Sunlake Twins Invited to Softball Showcase

's twin softball standouts, Courtney and Meghan Durbin, know a little bit about how those American Idol hopefuls must feel.

Both the Durbins were on a large list of applicants for the prestigious Queen of Diamonds Softball Showcase. Courtney and Meghan were hopeful of being invited — but also realized that one, if not both, might not make it.

And while those sister acts (or brother acts, or whatever the connection) on Idol generally say they REALLY would be happy for their cohort even if they didn't get selected, that wasn't the case here.

"If I had been left out and Courtney had been chosen ... yes, there would have been some hard feelings," admits Meghan. Her sister, not surprisingly since they are twins, said the exact same thing.

Fortunately it was not an issue. Both Durbins are headed to the Queen of Diamonds Showcase South at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, next month.

More than 2,000 players from all over the country applied, and 264 girls are selected for the two-day event. The Showcase gives student-athletes an oustanding venue in which to perform in front of college coaches and recruiters.

Getting selected involved an application process in which test scores, GPA, coach referrals and of course skill level were all judged. Meghan said "it was pretty in-depth" and that she was "skeptical" if she and her sister had much of a shot just due to the scope of their competition.

At Sunlake last year the Durbins were among the team's tremendous group responsible for a regular-season district title. Courtney was the leadoff hitter and appropriately paced the team in hits with 40.

"I think I'm better at getting on base than Meghan," said Courtney, though getting the sisters to describe themselves in terms of superiority over the other is not easy. Meghan (humbly) suggests she has the edge in quickness and base running.

In the classroom they carry — no kidding — identical 4.138 GPAs. Both are active within student body organizations as well. And both volunteer for the American Cancer Society, Metropolitan Ministries, Treats for Troops and the Baldomero Lopez VA Nursing Home through their clubs.

Both play for the 16-Under Stealers Gold club team out of Brevard County (though the Durbins just turned 17 on June 22). In fact, this week the Stealers are in Chattanooga, TN, for the Class-A Girls Fastpitch National Championship. They will be seniors this year at Sunlake.

The Durbins head for the QDSS event Sept. 3-4.