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Santa Rosa's Baker brothers take control Track star brothers focus on support as they discard any sibling rivalry By ERIC BRANCH THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Published: Friday, May 8, 2009 It seems like a reasonable question to ask two brothers. Did you ever argue when you were growing up? But the words are met with silence. Troy Baker looks at his younger brother, Travis. And Travis looks back. It’s like they’ve been asked to name the capital of Mozambique. They’re stumped. “I guess we used to argue once in a while about who had better toys,” Travis finally offers. “Like if he got the Legos and I got the remote-control cars. I loved Legos.” Yes, one of the better track-and-field rivalries in the Empire doesn’t include the slightest whiff of sibling rivalry. Troy Baker, a senior at Santa Rosa High, has the Empire’s top throw in the shot put at 52-9¾, a mark 3 feet, 11 inches better than his brother, who ranks third in the area. On the other hand, Travis Baker, a sophomore at Santa Rosa, has the Empire’s top throw in the discus at 161-6, a mark 5 feet, 7 inches better than his brother, who ranks second. As expected, Troy won the shot put Friday at the Santa Rosa All-City Track meet at Santa Rosa High and Travis finished second. Troy is ranked first in the North Coast Section in the event. Travis, of course, won the discus Friday and Troy finished second. Travis is ranked third in the NCS in the event. Following their final throws, Troy, who has a 4.0 GPA, and Travis, who has a 3.66 GPA, sat on a patch of grass near the shot put ring and explained their relationship. “We’ve never really gone out of our house without each other,” Travis said. “There’s never a time one of us goes out without asking if the other one wants to come along.” OK, but hasn’t there been a time — just once — when Troy, his little brother’s chauffeur for the past few years, wishes he didn’t have to drag Travis along? “It’s not like I ever have to bring my little brother,” Troy explained. “It’s like I get to. We’ve always had the same friends.” OK, but hasn’t there even been a time during a track meet — just once — when the healthy competition between them has turned ugly? Travis, for example, yelled “Yes!” when Troy’s final discus throw Friday fell short of his first-place toss. Could something like that ever give Troy the urge to hurl a discus at Travis’ shins? “I’m proud of him,” Troy said. “I mean, I want him to do better than me (in the shot put). That would be great. He definitely has the potential.” OK, so this sounds too good to be true, right? Well, their mom, Mejin Baker, knows exactly what you’re thinking. “It sounds like I’m lying, but they have never fought with each other,” Mejin said. “I’ve never told that to anybody because I figure it just sounds like I’m lying ... My husband and I have tried to model to them how to treat each other, but it’s not like we’ve ever had to say 1,000 words about it.” Given their NCS rankings, it’s likely the Baker brothers will finish the season at the prestigious state meet in Clovis in early June. That will make for a fitting conclusion to their high school rivalry. As for next year when Troy is at Santa Rosa Junior College, well, Travis would prefer not to think about that. “I don’t think it’s going to be as fun as before,” he said. “Getting to compete with one of your family members is special.” NOTES The Santa Rosa Panther boys won the All-City Meet title for the sixth time in the past seven years. The Panthers had 154 points and Maria Carrillo finished second with 116. The Maria Carrillo Puma girls won the All-City crown for the sixth straight year. The Pumas had 157 points and Santa Rosa finished second with 142. Maria Carrillo’s Jeremy Thompson was named the Outstanding Male Athlete of the Meet. Thompson won the 110-meter hurdles (15.27) and the long jump (19-9¼). Maria Carrillo’s Lauren Curtin was named the Outstanding Female Athlete of the Meet. Curtin won the 3,200 meters (11:25.71), the 1,600 (5:08.38) and the 800 (2:24.93). Ursuline’s Michelle Stone set a meet record in the pole vault at 11 feet, 1 inch. You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com.
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