FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS

With apologies to Jack Nicholson, the best seat to watch a sporting event is not from the front row at the new Staples Center.

It’s sitting in the comfort of a stroller, feeling like a king on a throne, sipping a cool, refreshing bottle of apple juice while watching an older brother experience the ups and downs of athletic competition.

No one knows exactly what goes through the mind of a 2-year-old (“When are we going home to watch Speed Racer?�), but parents hope the younger sibling might take an interest in what the older brother is doing.

It certainly seems to have worked for three younger brothers on the Northridge Little League team.

Break out the cameras for the sake of posterity, because in the coming years, Jimmy Clausen, Casey Haerther and Trevor Arroyo could end up more heralded than their publicized older brothers.

Catcher Clausen, 11, has two brothers, Casey and Ricky, who are football and basketball players at Alemany High.

Pitcher Haerther, 11, is the brother of sophomore Cody Haerther, a top baseball player at Chaminade.

Center fielder Arroyo, 12, has two baseball-playing brothers, Nick, a junior at Cleveland, and Tim, a sophomore at Cal State Northridge.

Their stories are almost identical: Big brother starts in sports, little brother tags along, watching, listening, learning and finally playing.

“From the time Casey was 2 years old and in a stroller, he was watching Cody play,� said mother Sue Haerther.

“They’ve been raised on the fields,� said Ed Arroyo, father of Trevor.

“It is pretty amazing,� said Cathy Clausen, Jimmy’s mother. “[His older brothers] can remember Jimmy sitting in a stroller at the Little League field and in the basketball gym.�

There is a definite advantage having someone ahead of you in the family hierarchy. Past mistakes can be avoided, a surplus of equipment and clothes is passed down and, most importantly, more opportunities become available because the older brother went first and showed the way.

Cody Haerther, 16, allowed his younger brother to come to practices and even participate, giving him invaluable experience.

“I feel my brother is so good because he got to play with older people all these years,� Cody said. “He’s a giant. He’s supposed to be bigger than me. I’m happy for him.�

Cody and Nick Arroyo have been throwing batting practice to their younger brothers during the playoffs. Nothing is more thrilling for Casey and Trevor than hitting home runs off their big brothers.

Asked who’s the better baseball player, Casey said, “Yeah, he’s better than me, but I’m better than him in Wiffle Ball.�

What’s different about these three younger brothers is they have a chance to become elite athletes. Each one is projected to reach 6 feet 2 or taller, with Jimmy Clausen possibly sprouting to 6-5 or 6-6.

It’s mind-boggling how much sports competition is already a factor in Jimmy’s life.

Examine his schedule from last week: Monday, baseball game. Tuesday, watch brothers play basketball. Wednesday, watch brothers play football and basketball. Thursday, baseball game. Friday, watch brothers play football. Saturday, watch brothers play football, baseball practice. Sunday, baseball practice.

“Yeah, it’s [busy], but it’s fun,� Jimmy said.

The younger brothers have led Northridge to a 3-0 record in the District 40 tournament entering a 5 p.m. game today against unbeaten San Val at Sherman Oaks Little League.

The parents are thrilled their children spend most of their free time watching or playing sports.

The Haerthers even found a graduation present both of their children liked--a new batting cage for the backyard.

“I’ve spent the last 11 years doing baseball and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,� Sue Haerther said.

When Cody broke a kitchen window while throwing a tennis ball when he was 2, no one got too upset.

“My husband thought it was great, and what an arm he had,� Sue said.

Cody and Nick have an open invitation for Casey and Trevor to play Wiffle Ball.

“We’ll kick their butt,� Cody said.

That’s a reminder to the little brothers--you might think you’re good, but don’t ever think the older brothers will let you show them up any time soon.

Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422 or [email protected]