Everyone that grew up with a close brother or sister knows the feeling of a sibling rivalry. Ashleigh Hughes and her brother, Ian, were no different in their childhood. Born only a few weeks shy of exactly two years apart, the Hughes were competitive from a very young age. For them, it was like their own unique way of showing affection.

"We would compete over who was faster, stronger, who could beat who up, all things like that," said Ashleigh. "He played baseball as a catcher. We were supposed to play baseball together for a bit but then I switched to softball, which I hated at first. I switched when I was eight years old and I thought the girls were dumb, they picked flowers, they weren't competitive or athletic. But me and my brother were always competitive."

Ian and Ashleigh were hewn from cloth so similar that even the girls of the softball team felt "soft" to her. If you're not convinced of her mental toughness, remember that quote is from the mind of eight-year-old Ashleigh.

Not everything was tough as nails for the Hughes kids though. Between bouts of baseball and beating each other up, the Hughes showed more genuine affection as well. Ashleigh was tall for her age in her early years, while Ian was a bit shorter. This put them at roughly the same height, and encouraged a lot of questions about whether the two of them were twins. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

"I followed him around as a kid and did everything he did: I dressed the same, didn't paint my nails – he would tell me I couldn't be in his club if I painted my nails – even to this day I don't paint my nails. We played every sport together. Baseball, football… I pretty much love sports because of him. We grew up very close."

Just before college though, these two inseparable "twins" faced their first adversity. Ashleigh was set to go start her career in softball with the Wildcats, while Ian had signed up for the Air Force.

"That was a big deal because every time I went home for the holidays I didn't know if he was going to be there. But, that made us even closer. Now, we FaceTime each other everyday or at least 3-4 times a week."

The Hughes managed to maintain their bond for every moment of her college career. In the Wildcats' series with the Oregon Ducks toward the end of the 2017 season, Ian surprised Ashleigh when he came to throw the first pitch in game one.  

"My parents came to town with my sister-in-law. My brother was supposed to deploy to Turkey in July, but his paperwork was taking a while. So I had no idea he was home. But then I got to my game and I knew somebody was throwing out the first pitch. I was in the dugout and I heard the announcer say my name and I looked up – it was my brother. It was easily one of the best moments I've ever had here. It was amazing."

All that time smacking each other around the diamond as kids had forged Ashleigh and Ian into such a tight unit that nothing could break them apart. After the Oregon game they had to split again though, and that feeling was always tough.

"Seeing him at my game was bittersweet. After that I didn't know when I would see him again, because he was supposed to ship out for Japan after Turkey for three years. I didn't have a timeline for when I would see him next. I enjoyed every second being with him though."

Fate had other plans for Ian though. Two months after coming to Tucson to visit his sister, Ian got into a car that he wouldn't be able to get out of. The night before he was to deploy for Turkey, he was the passenger in a single-car accident with a driver who was completely sober but fell asleep at the wheel. The out of control car careened off the road at high speed and plowed into a nearby tree. The car exploded. A passerby pulled Ian from the wreckage, the right side of his head shattered and his spine broken.

"I was heartbroken for him," said Ashleigh. "I think he felt like he let everybody down. It was his plan to head for Turkey and it didn't work out, so he was very upset about that. If you knew my brother, the first thing you'd figure out about him is that he's a warrior. He was walking four days after surgery. I never thought he was down and out, that never crossed my mind. I was heartbroken for him though."

The mental toughness of the Hughes wouldn't waiver now. They had spent their childhood prepping each other for just this kind of hardship.

"My whole life we pushed each other to be the best at what we do. No matter what either of us went to do, I wanted him to be the best at whatever it was he was going to do. He signed himself up to go Turkey, 60 miles out from bombsites in Syria. You have to have guts to be the kind of person that puts himself in the line of fire like that. And I would run through the fire with him. Not everybody gets the brave gene. Fortunately, my brother and I both got it."

The competitiveness of the Hughes hasn't wavered either. Ashleigh pulls no punches with her brother's misfortune.

"He has had surgery and has all these scars on his head, and they had to reconstruct his nose. So, I like to ask him who the cuter one is now. Or I'll tell him that I'll be faster than him for the rest of our lives. He's a good sport about it. He's always the first one to throw the punch. Nothing has changed between us."

Ian is still in the military today but plans to medically retire in the next year. He has worked on the engines of C-17 cargo planes, and Ashleigh vehemently defends his ability to do anything as he heads for school after the military. Ashleigh began her senior season with the Wildcats as the team's leadoff hitter and center fielder last week as the Cats went 4-1 in the Kajikawa Classic.

Up Next: Arizona opens at home this Thursday, February 15th against Colorado State from Hillenbrand Stadium.

Follow the Wildcats: Be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@ArizonaSoftball) to keep up with the team.