They are siblings who started playing around the age of six, both play third base, both were Centennial High School Golden Hawks, and the duo both play for the Bakersfield College Renegades.
But this is where the similarities end for Nick and Laura Fox.
Nick is in his sophomore season on the BC baseball team and Laura is a freshman on the Renegades softball team. Laura only played softball, while Nick played baseball, and some football. Nick is 20, while Laura is 19.
Laura and Nick talked about their feelings about the game they share.
“It means a lot, it’s pretty much taken over my life. When you play college sports, everyday you practice or you have a game,” said Nick. “Even in the summer you practice and throughout the fall you’re practicing, so it means a lot to me.”
Laura continued with the same thoughts.
“It’s my life pretty much, plus it helps keep me in shape.”
Laura and Nick went on to talk about the support they got from their parents and the type of athletic background in which they came from.
“We’ve always been on teams, so they didn’t have to get out there with us, but they supported us the whole way, and bought us our stuff when we needed it, and they were always out there when we needed them to be,” said Laura.
“I don’t think my dad played any sports, but my mom ran track and did gymnastics,” said Nick.
When it comes to watching baseball or softball on TV, Laura watches if it’s on, but doesn’t usually make an effort to get to it, while Nick likes to watch baseball on many different levels.
“Usually I try to watch the College World Series,” Nick continued with his favorite player and what pro team he most likes to watch. “Rafael Furcal and the Dodgers are one of my favorites.”
The Foxes have differing aspirations and inspirations to why they play the game and to where they want to go next.
For Laura, it’s “Pretty much just for the fun of it,” she continued with “I’m not looking to go on for my four years at the next college, so it’s just having fun now.”
For Nick, it’s the opposite.
“Trying to get better, and to try to get to the next level and just be as good as I can be,” he said.
Nick went on to talk about some how the season is going for him, and where he thinks that next level could be.
It’s going pretty good so far, our team is doing really well, and I’m liking it. I feel like I’m doing all right, I’ve been plagued with injury a little bit, but when I’m out there I’ve been hitting the ball OK,” said Nick. “I’d like to transfer out to a Cal State after my time here at BC, but we’ll see what happens.”
Laura also talked about how her season is going as well as the difference between high school and college softball.
“It’s a lot of fun and it’s different than high school. It’s a much different experience. Our team is doing alright, but most of all I like how all the girls just stick together,” she said. “My batting kind of sucks this year, but other than that, I think I’m doing really well for a freshman.”
Laura and Nick spoke about things their coaches have told them that they use in game situations.
“Get the bat around the ball’ is something I think about every at bat,” said Laura. For Nick, it’s “compete, try and compete for all nine innings.”
Those coaches are Sandi Taylor for softball and Tim Painton for baseball.