Built on brotherhood: The Mills brothers’ impact at Catholic Memorial

This story originally appeared on MassLive.com.

Timmy and Kevin Mills have been playing baseball since they were four or five years old. Now, the brothers are playing a pivotal role for the Catholic Memorial baseball team.

The Knights, seeded fifth in the MIAA Division I tournament, open their state run on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Round of 32.

The Mills brothers’ impact extends beyond individual talent. Their shared bond and natural chemistry have become a defining part of the team’s success. Years of playing together have created seamless communication and instinctive teamwork that can’t easily be replicated. Whether Kevin is pitching or Timmy is behind the plate, the brothers’ connection is evident on the field.

Their story resonates not only because of their athletic ability, but because it reflects universal themes of family, loyalty, and collaboration. The brothers’ influence can be seen in key moments during games and in the way they energize teammates and set the tone for the team.

Timmy said years of playing together have made it easy for the brothers to maintain a professional relationship on the field.

“I can remain professional around my brother because we’ve been playing forever, so you just get used to being professional around each other, and then it’s also just great being around him,” he said.

The brothers have played side by side for the past decade, and Timmy reflected on how their relationship has evolved over time.

“At the start, it was annoying because people would be talking about him, not me,” Timmy said. “As we grew older, we adapted to everything, and we became better players by helping each other, playing with each other, and not getting into fights like we used to. Now we work together as a team.”

Accountability is another important part of their relationship. Timmy explained how the brothers push each other both on and off the field.

“We hold each other accountable because we always pick each other up,” he said. “If he’s pitching and I’m catching, we know we can work together. We can really do anything when we’re working together.”

Kevin said the brothers practice three to five times a week with their club baseball coach. One of his personal goals this season is helping Catholic Memorial win a state title.

As a pitcher-catcher duo, the brothers rely heavily on communication and preparation before games.

“We usually try to get on the same page before a game starts and make sure we know what works best,” Kevin said. “Hopefully that translates into the game.”

Head coach Hal Carey, a 1995 Catholic Memorial graduate who has led the program since 2005, said the Mills brothers have been integral to the team’s success this season.

“In terms of Timmy and Kevin, Timmy started catching most of the games,” Carey said. “He’s been really solid defensively, he’s got a good arm, and he’s a good athlete. In the last few games, he’s really picked it up hitting as well and had some big, timely hits for us.

“And then Kevin — he pitches, he plays a little first base, he DHs, pinch hits — he’s just a baseball player.”

While the brothers share many similarities on the field, Carey said their personalities are very different.

“Kevin is super quiet, really quiet, but just does things the right way,” Carey said. “He’s kind of a lead-by-example guy with a serious facial expression. Timmy is the opposite — louder, upbeat, more smiley. But they both approach the game the right way. They both play hard, compete, and stay true to their personalities.”

Carey said he has especially enjoyed coaching the brothers because of their character both on and off the field.

“They’re respectful, cooperative, and the kind of kids you want to coach,” he said. “They’re student-athletes. They care about things beyond just baseball. They take care of their academics, and most importantly, they’re good people.”

Carey also shared advice for coaches working with siblings on the same team.

“Treat them as individuals,” Carey said. “Brothers have different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. I don’t think it’s fair to treat one sibling the same as another just because they’re related.”

Kevin recalled one example of how communication between the brothers helped during a high-pressure game.

“Sometimes I’ll hit before him, and he’ll ask me what pitches the pitcher is throwing,” Kevin said. “I’ll relay that information back to him, and hopefully he can make the most of it.”