In The Dugout: Daniels Sisters Share Orange Experience
2/18/2011 11:36:59 AM | Softball
While the Georgia State Tournament was exciting for the entire Syracuse softball team, as it marked the official opening of the 2011 season, the squad's trek to Georgia also hit close to home for two Orange sisters.
Traveling to the Georgia State Tournament in Decatur, Ga. brought junior outfielder Lisaira Daniels and freshman outfielder Shirley Daniels within miles of where they spent their formative years going to high school and playing softball together.
"We get to see mommy!" Lisaira joked. "Yes, we're from Florida, but Georgia is our home. You grow the most in high school, so our high school years were in Georgia. All of our family and friends are going to be there, and it should be really exciting to play in front of the people who love us so much and support us so much."
Lisaira decided to transfer to Syracuse in 2010 from the University of Georgia after accompanying her younger sister, Shirley, on a college tour. Head coach Leigh Ross and the Orange were delighted to have them both. Lisaira made an immediate impact with the Orange last season, leading the team in average (.370), hits (67), triples (4), sacrifice hits (5), and multi-hit games (19). She also set a single season record for stolen bases (29).
With Shirley's arrival this fall, both Daniels sisters will look to make their mark in 2011. However, neither is feeling any pressure to live up to the other's standards.
"It's so funny because people always try to make competition between us, but at the end of the day, whoever's better is going to play the position, whether I'm sitting on the bench or I'm playing over her, it does not matter," said Lisaira, a 2010 All-BIG EAST second team honoree.
"I want her to be better than me by the time she's a junior or senior. I want her to be better than me, so everything I know and that I've learned, I always make sure that I tell her because I want her to know it as a freshman. Everything I know as a junior, I want her to know now, so she can know more as a senior."
In fact, the sisters are finding each other to be a great asset to have here at SU.
"I've always played with [Lisaira], since 18 & Under and high school, so it's always great to play with my sister. The thing about her is, she doesn't just baby me. She's very stern with me and I don't necessarily like that, but it's what I need," Shirley commented.
But the older Daniels sister admitted that being tough on her little sister isn't as easy as it looks.
"I try to give her more freedom because I'm so used to babying her and telling her this and that, but now it's like we have coaches to do that," Lisaira said. "We have actual coaches that really care about her well being and want her to succeed, not only me.
"It's been really hard for me to step back because she's always asking me questions and I have to tell her no, go ask coach, so it's been difficult for me to back off and let her grow by herself."
But, what have the other Orange team members thought so far about playing with these loveable siblings? Fellow outfielder, Veronica Grant, explained that Lisaira and Shirley are very close and enjoy helping each other out. Grant also talked about some of their biggest similarities and differences.
"Sai (Lisaira) is more vocal than Shirley. Shirley sits back and watches. She has a more laid back demeanor. Sai is more, 'I'll go get it.' She takes charge on her own you could say," Grant explained. "But, they're so alike. Basically everything is the same, like twins almost. We went out to eat and the lady actually asked if they were twins."
Overall, besides competing in Georgia this weekend, the two sisters are looking forward to playing with each other for the Orange in the coming seasons.
"I guess just having someone there that I always know I can confide in and not having to worry about anything because I know I have her there to support me in anything I do," Shirley said of her sister .
"I really want to see [Shirley] hit a homerun. Once she hits the homerun, I promise you, I'll be on the field running with her," Lisaira exclaimed. "Even though she's a contact hitter and more about getting on base, her hands are amazing.
"If I could see her hit a homerun, it would be incredible. I might cry on the spot."
