained from playing school and competitive team sports is learning how to dig deep and finish even when they don’t feel like it because there are other people on the team depending on their individual efforts.
Although the twins have decided not to play basketball during their senior year, they will be remembered not as basketball stars but for contributions that didn’t show up in the box score
Little things are important in determining the outcome of a game — little things like contesting an outlet pass to slow the progression of the basketball downcourt when only two teammates are across the timeline or setting a screen to free up a teammate for an open shot or coming over the top and tipping the ball away from an opponent to get an extra possession. Both regularly made those type plays in helping Farmington reach the state finals in girls basketball in 2012.
Debby said there is no question about what has been the greatest benefit.
“The very best part of it has been making lifelong friends.”