Fresno State Athletics
Sibling Rivalry
5/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 13, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - Danny Muno's baseball career began when he was five-years old. He got a push from his father and older brother to start playing and fell in love with the game immediately. The Muno brothers made their debut in the sport on t-ball team coached by their dad.
"When I was younger my mom would change my age and say that Kevin (Muno) and I were twins, so we could be on the same team," said Muno. "When I was nine they figured out that I was a year younger than Kevin, so I started playing with the right age group."
After being split up for a few seasons, the Muno brothers were reunited on the field when Danny entered high school. Danny and Kevin played two seasons of varsity baseball together at Loyola High School, where they made up the middle infield.
"Kevin played shortstop and I played second base during my junior year of high school," said Danny. "During my sophomore year, I moved back in forth between the infield and outfield."
Throughout their high school careers the brothers drove each other to be better baseball players and gave each other advice.
"While we were on the same team we definitely pushed it each other to be better," said Danny. "He has helped me a lot with stealing bases because he is a really good base stealer. I help him with his swing because I'm a pretty good hitter."
Throughout high school the two brothers trained and practice baseball in much of their free time.
"It was about a 30 minute to hour drive to school every day," said Danny. "We used to go to practice and stop by the cages every day on the way home. We had a routine of school, practice, cages, eat, sleep and then start all over the next day."
After all the years of playing together the Muno's went their separate ways. Kevin headed south to play for the University of San Diego and a year later, Danny headed north to play at Fresno State.
Danny worked his way into the starting line up right away as a freshman. He appeared in every game that season and started 73 of the games at shortstop. He hit .332 with 13 doubles, a pair of triples, three home runs and was named WAC Freshman of the Year.
He faced his older brother right out of the gate in the sixth game of the season and Kevin came away with victory and bragging rights.
"We played them earlier in the season and they beat us," said Danny. "So, I was anxious to play them again and get bragging rights."
Luckily for Danny he got his chance to play Kevin again in the 2008 NCAA Regionals. Danny and the Bulldogs beat San Diego and Kevin twice to advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament.
"The hardest part about playing against my brother was when we beat him my freshman year and only one of us got to move on to the College World Series," said Danny.
After the Bulldogs beat San Diego they went on to win the College World Series and Danny became the third member of his family to win a national championship.
Danny stated that his brother didn't make the trip east to Omaha, but said `if anyway was going to beat him, he'd rather have it be his brother than anyone else.'
The Muno boys joined forces at the elite Cape Cod league and spent the summer playing ball for the Orleans Firebirds. It was the first time the brothers were able to play together since high school.
"Getting the opportunity to play summer ball with my brother was blast," said Danny. "It reminded me a lot of high school. We got to spend every day together playing baseball and hanging out."
Earlier in the 2010 season, Danny and Kevin faced each other for what could be the last time. Kevin and the Toreros won the game, but Danny still has the edge of winning a national championship.
"We Are Your Team" The Bulldogs begin an eight-game home stand on Friday, May 14 to close out the WAC regular season. The `Dogs host San Jose State May 14-16. For tickets, visit the Bulldogs Ticket Office or call 559-278-DOGS.
