April 19, 2006

By Stephen Sedlak, Columbia Missourian

Growing up, Marcie and Katie McMahon form Columbia College (Mo.) never really got along. They bickered and fought as most siblings do at a young age. Now 20 and 19 respectively, the two are more than just best friends, they're teammates.

The two started playing softball at a young age on different teams, but 10 years ago they started practicing together. They both joined a traveling team in the summer when Marcie was 11 and Katie was 10, and softball forced them to become closer.

"We traveled a lot," said Kathy McMahon, their mother. "We were always traveling and they were always having to go to each other's games. They also practiced a lot together, too."

The sisters did not only have a busy game schedule filled with traveling, but they also had a vigorous work ethic.

"Our dad would have us practice every day," Katie said. "He found us a coach and we would get up at 5:30 a.m. on Saturdays to go practice."

The sisters continued to practice with their coach through high school.

"It was hard when we got older," Marcie said. "We had to give up our weekends, but we knew the sacrifices we were making."

As years passed, the sisters started to grow closer. The two played on the same team at Knox County High School in Edina.

"Being on the field, we were forced to get along," Katie said. "We could talk to each other about what was going on and how to help each other out. We would usually switch between pitcher and third base. It was great to look over to her at third for advice and to calm me down."

Marcie graduated from high school in 2003 and played one year at St. Louis Community College at Meramac before transferring to Columbia College in the fall of 2004. The sisters were only apart for a year and a half. Katie McMahon graduated a semester early and made her decision to go to Columbia College based mainly on her sister's presence.

"It really helped with me being here," Marcie said. "We were in the same dorm and helped each other out. I was able to show her around, show her where things were at. I feel good about the decision that she made. At first I was little sketchy, but now I know that it was meant to happen."

Katie agreed with her sister.

"With out her I would have been lost," Katie said. "I was really lucky she was here."

Now, the two are in the middle of their college careers, and they can look back at softball and realize how much a part of their life it's been.

"It really has impacted my life tremendously," Marcie said. "It has also helped my relationship with my parents, with my dad coaching us. He really pushed us. We're both daddy's girls. We both like to spend a lot of time with our dad. He helped us get where we are."

Katie agreed that softball helped her relationship with her parents. She said traveling when they were younger brought the family closer together.

The sisters agree they owe their father for their success on the field.

"Without my dad, I wouldn't be where I am," Katie said. "He would get up at 5:30 a.m. with us and take us to practice. He took time out of his schedule to help us."

According to Marcie , her dad is the reason she got as heavily into softball as she did.

"When I was 11, I ran out onto the little league field and threw four pitches to my dad," Marcie said. "After that he got us our coach. We weren't really dedicated, since we were younger and had other things going on, until he helped us join the traveling teams."

No matter how the sisters got to where they are, there is one thing that is certain -- they are best friends, on and off the field.

"It makes it more fun being on the same team," Marcie said. "We know each other more than just teammates. We know little things, like what the other person is thinking or feeling."

Although the sisters didn't get along 10 years ago, their love for each other can be seen every day on the bench of the Cougars, laughing and smiling and talking about softball.

"She is my best friend," Katie said. "We are really close. I know that she will always be there and I am really lucky to have her."

Click here to view the original article on the Columbia MIssourian's Web site.