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Sports

Double Play: Twin Shortstops Lead Baseball, Softball Teams

Brett and Lindsay Synek both star as shortstops at Glenbrook North.

Like many siblings, Glenbrook North Brett and Lindsay Synek have a lot in common, but what they share goes beyond last name and looks.

Both twins, who are seniors, have patrolled shortstop on varsity for three years—Brett for the baseball team and Lindsay for softball—are leaders on their respective teams and will be continuing their careers at Oakton next spring.

They also have a distinctively Synek strut when they step out of the dugout to take the infield. It’s the specific walk of a ball player that has done this time and time again and is confident in his or her abilities.

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Brett and Lindsay each bring a lot to the table, but they still have that brother-sister rivalry.

“We were joking around last year talking about home run competition, but she can clearly beat me in that,” Brett said. “Hands down.”

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Last year Lindsay won 6-5, but both say they’re lagging behind this year. It’s currently 4-2 to the sister.

Baseball is big in the Synek family. Lindsay says growing up with three brothers that all played got her into the sport. Older brothers Mike and Trevor chose lacrosse over baseball; both spring sports in high school, and are currently assistant coaches on the GBN boys’ lacrosse team.

Brett and Lindsay both played baseball since they were in a T-ball league and teamed up on a travel team their father coached. When they entered high school Lindsay couldn’t play baseball anymore.

“I loved playing with the boys,” she said. “I wish I could still play. I mean I like (softball), but as long as I can play that’s fine.”

A knee injury suffered during basketball season freshman year delayed Lindsay’s softball debut. That didn’t slow her down, though. She started on varsity as a sophomore and quickly adjusted to the different nuances of softball.

She didn’t always play shortstop. In fact, after pitching and playing first base during her time with the boys, playing shortstop never crossed her mind.

“They didn’t really have a set shortstop so I thought I’d give it a try,” Lindsay said. “I truthfully thought I was going to play in the outfield, but I gave it a try the first game and I remember it just clicked.”

Softball coach Jenn Mau said Lindsay, the only senior on this year’s team, can play anywhere, but shortstop was where the hole was when she was a sophomore. She’s played there ever since and has also been a staple of the Spartans’ offense.

“Lindsay is probably one of the most athletic girls I’ve seen,” Mau said. “We needed a shortstop and she could easily fill that. If I wanted her to play somewhere else she could do that also, but shortstop was where the hole was at and she’s filled that hole for us.

“She leads us offensively and she’s a very big part of our defense being our starting shortstop the past three years. She’s a huge part of our team.”

Brett has been playing shortstop since the position opened with the Highwood Braves travel team and says it stuck with him throughout high school. He jokes that Lindsay took the position from him.

“She chose shortstop, I have a feeling, because it might have been me,” Brett said. “I’m not 100 percent though.”

Both twins have worked hard to refine their swings and improve their defense. Their father, Rich, opened the Glenbrook Sports Academy, giving players from the area a place to become better players. Brett calls the facility a second home.

Brett said the Spartan baseball team’s success this year is a dream come true after a couple of disappointing seasons. He has been one of many reasons why the team is having such a strong season and has already clinched the Central Suburban League North.

“He doesn’t do much other than hit line drives,” baseball coach Dom Savino said. “It’s fun to watch from the third base coach’s box.

“That’s what he does for us on a daily basis. He’s been hitting like that all year for us and he plays sound defense as well. He’s a pretty complete player.”

Both players have complete games and that’s why they were given the opportunity to play at Oakton next year. Oakton allows the siblings to stay close to home and has a traditionally strong baseball program, something that drew Brett to the program and is how Lindsay got interested.

“When I went to go talk to the baseball coach we mentioned Lindsay’s name and I guess the softball team just got a new coach and they’re turning things around there,” Brett said. “Lindsay thought about that and went to go talk to the coach and she liked it so she’s going to be going there too.”

Lindsay and Brett say they don’t have any plans for where they want to go after Oakton. They will be happy as long as they can keep playing the games they love.

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