Posted on: 14 June, 2025

Today, this is an appreciation blog for my twin brother, Michael, who spent last week working hard behind the scenes at ESPN covering the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City! Tucked away in a trailer, he was helping to bring content, stats, and stories to the big screen. 

For years, Michael never missed a softball game. We spent most of our birthdays together at the field. He came to tournaments, rolled ground balls to me in the living room, pitched to me at the field, and gave great pep talks. All the days I spent in a uniform, he was right beside me. 

Being a “sibling” can be hard when it comes to travel sports. As much as I showed up for Michael’s endeavors too, travel sports take up a majority of time, resources, and family attention. With Michael and I being twins, it impacted his life as much as mine. 

But whenever we talk about growing up as a travel softball family and I offer an apology for the all-consuming lifestyle, he says, “are you kidding? All the places we got to travel, the hikes, the adventures, the exciting games—dude I’ve loved growing up with you playing softball.” 

Even as he was applying for jobs, he reminisced on a time one of our teams won several games straight, saying “I was just thinking about Colorado that one year when we had the why not us mantra. So when I was applying I thought, why not me?” And he got the job. 

We used to stay up late watching the WCWS from the little TV in my room. This year, I watched it by myself in the living room, but beaming with pride. What may have seemed like MY journey of hard work, was simultaneously HIS journey of hard work. Having a positive attitude. Being part of a team. Showing support while crunching numbers. Michael has been championing Women’s sports for years. He has challenged himself, pushed himself beyond limits, and been courageous in everything that he pursues. 

Life is funny the way it flip-flopped us as twins. Michael used to take the big stage as a singer and now he is working at the softball fields. Meanwhile, I left the softball field behind, but am taking the stage as a professional speaker. To be honest, he is one of the reasons I ever had 

the courage to get on stage for the first time. Our endeavors have completely overlapped in the most amazing way. I think that has a lot to do with showing up for each other. 

Michael produces excellence everywhere he goes while making the people in his life feel seen, heard, supported and valued. Michael is the kind of person who shows up to every game and shows up in life. So, they say you are who you’re around. I strive to show up for the people in my life the way Michael has shown up for me and for Women’s Sports.