Alex Sutton casts a long shadow, but her three siblings have
more than held their own as they have made a name for themselves in
Live Oak spring sports.
Alex Sutton casts a long shadow, but her three siblings have more than held their own as they have made a name for themselves in Live Oak spring sports.
Taylor Sutton is a mirror image of her older sister, playing well enough in softball to earn a partial athletic scholarship to San Diego State University. Blaine and Connor Sutton have been major contributors to an Acorn baseball team that is currently tied for first in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division. Taylor and Blaine are 18-year-old twins. Connor is 16.
There may be some friendly sibling rivalry between Taylor and Connor, both middle infielders. And yet this is a family as close-knit as when there were five of them living under the same roof sharing bedrooms in Earl and Stacey Sutton’s house. The fifth is 13-year-old Hunter, who is a Pony League player looking to follow in the footsteps of his older brothers.
It all started with Alex, who had a storied career at Archbishop Mitty. Alex, who like Taylor is a left-handed-hitter, right-handed thrower and who played shortstop, was a first-team All-Central Coast selection and team MVP her sophomore, junior and senior seasons at Mitty. She was a freshman starter on the California-Berkeley team that went to the College World Series her freshman year and hit .352 last year as a junior.
The three ball-playing Suttons at Live Oak admit their sister casts a giant shadow. And yet they have used her exploits as motivation to improve themselves. All say they are proud of their older sister.
“It makes you want to get on the field at that level,” said Blaine, a left-handed pitcher with a 3-2 record. “She’s done a lot. I’m really proud of her.”
“She’s pretty much been my role model, my inspiration,” says Taylor of Alex, who will play this summer with the New England Riptide of the National Pro Fast-Pitch League. “I used to tag along all the time. What she achieved came through hard work.”
Live Oak softball coach Barry McDonnell has worked with the Sutton sisters since their days as 10-year-olds with the Pride of Morgan Hill.
“Both were just wonderful kids to coach,” McDonnell says. “They are always totally into the game. They have instincts for the game that you just don’t see. Both are such great, coachable kids who listen, work hard and always have a positive attitude.”
Taylor, who bats No. 2 in the order, is hitting .449 with nine extra base hits and a team-leading 13 stolen bases.
Blaine and Connor have been playing since age 7, but this is the first year they are actually on the same team.
“I like it because he doesn’t make any errors,” Blaine said of his younger brother, who is errorless at second base this season.
“I like to watch him pitch,” said Connor, whose older brother has thrown the most innings of Acorn hurlers.
Actually, Connor, a sophomore, has been an effective relief pitcher for Live Oak as well.
“Both are well respected young men,” Live Oak baseball coach Mark Cummins said. “They’re first-class kids whose parents have done a great job raising them. Blaine has been our ace pitcher who always gives us a great effort. Connor has been a pleasant surprise with the contributions he’s made as a sophomore. They’re both hard workers and great kids.”
“We’re a competitive family,” Connor said. “But we pull for each other.”
Those competitions used to take place on the basketball court when Alex and Taylor would take on Blaine and Connor. There is disagreement among the four about who won those games. There would also be kickball and whiffle ball competitions.
If there is one thing the siblings agree on, it’s that their parents, neither of whom has a baseball/softball background, have been always there for them.
“They’ve been very supportive,” Taylor said. “They take us everywhere.”
“They never miss our games,” Connor said. “They seem to make it somehow to all of our games.”
Next year it will be different for the Suttons. While Taylor knows she will be in San Diego, Blaine will be playing junior college ball somewhere hoping to be good enough to attract a Division 1 school.
“It’s going to be weird,” Taylor said. “I’ll have no one to talk to.”
That may be difficult for the outgoing Taylor, who is much like her sister. The boys are generally quiet and more laid back. And yet these are siblings who appreciate their differences and feed off each other for support.
“We’re best friends,” Taylor said of her and Blaine. “We’re very close.”
“When we came to Live Oak after our first two years at Mitty, we stuck together,” Blaine said. “It won’t be the same without her (next year).”
Older Sister Wins Weekly Pac-10 Honor
Wire reports
Berkeley – Morgan Hill native and California senior Alex Sutton was selected Pac-10 Softball Player of the Week for the period ending Apr. 9, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced Tuesday.
This is the first Player of the Week honor for Sutton, who was a second-team All-Pac-10 selection last season.
Sutton was the difference April 5 at Stanford when her fifth inning three-run home run off of Missy Penna lifted the Bears to a 3-0 win over the Cardinal and help snap Cal’s losing streak at six games.
Sutton had another productive day at the plate in the series finale when she belted a two-run home run as part of a five-run second inning in Cal’s 9-1 win over Stanford.
For the week, Sutton hit .417 (5-for-12) with three runs scored, two home runs and five RBI. Sutton, the Bears’ only senior, leads the team in doubles (10), home runs (9), RBI (38), on-base percentage (.478), slugging percentage (.611) and total bases (80).
Her nine home runs are tied for fourth-most in the Pac-10 and her RBI total ranks her sixth.
