Sports often find a way to drive siblings apart, but the Bishop twins remain integral to Liberty’s growth as an elite college softball program.
Amber and Autumn Bishop are both seniors on Liberty’s softball team. The Bishops are from Murietta, California.
The twins started regularly playing softball around the age of 6 in a local recreational league. They joked about their mother instilling their love for softball, as she played slow-pitch softball when she was pregnant with them.
The Bishops recruitment process to Liberty began by chance. Coach Dot Richardson attended friendly, when she received a tip to look at the Bishop twins. This meeting led to an eventual unofficial visit in Lynchburg.
On the day of the interview, it snowed in Lynchburg. Coach initially thought that this weather would turn the Bishops away from the program, but they were enthusiastically mentioned that they wanted to come to a place where it snowed. A change of pace was something Autumn looked for in a college.
“It was calming and relaxing to get somewhere like Lynchburg” Autumn Bishop said.
In interviewing with the Bishops, coach Richardson asked a very important question, relating to the kind of softball program that the twins wanted to play for. Coach Richardson played up the aspect of building a strong program from scratch, rather than following up previous championship pedigree. Amber Bishop spoke about how this question impacted her.
“One thing that I was looking at was, making a new tradition rather than staying with an old one,” Amber Bishop said. “That’s why I was really drawn to Liberty.”
The twins have plenty in the way of similarities, but each is valued just as much for their individuality. Coach Richardson was able to win both of the Bishops to the school because she mentioned that it would be a success if even accepted the opportunity to play for the Lady Flames, which convinced the twins that the team truly valued them as individuals, more than as twin sisters.
Coach Richardson mentioned that the talent and passion for the game of softball that the Bishops possess is a rarity.
“They are very unique, one in that both of them are extremely talented,” coach Richardson said. “They encourage each other but they also challenge each other.”
Liberty’s softball program transformed with the help of the twins. Coach Richardson mentioned that they both have set their legacies firmly in place. Coach mentioned that the twins have set the tone for the future of the team.
“Every single freshman that came in (the team) mentioned how blessed they feel to be able to play with the twins,” Coach Richardson said.
The Lady Flames’ rise within college softball, including their deep run within regionals last year, is helping the team in attracting talent. Coach Richardson articulated delight as recruits are beginning to turn down larger schools for a chance to build a legacy at Liberty.
Amber spoke to what she hopes to leave the team with, being a love for the sport.
“Play it (softball) because you love it, not because you love the attention or love the awards or love doing good,” Bishop said. “You want to play because you love the game.”
Autumn hopes to leave a legacy about passion for the game.
“I feel like the legacy I personally left was passion,” Autumn Bishop said. “I’ve always loved this game and I have always loved competing and trying to be the best that I can be, and you can see that through the way I play, because I’m very emotional about things.”
Amber and Autumn complemented each other, with Amber respecting the competitive side Autumn possesses. Autumn admired the humility Amber possesses as she continues to achieve within the sport.
As for the future of the twins, both will be getting married later this year. Autumn hopes to attend grad school and become an occupational therapist, and Amber mentioned that though her plans are not set in stone, she still wants to be engaged within the game of softball.
The Lady Flames are witnessing the last season of two very talented twins.
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