Brothers have their act together

Casey and Brady Burrill are brothers separated by nearly 10 years in age, but they might as well be twins because their dreams, aspirations and interests are identical.

They cherish teaching, they love coaching and their commitment to family is second to none.

“Being able to coach together is like seeing your best friend every day,” Brady said. “He and I have that kind of relationship.”

As co-coaches for the Valencia West Ranch baseball team, the Burrills have the Wildcats set to make their first playoff appearance in the program’s three-year existence. But their story is about much more than wins and losses.

Back when Casey was an all-star catcher at Newhall Hart in the 1980s and later an All-American at USC, Brady would rest his head on his brother’s shoulder, letting everyone know their bond and closeness.

When Brady was batting .414 his senior year at Michigan State in 2002 and Casey was coaching baseball at Saugus High, the two were in constant communication.

“I kept chirping into his ear, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could coach and teach together in the same place?’ ” Casey said.

He didn’t need to lobby too hard. There was never any doubt that when their playing days were finished, the Burrills would follow the same calling in life -- teaching.

Their parents, Jerry and Maureen, taught for 38 years. Their sister and her husband are teachers. Their wives are teachers. They have four cousins who are teachers.

The joke in William S. Hart Union High School District is that when the Burrills get together on Thanksgiving, it qualifies as a faculty meeting.

“There’s no doubt it’s in the blood,” Casey said. “Most people say it’s a family curse.”

Casey was teacher of the year in 2002 at Saugus. He teaches web design. Brady was teacher of the year this year at West Ranch. He teaches math.

“I’m certainly a lot brighter and smarter than my brother, so it works well that I teach math,” Brady said. “I’m not sure what he teaches -- something with computers.”

Together, they are fully equipped 21st century coaches ready to embrace new technology but also deeply committed to teaching the lessons and fundamentals learned on the playing fields growing up in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Casey, 39, created and runs the West Ranch baseball website, which serves as a terrific example of how to promote and communicate in the era of the Internet.

He started the West Ranch program three years ago, and brought aboard Brady, 29, who fills out the lineup card, runs practices and watches his brother’s back.

Together, they preach to their players about “making the right decisions and trying to be a moral person.”

Last week, West Ranch (19-6) was ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll. Then the Wildcats lost twice to Valencia, falling into second place in the Foothill League.

“The biggest thing has been to give kids in a brand-new program the belief they can win,” Casey said.

The best thing about the Burrills is that they aren’t going anywhere now that they’re finally together.

“I will be at West Ranch forever,” Casey said. “They’re going to have to bury me here.”

--

Fastest teenager in California

UCLA-bound Randall Carroll of Los Angeles Cathedral says he hasn’t reached peak form, but that makes his 100-meter time of 10.30 seconds at the Del Rey League finals even more stunning.

It was the fastest legal 100 run by a California high school athlete in 17 years and the third-fastest legal time in state history, tying him with former Olympian Quincy Watts of Woodland Hills Taft and putting the state record of 10.25 held by Henry Thomas of Hawthorne within reach.

“I was pretty excited about it, but it wasn’t that shocking because I think I can go faster,” Carroll said.

The Southern Section track and field finals are May 23 at Cerritos College.

--

O’Connor nears decision

Dominique O’Connor, the City Section basketball player of the year from Westchester, is scheduled to visit San Francisco this week, and if all goes well, he’s expected to sign with the Dons.

--

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

--

latimes.com/sports

Talkin’ baseball, among other things

Casey and Brady Burrill discuss coaching, life and the bonds of brotherhood in an exclusive video.