Cole Brown has always been a step ahead of his younger brother Chase when it came to playing baseball. While Cole competed in coach-pitch, Chase was in T-ball. That trend continued through 9-10 and on up to Dixie Boys. Now the Brown brothers are walking to the same beat as starters for the Trinity Episcopal High baseball team.

Cole, a junior outfielder, is hitting .270 and has scored a team-leading 26 runs.

Chase, an eighth-grade catcher, is batting .230 and has not made an error in 123 innings.

&uot;It’s kind of weird having him out there,&uot;&160;Cole said. &uot;He’s young, but we’ve got a lot of eighth-graders contributing to the team. This year we have more team unity and we’re jelling together.&uot;

Chase said he is glad to finally be a part of his brother’s team.

&uot;It’s kind of weird seeing him in the outfield,&uot; Chase said. &uot;It would be great if we could win state together.&uot;

Cole said he always kept up with his brother.

&uot;I’d always hear about him hitting home runs in other leagues and I never really thought about us playing together,&uot;&160;he said.

And the same applies for Chase.

&uot;Everything Cole has done I’ve always wanted to do,&uot; Chase said. &uot;When he learned to juggle I had to teach myself to do that.&uot;

Chase and Cole, the sons of Barr Brown and LilAnn Pace, pull for each other in all things.

&uot;He’s doing real good,&uot; Cole said of Chase. &uot;He’s stepped in as a catcher and taken over.&uot;

Cole said he offers his younger brother some advice.

&uot;I try to tell him some of the things I went through,&uot; he said. &uot;I’ve always wanted him to do his best.&uot;

&uot;Before the game Cole tells me what to expect and what to look for,&uot; Chase said.

Chase was on the varsity team last year, but saw very limited action.

&uot;I didn’t think I would start this year,&uot; he said. &uot;But I’ve gotten a lot better catching. I’ve worked a lot harder this year.&uot;

Chase said playing now will definitely make him better in the future.

&uot;Getting the experience will help a lot,&uot;&160;he said. &uot;All of the eighth-graders are doing good and that should help us down the road. We have a lot of pride when one of us does do something good.&uot;

Pulling for each other may not apply when it comes to a one-on-one contest.

&uot;We’re very competitive,&uot; Cole said. &uot;I&160;don’t want him to be better at something than me, even though I realize he’s going to be better. I always want to win no matter what. I don’t give him any slack even though he can whup me in basketball.&uot;

But that kind of competitiveness has been good for Chase.

&uot;He would hang out with me and my friends,&uot; Cole said. &uot;It made him better and more mature because he would have to raise his game to play with us.&uot;

Cole played most of the football season with a severely sprained ankle.

&uot;It was frustrating, but I knew I had to persevere,&uot; he said. &uot;I&160;had to keep going because we lost so many players at the beginning of the year to injuries. I limped through about four games through the end of the season. It just about took until baseball started to get completely healthy.&uot;

Cole realizes with the number of eighth-graders on the team that he has to show more leadership.

&uot;I know they are looking up to the upperclassmen,&uot; he said. &uot;I can’t throw my helmet or something like that because if they see me do that, they’ll think it’s OK. I have to lead by example and help out in any way I can.&uot;

Trinity begins first round playoff action next week.

&uot;Winning state would be much sweeter with Chase on the team,&uot; Cole said. &uot;We have a lot of young guys who have stepped it up. Everybody has been producing. It makes it more exciting with Chase on the team because he’s been a big reason for our success.&uot;