Mesa High softball coach Mike Madril didn't worry about being able to tell twins Sierra and Aubrey Whitmer apart when they graced Mesa High's softball field four years ago.

One look at their abilities and Madrid knew he had two quality players -- pitcher (Sierra) and shortstop (Aubrey) no less.

Knowing how good they are, Madril decided to tap into their competitive nature. Score a victory for the coach there.

"I could tell they were competiive, but I wasn't sure if they were competitive with each other," Madril said. "So when they were freshmen I'd ask them: 'Aubrey, who is the best softball player in the world? She'd say, Aubrey Whitmer. Then I'd say who is the second best softball player in the world? She'd say Sierra Whitmer. I'd ask Sierra the same thing and she'd answer just the opposite."

Not long after that, Madril started meddling and suggesting answers to the same questions. This was Sierra's response to Who is the best softball player in the world -- Sierra Whitmer. Who is the second best softball player in the world? I don't know, but Aubrey Whitmer is at least the third best player in the world."

All along in their Mesa High careers, Madril has kept at them with competiions as hitters -- anything -- to make them yearn to be just a little better than the other.

"It can be who has more hits, who has more home runs, who has more RBIs," Madril said. "They do feed off it  some."

Aubrey Whitmer, the older of the two by a scant two minutes and proud of it,  fancies herself  the more competitive of the two.

"I think I get more upset and stay upset longer than she does," Aubrey Whitmer said pointing to her sister.

Sierra agrees. "After we lose a game, I don't let it bother me. I get ready for the next one."

Statistical battles between them have been waged every season and they've been good ones. This season Aubrey leads in nearly every offensive category -- .515 to .425 in average, 35-31 (hits), 26-25 (RBI) and 18-14 in extra base hits. They are tied in homers with five each.

Last year the edge went to Sierra -- .544-.402 in average, 56-39 (hits), 30-17 (RBI) and 20-18 in extra base hits.

Both are aware of their current tie in home runs and by the look in her eye, Sierra would like to land the home run title with some power production in the Jackrabbits' final eight games.

While they both love playing softball, they've also played volleyball and basketball each year. They're seemingly never apart.

They won't split up after graduation either. Both are headed for the College of Southern Idaho to play softball next year -- Sierra to pitch and Aubrey to play middle infield.

"It looked for awhile like one might go there and the other to a college in New Mexico, but they're a package deal," Madrid said. "If you watch them play I don't know why you'd want one and not the other."

Sierra and Aubrey Whitmer have enjoyed plenty of individual success competing in softball at Mesa. What has eluded them is a postseason berth. With eight games left in their regular-season careers they have a shot -- albeit a treacherous shot -- at qualifying for the state tournament for the first time.

Mesa is 13-10 overall this season and 6-4 in power-point games and needs to finish in the top 24 to qualify. They begin a three-game week Tuesday against defending big school champ Red Mountain, who they face twice in the final eight games. Mesa also plays Mountain View and Skyline this week.

"We have focused hard on making it to the playoffs," Sierra Whitmer said. "We at least want to play one game in a state tournament.  We came close our freshman year. We know at this poing we have a chance."