ABINGTON − One pitch gave twins Justin and Nate Tullish a glimpse of what the future will look like.
It was delivered during a game against Carver on April 28, a 9-2 win for the Middleboro High baseball team.
“I threw a pitch and lost feeling in my hand,” said Justin Tullish, the Sachems’ right-handed ace. “That was that.”
Tullish, now sidelined with a black cast, suffered a partially torn UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) in his throwing elbow and has been sidelined for the five games since, watching his twin and the Sachems from afar as they continue to stretch an eight-game winning streak.
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He’ll get a similar vantage point from the Div. 1 dugout at Stonehill College in Easton next spring, as Nate embarks on a quest to the Div. 3 level at Springfield College and the two split for their respective collegiate baseball careers. Both will pitch at the next level.
“I think this might be the first time in their lives, as twins, that they’re going to go separate ways, so we’ll see how they adapt,” coach Josh Porter said.
“He’s been my roommate for 18 years. It’ll be nice,” Justin joked, “and different at the same time, having someone else with me. Hopefully he can do things over there, hopefully I’ll do things over here and we’ll both make some noise.”
Said Nate, “It’s going to be a little different when, say, I start a game and someone else is coming in and it’s not him. Or, if he starts a game and I’m going to close the door for someone else. It’s going to be a weird feeling to adjust to.”
Prior to the injury, Justin Tullish hit for a .524 average with 11 RBI at the plate and maintained a 2.70 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 16⅔ innings pitched through nine games. Nate Tullish has hit .340 with 11 runs scored and nine RBIs at second base, plus a 2.10 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 21⅓ innings of work on the mound.
“They both can swing it. They both can throw it,” Porter said.
“But, I mean, they’re two totally different players and and two totally different human beings,” he said. “Nate’s a little bit more on the quiet side and Justin’s always keeping guys loose, joking around and poking fun and his brother’s always rolling his eyes at…