By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - The sibling rivalry between twin brothers Soren Roe and Ethan Roe likely began before either actually entered the world.

"Ethan was supposed to come out first," Soren said. "But my umbilical cord ended up getting wrapped around his neck. So I had to go before him. That's how I became the oldest."

"And he's never let me forget that," Ethan added with a laugh. "He reminds me all the time.

And yet, the brothers – both juniors on the Saint John's University baseball team – have always been close, sharing common interests and friends.

"We've always done the same things," said Soren, like his brother a 2018 graduate of the Blake School. "Growing up, we both played soccer and baseball. Our skill level was pretty close, so we always ended up on the same travel teams.

"And that bled over into our circle of friends. We hung out with the same people and we did a lot of the same stuff."

When it came to selecting a college, though, the siblings initially went their separate ways.

Ethan, a catcher, ended up at Saint John's, where as a freshman in 2019 he started 35 games – batting .271 with 29 hits and 17 RBI.

Soren, an outfielder, elected to attend Macalester where he batted .327 for the Scots that same spring, belting seven home runs and driving in 22 runs to earn All-MIAC honors.

"It was a really weird feeling," said Ethan of finding himself in the opposing dugout from his brother (left). "It was the first time we had played against each other in anything. During my first two at-bats, I lined out right to him.

"That made my Mom happy," he added with a chuckle. "Because at least we were still connected in some way."

Soren said he too shared the feeling of things being out of place. It's part of why he made the decision to transfer to Saint John's prior to the 2019-20 school year and join his brother.

"I wasn't enjoying my time at Macalester as much as I thought I would," he said. "It's a great school, but it wasn't the right fit for me. Then I was looking over my shoulder and seeing how great a time Ethan was having at Saint John's. He felt like part of the community right away.

"So I made up my mind that I wanted to transfer up here."

Both players earned spots in the Johnnies' starting lineup to begin the 2020 season. Soren was batting .300 with a home run and seven RBI after the team's spring trip to Florida. And Ethan was batting .250 with five hits and four RBI.

But the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought the season to a screeching halt after only eight games (a stretch in which the Johnnies had gone 7-1).

"After those first eight games, I was feeling really good about where I was at," Soren said. "And it was so fun to be playing with Ethan again. So it was hard to see it stop like that, even if the reasons were out of anyone's control.

"In a way, because last season ended so quickly and we haven't played a game in almost a year, I still feel kind of like the new guy," he added. "I have a lot to prove to my teammates and coaches."

That's why both he and Ethan are eager to start the 2021 season, which could happen as early as Sunday, March 7, when the Johnnies are scheduled to host Crown College in a non-conference matchup set for 2 p.m. at Becker Park.

"I can't wait," Soren said. "We're all really hoping to get a full season in. I want the chance to play conference games and hopefully make an impact in the playoffs."

Ethan and Soren are fraternal twins, not identical. So not everyone is aware they are even related at first glance.

But they definitely possess similar personalities – including a strong competitive streak.

"We both want to win, so when it comes to sports, it's a source of pride if we can outperform the other," Soren said. "It's always been that way with us. It's a fun rivalry, but it pushes us both to be better."

"It's funny because people ask us if we fight a lot," Ethan said. "We've actually only ever really fought twice and he's 2-0. So he has the upper-hand there. But there is an unspoken rivalry. We always want to outdo each other. When he was hitting those bombs for Macalester, I was pushing myself to get better here.

"I didn't want anyone to think they'd gotten the wrong twin."

Still, sibling rivalry aside, the two are happy to be reunited as teammates at SJU.

"I think it was good for both of us to have that year apart," Ethan said. "It was weird, but it made us appreciate having the other around even more. And as soon as he got back up here, it felt like all was right with the world again."