Twin boys give Capital diamond dreams

As brothers, Jason and Michael Monda are arch rivals, constantly trying to beat each other at any game, whether it's ping pong or basketball.

“There’s nothing better than beating your brother,” Jason said.

As twins, they’re also inseparable.

“We always hang out together,” Michael said. “We’re best friends.”

And it’s that relationship, which becomes toxic in heated backyard pickup games and supportive whenever a helping hand is needed, that drives them.

Since they were 4-year-olds playing on a T-ball team their dad coached, Michael and Jason have been teammates. Now, as seniors at Capital, they’re teammates for the 14th season, creating an formidable one-two punch that just might carry the Cougars to the playoffs.

Sibling rivalry is their secret weapon

“There’s no question we push each other,” Jason said.

Yet, whenever Jason and Michael introduce themselves they get the same reaction.

“(People) always say, ‘You’re twins?’ ” Michael said.

While they look like brothers, they’re not identical twins. Jason, just a quarter of an inch under 6-foot-4, has always been bigger than his brother. And maybe because of that size advantage, Jason has had a bigger impact on the baseball field.

As a freshman on the varsity, Jason threw a no-hitter. Last season, after batting over .400, Jason earned first-team all-league recognition as a first baseman. In December, while attending a baseball camp at Washington State University, WSU coach Donnie Marbut offered Jason a baseball scholarship.

Meanwhile, Michael, while starting at second base for the Cougars last season, has largely played in his brother’s shadow.

“I know it bothers Michael that Jason is the guy everyone oohs and aahs about,” Capital coach Eric Stark said. “But to Michael’s credit he’s dedicated.”

That dedication and a recent growth spurt – Michael grew nearly 2 inches and put on 25 pounds of muscle in the past year – has turned him into a major college prospect like his brother. Michael admitted it was hard seeing his brother make first-team all-league last season.

“Not because I didn’t think he deserved it,” said Michael, who is now 6-1. “It’s just something I wanted. I knew I didn’t have as good a year as I wanted. I want to turn it around.”

Michael and Jason share a genetic predisposition to baseball. Their dad, Greg Monda, was drafted in the 15th round by the Cincinnati Reds in 1983 after playing for Bobo Brayton at Washington State. Greg played six years in the minor leagues and reached as high as the Triple-A.

Greg Monda coached his sons from grade school to eighth grade, always encouraging but careful never to push.

“Having my dad around definitely helps,” Michael said. “A lot of times when a kid has a bad game their parents scold them. My dad is always a positive influence. He doesn’t put any added pressure on me.”

Greg Monda was always ready to give instruction on hitting, throwing or catching when asked.

“I tried not to be overbearing. But they might have a different story to that,” said the elder Monda, one of eight brothers.

Greg Monda and his wife, Donna, rarely miss their sons’ baseball games. But because their youngest son, Cameron, a freshman, is on Capital’s junior varsity team, mom and dad rotate between varsity and JV games, alternating so one parent is always at the games.

Dinner conversation after games is about baseball.

“My dad always wants to know how things went and what the coach said after the game,” Michael said.

Jason, who wears No. 21, bats third in the order. Michael, who wears No. 3, moves around in the order but batted No. 6 recently in a 14-4 victory over Enumclaw.

They’re always cheering for each other, clapping and hooting after one of them gets a hit. But last weekend during a basketball game in their backyard, they weren’t as supportive. Jason, frustrated by something his brother did in a game, shoved Michael to the ground.

But after a couple of minutes passed and tempers calmed they were best friends again.

“There’s a healthy rivalry between us,” said Jason. “It gets pretty heated at times. We want to be better than the other. Neither of us wants to lose to the other.”

That’s true whether they’re playing basketball or taking a test. Jason has a 3.98 GPA, getting just his second A-minus in high school last semester. Michael, who was born 9 minutes earlier, has a 3.85 GPA.

“We’re always trying to beat each other,” Michael said.

And that’s what pushes them, making them Capital’s sweet-swinging twins.

Gail Wood: 360-754-5443

gwood@theolympian.com