Jenny Maheu and Amy Baxter have been virtually inseparable on
the athletic fields since they started playing softball and soccer
together when they were 8 years old.
Two athletes. One mind.
Jenny Maheu and Amy Baxter have been virtually inseparable on the athletic fields since they started playing softball and soccer together when they were 8 years old.
Whether it’s softball, soccer or volleyball, these two athletes have found ways to overcome injuries to be the best they can athletically. And both have got it done in the classroom as well. Baxter has a 4.48 GPA, and Maheu has a 3.8.
Their academic fortitude has earned them spots in prestigious schools. Neither athlete could have imagined she would be heading to the East Coast to go to school. But both are.
Baxter will be attending Brown University, an Ivy League school in Providence, R.I. She still hasn’t finalized a major but was thinking about biology. She hopes to go into nursing or medical research.
“There were schools that called me, but I was looking for something more challenging academically,” Baxter said. “When Brown called, I decided to go there. They said I could play softball, but I would have to earn my spot on the team.”
Maheu accepted a full scholarship to play softball at New York’s Canisius College, a Division 1 Jesuit school in the same fold as Santa Clara University. She hopes to major in sports medicine.
“I was getting really frustrated that no schools were offering anything,” Maheu said. “After a tournament, they invited me to come see the school. Once I got there, I loved the campus and everything about it. I never planned to leave the east coast. I never even planned to leave California. I had to call the coaches and tell them I signed a letter of intent. I know they are college coaches, but I don’t like to hurt anyone’s feelings.”
Baxter was a solid all-round player this year in volleyball, softball and soccer. Maheu has starred in softball and soccer and has played JV volleyball and varsity golf.
“Jenny probably shined more in her sports,” said soccer coach Mike Schurig.”Amy takes it when it comes to academics. She probably could have gotten a scholarship too, but she wanted to go there for the academics.”
The players are both well balanced, and either could have been selected as the Athlete of the Year.
“Jenny probably has the edge in leadership and vocal personality,” Schurig said. “You could tell when she was out there, because she was like a captain directing everyone. But both are very key players and deserve to be honored.”
During the soccer season, Maheu and Rose Vandenberg were competing to see who could score the most goals.
Maheu eventually slipped into second place after twisting her ankle and had to sit out a couple weeks before coming back for the playoff game.
“Every time I watched the girls play, I wanted to be out there with them.” Maheu said. “It was so hard to be on the sidelines. I hate sitting the bench.”
Although Baxter wasn’t as flashy as Maheu on the soccer field, not may players could get by the stopper. And as a catcher, there was none better.
“She was probably the best defensive catcher in the league,” said softball coach Scott Smith of Baxter.
Baxter, who was out most of the soccer season during the 2002-03 campaign with a knee injury, also had to play through injuries this year.
She got hit with a pitch during practice and broke her jaw. But once she got it wired, she was back on the field a couple days later, even though she had to eat with a straw.
“The hardest part was not being able to eat, because I love to eat,” Baxter said. “My energy would get kind of low. It was a pain, but during the game, I kind of forgot about it. I had a mask on so it might have been a little safer than other positions. I wasn’t afraid to be out there.”
Baxter and Maheu will be about five to six hours away from each other at college.
Many of the players who they play with on their travel team, the 18U Salinas Storm, attend college on the east coast. In their first tournament this year, the team placed second in Stockton. Last year, their team went to Canada, Colorado and Los Angeles during some of the tournaments.
Although Maheu usually plays shortstop, she said she also may play some in the outfield. Baxter, who has been a catcher, also may try playing outfield.
Maheu remembers facing former North Salinas pitcher Monica Abbott for the first time.
“I was terrified,” said Maheu, who stands at just under 5-foot-2. “She towered over me by about 13 inches and threw so hard. As a freshman, I was really intimidated.”
During both first-round losses in softball and soccer, Maheu was a big part of the offense. She had a home run to lead off the softball game and scored the lone goal for the soccer team.
“I had a lot of fun in soccer,” Maheu said. “I have never been on a team like that before. They were like all of my sisters. We loved each other. It has been a blast playing with Amy, and I will miss her when she goes to Rhode Island.”
“It has been great playing with the same girls,” Baxter added. “I’m also going to miss playing with Jenny.”
With the first-round losses, the players said they had mixed feelings about the season.
“It was difficult because it was our last year, and we were expected to do so much,” Maheu said. “We wanted to achieve what others wanted us to. But it is good to be where we’re at now going to college.”
