It was a special occasion on Monday when Kate Moore got a phone call together from her son, Brett Moore, and her daughter, Julia Moore.
Brett, a senior, had just finished practice with the Paul VI baseball team, and Julia, a sophomore on the Panthers softball team, had returned to Fairfax early after her game at Ireton had been called off due to an unplayable field.
“They both called me from the parking lot and said they were coming home for dinner. That was rare,” said Kate Moore.
What is not rare is accolades for Moore ballplayers, as Brett and Julia have both taken prominent roles on the mound and in the center circle for their respective teams.
Brett Moore, who has signed with Winthrop, is one of Paul VI’s best hitters as well as a starting pitcher and he’s helped the Panthers to a 15-5 overall record and the No. 3 ranking in this week’s Examiner poll. As the family’s varsity veteran, he’s passed on his knowledge to Julia, who is thriving in her first year as the softball team’s sole starter.
She threw a one-hitter on Tuesday as the Panthers topped Elizabeth Seton (Md.), 2-1, to improve to 12-6 overall and earn the No. 9 position in the Examiner’s softball rankings.
“I’ve always been taught to be a bulldog,” said Brett Moore, and Julia Moore has taken heed, growing more comfortable in the circle as the season has progressed.
“I’m a sophomore, but I have to step up into a leadership role, and I’m pitching like 99 percent of the time,” said Julia Moore. “I have to stay in it and keep my head no matter what happens, staying strong so I can be an example to others and also pitch well.”
While the two grew up competing with each other – they have a batting cage in their backyard – both contend they want no business with the other’s pitches.
“I know he couldn’t hit me, and I could never hit him,” said Julia Moore.
With so much baseball and softball talk going on in the house, parents Kate and Bill have learned about the differences between boys – “They just want to win” – and girls – “It’s okay as long as no one ended up in tears.”
While Brett often asks Julia about her games, she doesn’t have to reciprocate.
“Usually, I don’t have to ask him because he and my dad will already be talking about it,” said Julia.
These days the two siblings’ biggest competition is who gets to wash their clothes first.
“That’s the big deal,” said Kate, “who has the game the next day which uniform has to go in the laundry.”
Sibling rivalry
Brett Moore
Batting statistics: .632 average; 3 home runs; 16 RBI
Pitching: 2-3 record; 2.57 ERA; 35 innings pitched; 41 hits; 23 strikeouts. Was the hard-luck loser in 2-1 losses to Centreville and DeMatha.
Julia Moore
Pitching statistics: 12-6 record, 1.04 ERA. 113.2 innings pitched; 44 hits; 147 strikeouts.
