Twin connection: Identical duo’s versatility aids Shadle Park softball

Shadle Park was playing Ferris in a Greater Spokane League softball game last season when a Saxons base runner fell into the Highlanders’ Twin Trap.

Shadle catcher Leslie Jones, using the unspoken vibe that links identical twins, snapped a throw to third baseman Laurie Jones, who applied the tag on the shocked Saxon.

“If I need to make a throw down to third, I know (Laurie will) be there,” Leslie said. “It’s just like a weird connection.”

The 17-year-old juniors are a big reason that Shadle marched to third place at last year’s State 3A tournament and enters this Greater Spokane League season as one of three favorites, with Valley powers Central Valley and University.

The Joneses may play catcher and third base, but Shadle head coach Guy Perham refers to them as the ultimate utility players.

“I can put the twins anywhere,” Perham said. “They can play any position and they can play it as well as anybody in the GSL.”

The twins say they probably wouldn’t be playing at all if they’d never come to Spokane.

Leslie and Laurie were born in Cebu, Philippines, to former pen pals Duane and Gina Jones. Duane brought his Filipino bride and growing family to Spokane when the twins were 3 years old.

Inspired and coached by their father and older brother Chris, the twins started playing softball at around age 6. They also enjoyed basketball and soccer, but they dropped all sports for softball in middle school.

Perham knew he had hit the lottery when the Joneses arrived at Shadle.

“Laurie is the best third baseman in the league and she started that as a freshman just because I needed a third baseman,” Perham said. “She did it without question. Nobody wants to play third, for obvious reasons, and she did it.

“Leslie, if she wasn’t our only catcher, could play short. She could play center field.”

Leslie said she became a catcher because of the time Laurie previously spent on the mound.

“When she was pitching, I didn’t feel like the catcher was doing that good a job,” she said. “I thought I could do better, so that’s how I got started.”

The kinship was still apparent when Laurie moved to third base.

“Pitcher and catcher are the strongest (connection), but I think just because we’re twins when can kind of tell when we want to make a play,” Laurie said.

The twins can also play a few notes during family parties dedicated to music and karaoke. Both play guitar and Laurie can pitch in on ukulele, piano and harmonica.

Both predict big things for a future Highlanders player, little sister Rachel, 8, who is already working on her pitching.

But well before Rachel’s time, the current Highlanders want to make another run at state.

“My goal last year was to go as far as we can and I didn’t realize ‘far as we can’ would be third in state,” Leslie said. “That’s crazy.”