Spartans double up, times three

No matter how the East Nicolaus High softball team fares this season, it already has been a memorable one.

Two-thirds of the Spartans' starting nine are sisters. Twins Holli and Nikki Bingaman are wrapping up their senior season, while the senior-freshman tandems of Lydia and Anna White and Brittany and Sierra Lehman are enjoying playing ball on the same team for the first time.

The three sets of sisters on one club almost didn't materialize.

"I was really reluctant about bringing up two freshmen and especially starting both," Spartans coach Richard Quick said.

In fact, Quick admitted it really didn't dawn on him that he had three sets of sisters playing for him until he was asked about it at the 20th annual Yuba City Softball Classic in early March.

"All of the girls are really talented," Quick said. "And they are all really close and get along so well together. They really help each other out."

The Bingaman twins have been playing softball on the same teams since they were 5 years old. And even though they are graduating this spring from East Nicolaus, they won't be separated this fall.

"We're both going to Sierra College," Holli said.

Holli splits time between first base and pitching, while Nikki is the Spartans' third baseman.

"She strikes a lot of people out," Nikki said of her sister, citing her best attribute on the softball field.

Holli Bingaman had struck out 75 batters in 63 innings. She is 9-1 with a 1.517 ERA.

Holli Bingaman is impressed with her sister's prowess at third base.

"She stops anything that comes to her," Holli said.

Nikki Bingaman leads the team in putouts and has not committed an error this season playing the hot corner.

Nikki Bingaman also is second on the team in hitting, batting .541.

Neither is sure when they will ever stop playing softball.

"Probably when we're too old and can't run anymore," Holli quipped.

While the Bingaman twins have been playing softball on the same teams virtually all of their lives, the White and Lehman sisters are savoring that experience for the first time.

Senior Lydia White pitches and plays first base for the Spartans while freshman Anna is an outfielder.

Lydia is 8-2 with a 1.086 ERA, boasting 79 strikeouts in 62 innings. She is third on the team in hitting and second in fielding.

"She helps me a lot, showing me the right way to do things," Anna said of her big sister, noting Lydia is a second coach for her.

Anna added while they sometimes may fight, "we still get along and have a lot of fun out there."

The Lehman sisters also get along real well.

"We're more best friends than sisters," said Brittany Lehman.

Brittany, a senior, plays in the outfield while freshman Sierra plays in the infield.

"She really stepped up to be our second baseman," Brittany said of Sierra. "That's a big deal for a freshman."

Sierra is third on the team in fielding and fourth in hitting.

Having never played on the same team before this year, Brittany added having the opportunity to play ball with her younger sister has made this season very special for her.

Contact sports reporter Richard Myers at 749-4714 or rmyers@appeal-democrat.com.