An accomplished scholar-athlete, Deanna Mauer earned a four-year letter in softball and All-League Honors while at Fountain Valley High School. She went on to play softball for Central Arizona College before transferring to San Jose State, where she set a school record by striking out 15 batters in a single game. After graduation, Deanna moved back to Orange County and began working as an assistant coach. In April 2011, she died from injuries she sustained when her stopped car was struck by a distracted driver. She donated her liver and kidneys for transplant and her pancreas for research. In May 2012, Central Arizona College retired her number and held the first Deanna Mauer Classic softball tournament.

Deanna's Story

An accomplished scholar-athlete, Deanna Mauer lettered for four years in softball at Fountain Valley High School, earning All-League Honors as a junior and senior. She went on to play softball for Central Arizona College before transferring to San Jose State, where she set a school record by striking out 15 batters in a single game. Deanna was selected to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-Star Team that played in the 2007 World University Games in Thailand.

While a senior at San Jose State, Deanna started her coaching career at Foothill Junior College. After graduating in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in health science and a minor in psychology, she returned to Orange County and began working as an assistant coach at San Juan Hills High School and a Whole Foods in Huntington Beach.

On April 27, 2011, at 23-years-old, Deanna died from injuries she sustained when her stopped car was struck by a distracted driver. She donated her liver and kidneys for transplant and her pancreas for research.

After her death, more than 100 friends, family and former teammates attended a candlelight vigil on the Fountain Valley High School softball field. In May 2012, Central Arizona College retired her number and held the first Deanna Mauer Classic softball tournament.

According to her mother Dawn, "I knew from the day she was born that she was special. But all of the honors and outpouring of love for her told me that she was even more special than I thought she was."