@MizzouSoftball Feature: Senior RHP Cheyenne Baxter
3/9/2017 2:33:00 PM | Softball
The tall Tiger righty reflects on her three years in CoMo
Story by Mizzou Athletics Strategic Communications Assistant, Theresa Gaul
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Senior Cheyenne Baxter (Norborne, Mo.) remembers in high school when she started to learn how to pitch. Baxter didn't start pitching until she was 15-years-old.
Soon after, she consistently pitched for Norborne High School in her junior and senior years. Her career elevated quickly and she's now a key player in the Mizzou Softball pitching arsenal.
Though starting her career at University of Nebraska – Omaha, Baxter knew she wanted to have a place on the Tigers roster because Mizzou tradition runs deep in the family.
"This is the college my grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, several cousins, and now my sisters and I are attending," Baxter said. "I wanted to carry on that tradition and legacy that dates back to 1958."
Beginning her third year on the Mizzou roster (2015-pres.), Baxter now is a leader for the underclassmen. Though not "inspirational" in her leadership style, Baxter has found a way to be there to support her teammates.
"I made it my goal to be the person people can always come to for help and someone my teammates can talk to in confidence," Baxter said. "If each of us are individually at our best and happiest, the team will be more coherent and successful."
As the 2017 season begins, Baxter is focusing on how she can personally grow and improve. There is always room for improvement and Baxter has her goals set on the mental aspect of the game.
"Individually, I've been primarily focusing on the mental side of the game," Baxter noted. "As a pitcher there a lot of 'uncontrollables' like an umpires' tight strike zone or an error in the field. I'm working on managing what I can control and remaining with the upmost confidence in my abilities and myself."
Looking back, Baxter has helped Mizzou in a number of ways. In the 2016 season, she limited right-handed batters to .208 average (15-for-72). She also finished the season 3-1 overall in the circle with a 3.46 ERA.
One of Baxter's fondest Mizzou memories was during her 2015 sophomore year. In the NCAA Regional Championship, she threw 4.2 quality innings with zero earned runs to send the Tigers to the NCAA Super Regional.
"It was the game my team needed me most and my proudest accomplishment to get our team to the next level," Baxter said. "It makes it even sweeter that it was against our rival Kansas."
Baxter will be graduating in May from the University of Missouri after studying Agribusiness Management. Her Missouri roots will keep her in-state.
"After graduation, I will be returning back to my hometown where I've accepted an Agricultural Loan Officer position at Community Bank of Missouri," Baxter said. "I also plan to continue my involvement in the family farm and hope to give back to the community by coaching softball and giving pitching lessons."
While looking back on what she will miss the most once she leaves Mizzou, her teammates were the first thing that came to mind.
"Softball has allowed me to travel around the country and create many adventures with my teammates that I will remember forever," Baxter said. "My fondest memories in college have been made with my teammates that I call my best friends and our laughs and inside jokes will be what I miss most."
