You鈥檙e not seeing double, you鈥檙e seeing the next pair of baseball talents to come out of the Okanagan.
Twins Adam and Brady Renneberg recently committed to Mineral Area Community College in Missouri, a division one team of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
In 2020, they鈥檒l start with their new team and thankfully wear different numbers on their jerseys so fans will be able to tell them apart.
The 麻豆精选 twins are 17 years old and coming off an impressive season with the 麻豆精选 Sun Devils, a local college prep team.
Though they have one more season to go with the Sun Devils before the 2020 school year starts, the twins are happy to get this decision finalized so they can simply focus on their play.
鈥淭his is something that I鈥檝e always dreamed of,鈥� said Adam.
鈥淚t relieves the stress off my shoulders of finding a team to play for next season. Now it鈥檚 time to work hard and get better.
鈥淚鈥檓 just looking forward to going to school and playing baseball.鈥�
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Adam is about two inches taller than Brady, which barely helps tell them apart as both players are solid pitchers and play with a similar style, while also showing off their talents at other positions on the diamond鈥� Adam doubles as a catcher and Brady likes third base.
The Mineral Area Cardinals play in the NCJAA and offer two-year educations to players looking to move forward into the NCAA or to the pros.
Last season, the Cardinals missed the playoffs after finishing the year 36-20. Among the 221 schools in the league, Mineral Area finished third in stolen bases.
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Transitions for student athletes are tough on every level, but the Renneberg twins are happy that they鈥檙e taking the next challenge in their careers together.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be good to have someone down there that I know so well,鈥� said Brady.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be kind of a nice helper to have someone who I鈥檓 already friends with. It鈥檚 a nice bonus.鈥�
The twins, their family and friends as well as Sun Devils coach Derek McPherson celebrated a ceremonial contract signing in early December to recognize the big steps the twins have taken while playing in 麻豆精选.
McPherson said the two will be ready for the competitiveness of college level baseball.
鈥淚t鈥檚 rewarding, I鈥檓 proud of them and they鈥檙e a great representation of what (the Sun Devils) program and culture is about,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hey busted their butts last year and now they (can) kind of relax now they know where they鈥檙e playing and can continue to work towards next year and get better.鈥�
The jump in the expected level of play next year hasn鈥檛 been lost on the Renneberg twins.
They, just like their physical traits and mannerisms, mirror each other on their appreciation of the Sun Devils鈥� program.
鈥淚t鈥檚 helped me a lot. Working through everything the past five, six years (with 麻豆精选) has developed me into the player I am today,鈥� said Brady.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 prepared for this after playing in 麻豆精选, and now I鈥檝e given myself the opportunity to go where I want to go,鈥� said Adam.
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The two talents will spend next season, expected to start in April, honing their talents, training and preparing.
Their dedication, love and experience will be useful to the next year鈥檚 Sun Devils鈥� roster.
McPherson said that this isn鈥檛 the last of Okanagan talent to be recognized and given opportunities.
鈥淭here鈥檚 good baseball players in 麻豆精选, there鈥檚 no question.鈥�
Their coach believes that the Renneberg twins鈥� success will help boost the talent perception of both the Sun Devils鈥� program and Okanagan players to schools in Canada and the U.S.
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