Jamie Chenevy
Jaime Linn Chenevey was born to Fred and Chris Chenevey on April 25, 1977. She is a 1995 graduate of Hillsdale High School, earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education from The Ohio State University in 1999, and earned her Masters Degree in Agricultural Education from The Ohio State University in 2005. Her family, especially her grandparents, instilled a love of athletics and the Buckeyes at a very young age. Her passion for sports in general, softball, and OSU play an integral role in her life today.
Jaime was introduced to softball as a member of the Jeromesville team in the Southern Ashland County Youth League teams and found her niche immediately. From the beginning, she loved to play behind the plate and swung a solid bat.
Jaime attended Hillsdale High School from 1991-1995 and was a four year letter winner in softball and served as a Team Captain in 1994 and 1995, as well as earning a multitude of postseason accolades. As a freshman, she made an immediate impact in the batting order and eventually earned the starting catching spot, replacing a senior, and moving in from left field. She hit .538 her freshman year, with 5 doubles, 6 triples, 10 home runs, and 46 RBis earning her first team WCAL and the 1992 Times Gazette Player of the Year title. In the District Title game she hit a home run off of Loudonville’s Jenny Allerding before being struck in the eye with a foul ball, leading to a trip to the emergency room. She had to sit out a game and a half before returning to the Regional Final Game with a pinch hit single. She then led the Falcons to the Division III State Runner Up finish accounting for both runs in the 3-2 loss to Sycamore Mohawk.
As a sophomore, she hit .353 with 2 home runs and 24 RBIs earning her WCAL first team. She was one of the charter team members of the Ashland Blaze organization and played with the team for four years. In addition, she spent time playing summer ball with the Celina Suns and Landoll’s Flames as she got older.
Her junior year, she led the team to a Division III state title, where she hit the game winning home run in extra innings to seal the championship for the Falcons. Jaime sat on a first pitch change up and launched it to deep right center field before rounding the bases for an in the park home run. The hit came despite Coach Cathy Applegate’s strict instructions to leave the change up alone unless there were two strikes. It’s a good thing she hit the ball square, or Coach Applegate might still be chasing her today! In 1994, she hit .430 with 4 home runs and 37 RBIs and was named 1st team WCAL.
As a senior, she again led the Falcons back to the state tournament, where they were defeated in the semifinals by Newton. She hit .588 with 9 home runs and 49 RBI’s. She was named WCAL MVP and 1st team, 1st Team North East District, and 1st Team All Ohio. In addition she was named the Wayne County All Stars Student Athlete of the Year and Mansfield News Journal Female Athlete of the Year in 1995. She graduated with a .477 career batting average, 25 home runs, and 156 RBIs.
Jaime played volleyball at Hillsdale and was a two time letter winner, team captain, and 1995 All District Selection to boot. She was a member of the concert band and marching band, as well as a member of the FFA. Through the FFA, she earned her State and American Degrees, was a member of multiple state winning Career Development Event teams, and served as Chapter Reporter and President. As a senior, placed 3rd in the Nation in the Ag Sales Contest, earning a $750 scholarship. Jaime was a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year honor roll student.
At Ohio State, Jaime worked her way onto the field immediately. She was a four year letter winner for the Buckeyes, and she started all but the first 3 games in her career (making pinch hit appearances in those games) for the Buckeyes, and is third on the freshman records list for games played and 7th in walks. She started her career at first base, but eventually worked her way back behind the plate 18 games into her sophomore season. During her career as a Buckeye, Jaime notched herself in the career batting records ranking 13th in RBI’s, 17th in hits, and 18th in doubles. Defensively, she threw out 8 would be base stealers and picked off 13 runners in 34 games behind the dish as a sophomore, threw out 23/32 base runners as a junior, and led the team in fielding percentage as a freshman with a .982 FP. Jaime hit .314 as a senior with 48 hits, 10 doubles, 2 home runs and 26 RBI. She finished her collegiate career with a .292 average, 180 hits, 32 doubles, 23 stolen bases, 11 home runs, and 91 RBIs. She was a three time OSU Scholar Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten. She earned OSU Defensive MVP in 1997, and received the Coaches and Scholar Athlete Awards in 1998 and 1999. Jaime earned 2nd Team All-Big Ten honors in 1998 and was a Big Ten Medal of Honor Finalist in 1999. She was named an NFCA Scholar Athlete and Regional Scholar Athlete 2nd team in 1999, wrapping up her career as a Buckeye.
In December of 1999, she was drafted in the 3rd round (16th overall pick) by the Akron Racers and joined the team in May of 1999. Her first career hit with the Racers was a pinch hit double versus the Virginia Roadsters. This hit was also the first extra base hit for the Racers franchise. She spent the 1999 season with the Racers as a catcher, 1st and 3rd baseman. Jaime was also chosen to participate in the USA Softball Olympic Trials in 1998 and 2002 in Chula Vista, California. Jaime also spent the 2000 season as a grad assistant coach with the Buckeyes, while working on her Master’s Degree.
Jaime was hired as the Agricultural Education Instructor of West Holmes High School in 2000 and has been teaching there ever since. She has coached a 5th Place National Dairy Team, 6 National Proficiency Finalists, has had 21 top 5 placing CDE teams, 43 American Degree Recipients, and 78 State Degree Recipients. Jaime took over the job as head softball coach for the Knights in 2006 and holds a 103-181 record with the Lady Knights. Her 100th win came over Orrville this past spring. In 2014, she guided the Knights to the District Championship game. Jaime also gives private hitting and catching lessons to young players from all over Ohio and has helped two young ladies earn Big Ten Scholarships.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors. Especially, playing slow pitch softball, golfing, horseback riding, and landscaping. She resides near Killbuck, Ohio with her two dogs and four horses.
“I am honored to be selected as a member of the Ashland County Sports Hall of Fame. My time on the field has earned me a tremendous amount of recognition, but more importantly, it created a lifetime of memories and friends. I cherish the time I spent with my teammates and I am extremely grateful for the support given to me by my family, friends, and coaches. I am so lucky to have played this game for my entire life, it has shaped me into who I am today. I would not be who or where I am without my family, friends, community support, and the game of softball. Thank you all for what you have done for me, I only hope that I can give the same to my students and players.”
Nominated by Aaron Dorksen
