TWIN JETS Twin sisters Elizabeth and Emma Brooks are two of James Clemens’ softball powerhouses as they celebrate their senior year

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TWIN JETS

Twin sisters Elizabeth and Emma Brooks are two of James Clemens’ softball powerhouses as they celebrate their senior year

STORY BY BOB LABBE PHOTOS BY JOSHUA BERRY

OOn August 18, 2004, Bob and Kellie Brooks welcomed to their family new born twins Elizabeth and Emma. They were two of 365,562 babies born worldwide on that Wednesday of a leap year. But the fraternal twins delivered in Huntsville Hospital were no ordinary pair.

Today as seniors at James Clemens High they are both outstanding players for the Jets’ softball team where Elizabeth pitches and plays first base and Emma is a third baseman. Elizabeth will continue her athletic prowess in college has she has signed a scholarship to play at Huntingdon College while Emma will end her softball play and concentrate on her studies at the University of Alabama to become an attorney.

Not identical twins, Elizabeth (5-foot-11, 170-pounds), older by one minute, and Emma (5-6, 160) are two of the team leaders for the Lady Jets. The elder twin is more of a serious personality and little more reserved in her actions and many find her intimidating. Emma is constantly moving and goes each moment giving 110-percent effort. She said she’s selfless and not selfish and does her part for the team.

Softball has been a way of life for the sisters since age four while their father was their coach until age 10 with their mother always alongside as their biggest supporter and motivator. “We always played on the same team at Palmer Park. There was very little separation,” said Elizabeth, while Emma added, “Growing up we always got along as she’s my best friend. We had most classes together as I have helped her with English and history while she assist me in math. She’s a math wiz.”

As you may have picked up on, the Brooks twins were raised like the many twins before them from the facts their Christmas gifts were similar, many times just different colors and their clothing many times were matching outfits.

Like most who participate in athletics, the Brooks twins have not been spared of injuries while playing hard at their favorite sport. Both have had substantial injuries that have caused each to miss a lot of playing time, but have not deterred their enthusiasm and all-out physical effort at their sport of their choice.

For Elizabeth, a fourth grade incident occurred where she broke her right ankle. As a sophomore she suffered an overuse injury to her right shoulder and she missed six weeks of action. Then, prior to her junior season she suffered a tear of her left labrum and was sent to the sidelines for six months. So far, this 2022 season, she has returned in full-force for her senior year.

As for Emma, she suffered what could be termed a broken back, but doctors soon found out the injury was due to a birth defect. In a close game as a seventh grader she was running towards home plate in an eventual bang-bang play at the plate where she had a severe collision with the opposing catcher. While being under a doctor’s care the medical experts were astounded to find out her injury was sustained due to Emma’s birth defect of “spondyldysis,” a bony defect within the spine where the weakness can cause severe pain. “We found out about my condition from the injury and I was fitted with a back brace where I could not turn nor twist,” said Emma. “I underwent weeks of physical therapy and out of softball for eight weeks.”

Emma’s wayward ways with injuries continued midway through the 2021 season when she broke her right ring finger and was only available to appear at the plate for a bun-

ting situation. Her sideline positions were not over as she reinjured her ring finger for a second time just at the start of this season, which required surgery on Feb. 28. She was expected to be out of action all together for six to eight weeks.

The competitive drive is a family tradition. Their father played soccer. Their mother played field hockey. Siblings of the twins have also dealt into the world of athletics. “Yeah, it runs in the family,” added Elizabeth. “We are very competitive during family game nights where we gather to play card games and other types of hands-on games. Personally, I’m always out to win.”

On the softball field Elizabeth and Emma are different style of players. Away from the softball diamond they are separate personalities, but they are always twins to the core as Emma said, “At the end of every day we talk about our days and we genuinely care about what type of day we each experienced.”

“We can’t really find that being twins is negative,” said Elizabeth. “We really like being together.”

“For me, being a twin is great as I feel I always have my best friend in Elizabeth,” added Emma. “She’s my go to person.”