FRICK & FRACK

LAKEWOOD RANCH — There’s not a day that goes by that Sarah Burnett and Sarai Miller don’t see eye-to-eye.

The two best friends have been finishing each others sentences, reading each others minds and speaking their own language for nearly a decade.

“When we were younger, our parents said we had our own language — ‘dolphin language’ they called it,” Burnett said. “No one else can understand us, but we can understand each other perfectly. It usually involves high-pitch squealing and lots of giggles.”

The two Lakewood Ranch seniors not only keep each other entertained but also are a major source of entertainment for their Lady Mustang coaches and teammates.

“We entertain our coaches pretty well,” said Burnett, who plays shortstop for Lakewood.

Burnett and Miller have entertained their coaches so much over the past four years that head coach Joe Dowling even nicknamed the two Frick and Frack.

“One’s left brain and one’s right brain,” Dowling said with a laugh.

And on those rare occasions when the two aren’t together, Burnett and Miller’s teammates continually check to make sure the other one is OK.

“They always come up to us and say, ‘Where’s your other half and can you function today?’” said Miller, who plays right and left field.

PACKAGE DEAL
Burnett and Miller met in second grade while the two were both attending the Tabernacle Christian School. The two girls were in the same class and became instant friends.

“We still know the song,” Burnett said.

But it wasn’t until a year later when Miller talked Burnett into playing softball that the two became inseparable. Miller’s dad, Nick, a professional softball player, signed his daughter up for another season of softball. Miller, who was less than thrilled by the idea, decided to get Burnett to play, too.

“She called me up one night and said, ‘My dad is making me sign up,’” Burnett said. “She wanted me to play too, so I said, ‘Mom can I sign up for softball?’ We just kept playing hoping we would be on the same team.”

Burnett and Miller spent eight or nine seasons playing for Miss Sarasota Softball — only one of which they played on the same team. However, over time, the two both developed a passion for the sport.

The two girls spent four years playing together on the Miss Manatee Storm travel ball team and subsequently every travel team since.

“We’ve always been like a package deal,” Burnett said. “We jump from team to team together. We kind of share a brain, so it makes things easier.”

In addition to playing softball, Burnett and Miller are also involved in Lakewood’s athletic training program — thanks to Burnett.

Burnett knew that she wanted to get involved in the school’s athletic training program. But rather than doing it by herself, Burnett enlisted the help of her best friend.

“I didn’t know any of the girls that were doing it, so I dragged her along,” Burnett said.

“I like it, but if she wasn’t in it, I wouldn’t do it,” said Miller, who wants to be a nurse practitioner. “It’s not what I want to do for my career.”

SISTERS FOREVER
Burnett and Miller say throughout the years, their relationship has grown beyond the bonds of a normal friendship.

They’ve watched more movies than they can count, spent practically every holiday together and vacationed everywhere from Nashville, Tenn., where they spent the weekend handing out dog treats, to Myrtle Beach and Panama, among others.

But now, as the two prepare to finish their high school careers, they know in a few short months, they’ll be separated for the first time in more than 10 years. Miller will be heading to Florida State University in the fall, while Burnett plans to attend the State College of Florida.

It’s a reality neither girl is quite ready to accept.

“We just avoid the whole subject,” Miller said.

Burnett agreed.

“I tried to convince her to go to USF, but she’s always wanted to got to FSU, so I can’t completely crush her dreams,” she said. “We have no idea what we’re going to do, though.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].