By Phil Jensen
Special to Chabot Athletics
Brian DuRoff and Casey Cummings always played for rival teams growing up in Danville.
Now, as teammates at Chabot College, they form quite possibly the most successful one-two punch in the state. DuRoff entered the week leading the state in RBI with 52 (nine more than second place) and is No. 2 in home runs with 11. Cummings leads the state in runs scored (48), is tied for third in home runs (10) and stolen bases (19) and is third in on-base percentage (.580). He is batting .408 and DuRoff is hitting .365.
"I think they both have very good approaches," said Chabot coach Will Tavis about the team's leadoff and No. 2 hitters. "They just focus on the controllables. … I think they do a good job in preparation of hitting the ball to all fields."
Cummings and DuRoff have helped the Gladiators open the conference season with a bang. The first-place Glads (20-8-1, 7-2 Coast-North) have won seven of their past eight.
"I love the team this year," said DuRoff, a 2021 Monte Vista High graduate and Chabot sophomore. "We have a good mix of true freshmen, guys from last year, and guys like Casey from new programs. We are in good shape."
Although DuRoff and Cummings grew up in the same city, they didn't really get to know each other until last summer, when they were teammates on the Walnut Creek Crawdads, a collegiate summer team. Cummings said that the first time he visited Chabot was with DuRoff, already a Gladiator, last summer.
Cummings played his freshman year for the University of San Diego after graduating from San Ramon Valley High in 2021.
"I struggled a lot in the fall and that pushed me back in the regular season. So I struggled my freshman year," said Cummings. "I saw the writing on the wall. If I really wanted to have a shot at playing, it would have to be for another team."
Cummings said that Brant Cummings (no relation), the Walnut Creek Crawdads head coach, pointed him in the junior college direction.
"One of the things I liked about Chabot starting off in the fall was the role I stepped into immediately," said Casey Cummings, a 6-foot center fielder. "I was looking to make an immediate impact, and the coaches and the players let me. … I'm super thankful how this season has gone for me and excited how Chabot has helped me."
Tavis remembers the first time he saw both players in high school.
"(DuRoff) came up with the bases loaded, they were down a run or two, and he hit a grand slam and gave his team huge momentum," Tavis said.  "I remember watching him. He was exceptionally calm at a moment like that.
"I remember seeing (Casey Cummings) play at a San Ramon Valley game. I remember he was the most athletic player on the field that I saw. He was already committed to USD."
Now the two former rivals are the first two batters in the Chabot lineup in most games.
"As much as a power bat Brian is, I love having him batting behind me," Cummings said. "It puts so much pressure on the defense. It's a lot of trust between me and him."
DuRoff achieved something this season that few players ever have – he slammed three home runs in a victory over Canada on March 25. He was selected on April 1 as one of two NorCal Players of the Week after going 6 for 10 with four home runs, including a grand slam and a three-run shot, 11 RBI, four runs scored and three walks.
Defensively, he has successfully converted from being a catcher in high school to playing outfield and first base in college.
"He has a relentless work ethic. He adapted quickly," Tavis said.
As for Cummings, his base-running prowess gives the Gladiators a huge advantage at the top of their lineup.
"He's just an on-base machine leading off," said DuRoff about Cummings. "He gets on base it feels like every single time. With his speed, he ends up at second base in scoring position … I just have to get a knock and he comes in.
"I think it's a pretty special one-two. It's not a top I think anyone wants to face, and I think we can see that. Setting the tone … is something special."
GLAD NOTES: Chabot entered the week leading the Coast-North standings by a game over Skyline and two over College of San Mateo. Chabot opens a three-game series with City College of San Francisco at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Steve Friend Stadium. Chabot's Sam Heyman (4-1, 2.45 ERA) and Hawk Hill (5-0, 4.14) have combined for nine pitching wins.