Arbiso Brothers Are Two of a KInd

After Denise Arbiso gave birth to her son, Casey, she and her husband, Jim, were in for a surprise. They discovered a second boy right behind.

“She called me a few names,” Jim said.

Cory came out 44 minutes later by Caesarean delivery.

The fraternal twins have been roommates for 17 years. Once they started playing baseball in kindergarten, the inevitable sports partnership was established. Cory became a pitcher and Casey was his catcher.

They’ve progressed enough that Cal State Fullerton signed the two Buena Park seniors to letters of intent in November.

With the baseball season beginning this week, the Arbiso twins are hoping to use their arms and hitting skills to bring success to the Coyotes.

Cory, 6 feet 3, 190 pounds, was 6-3 with a 1.99 earned-run average last season and batted .364. Casey, 6-3, 200 pounds, slumped to a .250 average after batting .319 as a sophomore. He could be Buena Park’s No. 2 pitcher this season.

Fullerton Coach George Horton said he’s “excited” about having his first set of twins arrive next fall. The two have been attending Fullerton games for years.

“It’s been our dream to go to Fullerton since we were 6,” Casey said.

Casey calls his brother’s pitches from behind the plate, and both are comfortable and confident putting trust in each other.

“With him catching, I know what he’s going to call,” Cory said. “I’m standing on the mound saying, ‘Call fastball,’ and he’ll call fastball. It’s pretty weird.”

Not that the brothers don’t have disagreements.

“Sometimes we get a little mad at each other,” Cory said. “I’ll say, ‘Go back to the plate and do your job.’ But what happens on the field stays on the field. We don’t go home and bring everything up again.”

When the team had an intrasquad scrimmage recently, Casey was on the mound and Cory was at the plate. Casey struck out Cory, turned his back and flashed a smile to a teammate. The two are competitive and don’t like losing.

They’re tough to tell apart unless they’re wearing different clothes or different hats.

As sixth-graders, they switched classes for one day and fooled their teachers.

“But someone opened their mouths, ‘What are you doing here?’ ” Cory said.

During a youth league game, an opposing coach filed a protest with the umpire when he thought Casey was still pitching when it was really Cory.

“Casey lifted up his mask, ‘That was me,’ ” Jim said.

The brothers tease each other about being twins.

“Sometimes I’ll get up for a glass of milk and he’ll be, ‘Where’s my glass?’ ” Cory said. “It goes back and forth.”

One of the best reasons for having a twin, according to Casey, is to borrow money.

“You owe me so much,” Cory said.

Friends don’t call the Arbiso twins by their first names.

“Everybody calls us ‘twin,’ ” Cory said. “Hey twin, come here.”

Added Casey: “They point to which one they want.”

Last weekend, the twins combined to finish third in a home-run derby in Mission Viejo. Freeway League opponents could receive a steady dose of the twins on the mound this season. Check their uniform number to make sure which one is causing the most trouble.

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First baseman Rodney McMahon of Woodland Hills El Camino Real no longer fits in his 2003 baseball uniform, and for good reason. Once weighing 250 pounds, he’s down to 210, forcing him to get new clothes.

And what an influence his weight reduction has had on his performance.

“I feel quicker and not as lethargic,” the 6-2 senior said.

More exercise and healthier eating habits helped reduce his weight.

“All my friends saw me come back from school and said, ‘Man, you look totally different,’ ” McMahon said.

The only one a little unconvinced with the new look is McMahon’s mother.

“My mom thinks I’m too skinny and need to get fat again,” he said.

If he starts hitting more home runs, as expected, his mother won’t have any complaints either.

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Westchester has hired former Carson coach David Williams as its football coach. Williams guided Carson to the 1993 City championship. He was an assistant last season at Montebello. Palisades has hired Leo Castro as its football coach. Castro will continue as athletic director. He coached at Los Angeles Lincoln for four years. Former Fremont coach Pete Duffy is the new coach at Hemet West Valley.

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USC-bound Rocky Hinds isn’t the only top athlete walking the halls at Playa del Rey St. Bernard. The surprising Vikings (20-10) have reached the Southern Section Division IV-AA championship basketball game with the help of junior guard Matt Ceballos, a straight-A student who’s the cousin of former NBA player Cedric Ceballos. He’s a top volleyball player and a starter in both sports since his freshman year.

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.