MONMOUTH, Ore. – Many siblings certainly have close bonds throughout their lives, but you can't have much closer of a bond than that of a pair of twins. For Jacob and Derek Maiben, they've been close as not only twins, but have carried that relationship and family tie into college that gives each of them someone they can turn to anytime for advice or just to visit with to help throughout the journey.
Having just finished their sophomore seasons at Western Oregon University, the duo also plays for the Wolves baseball team having arrived from Newberg High School in Newberg, Ore. The bond has been strong for the two right away and each have enjoyed the opportunity to refer to each other and also use their close bond and competitive nature to push each other.
"One of the great things would be that you always have someone to talk to. Also, that our nature to compete against one another makes us better," Derek said.
"We always have someone to talk to and since we enjoy similar things, we can always share the fun," Jacob said.
Siblings always have competitive battles growing up, but the Maiben's were able to carry that into college. Something that helps push each of them on a daily basis and help each improve both on and off the field.
"It is definitely competitive. We both push each other to be better. It is great because we share most of our experiences," Jacob said.
"It is definitely competitive. We have always pushed each other to work harder and it never really ends. We are each other's rivals pretty much. But we also support and respect one another because of it," Derek said.
Both made an immediate impact for the Wolves as true freshmen in 2019 with Jacob staring in the outfield earning NCBWA All-West Region, GNAC Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-GNAC honors in a first year to remember. He hit .398 to lead the team, playing in 39 games that included 30 starts. Fueling the competitive nature between the twins, Derek also had a memorable first year as he earned First Team D2CCA All-West Region and Honorable Mention All-GNAC accolades. He played in 31 games that included 28 starts in the infield, posting a second-best team batting average of .387. When you see these staggering numbers right out of the gate, you would think that the two always planned on playing together at the next level, but that wasn't always a guarantee.
"We honestly didn't have a plan on whether to play with each other or not. To be honest, it just worked out that way," Derek said.
"We didn't really have a plan whether to play in the same college or not. It just happened," Jacob said.
One thing that remained the same early on was the love of playing the sport of baseball. Sure, other sports appeared here in there, but baseball was the go-to sport and the one that stuck for the Maiben's. Having seen the early success so far in their young careers, both are well on their way to making playing in college something that will stick as well.
"Baseball has always been the sport we preferred playing growing up. We felt like it is a sport that we could be successful in," Jacob said.
"Yes, baseball has always been the sport we preferred playing. We felt like baseball was the best sport that we could succeed in. Also, that we could throw batting practice to each other," Derek said.
A lot of times it always seems to appear that twins seem to be in sync at all times. Whether it be finishing each other's thoughts or in the case of the Maiben's, playing together on the baseball field and knowing where the other one is going to move before the play. Having been around each other for so long, they certainly can almost predict what the other might do being that in sync.
"I don't really know what the other one is going to do or is about to do in terms of reading the others mind. We've been playing with each other for long enough that we already know what the other may do. In other words, we think very alike," Derek said.
"It's not that we know exactly what the other is about to do. We have been around each other and have played baseball together for long enough where we have a feeling what the other might do. Since we have grown up with each other and are interested in similar things, we sometimes think alike," Jacob said.
It was a first season to remember in 2019, not only because of the success that each had, but also with five of their teammates either being drafted in the MLB Draft or signing a free agent deal, it gave the Maiben's a chance to play and learn from some great teammates to help them with their own careers.
"It helped me a lot. I never really knew what was going to happen in college. I went in with a clear mind and it helped me gain experience into the next year. It was awesome playing with such a talented team. I learned what was to be expected in playing baseball at WOU. Watching all of the talented players, I also learned how to better my own game," Jacob said.
"In last year's success, it helped me get familiar with what to expect, and what to look for in preparing right for the next season. Last year's team set the tone on how baseball was to be played WOU, as a freshman it was easy to tell that those guys knew what they were doing. From them I learned that no matter what happens you still must give it your all. Also, that every single player on this team is crucial in helping us become successful as a whole," Derek said.
Not only have the twins enjoyed the chance to play with each other at the next level, but the overall road trips and the chance to experience all that comes with playing in college has been something they've really enjoyed and will always remember.
"Definitely the road trips. Traveling and playing baseball with the team is a great time. Playing baseball at WOU, you definitely get what you put in. It is a competitive atmosphere while also having great teammates and coaching," Derek said.
"The best parts about playing baseball in college are traveling with the team. The road trips are always fun because we get to compete with teammates and play baseball," Jacob said.
In a season that was cut short this year, Jacob was off to another strong start with hits in 10 of the 12 games, including a nine-game hitting streak before the season was called off. Derek had a hit in seven of the 10 games he played in to start the 2020 season and after getting the chance to play just a pair of conference series, both knew the Wolves were beginning to just find themselves and hit their stride when the season was suspended.
"I felt good about the season. We were off to a good start while still being in the process of figuring out our team. I feel like it ended too early to tell how the rest of the season would have been," Jacob said.
"I feel like our games were just getting started, we were definitely getting in the grove of the competitive atmosphere of our season," Derek said.
While the shutdown to the season was certainly a shock and an adjustment, it was also a change to their learning habits having to go online to finish the term. Both were able to adapt well to finish their schoolwork and also remain focused on training to get ready for the next baseball season.
"Definitely staying inside more. Having to do all classes online was stressful at first, but once I set a schedule it became a lot easier to fit in baseball practice and workouts in. It was surely a change of scenery," Derek said.
"I have adjusted well since COVID-19. Online classes are tough because you have to pay more attention to them. At first, workouts were very difficult because we didn't know what to do but as time went on we found a good schedule to rely on," Jacob said.
Both the end of the spring term and moving into summer seemed to be one in the same this year. With many of the student-athletes migrating back home in mid-March, it almost seemed like summer started a few months early. Now with school done for the term, the Maiben's are focusing on training and working out to stay as sharp as they can for the return to campus in the fall. This will also include the chance to hopefully play some competitive baseball on the weekends.
"We are both playing some baseball on the weekends. We have been and are going to work on conditioning to get ready for the fall while also practicing whenever we can," Jacob said.
"Mostly preparing for the fall in conditioning workouts as well as working on improving my skills as a player. Also, I plan on eating large amounts of food to gain weight," Derek said.
Certainly, being twins could have its pluses and minuses, as many just assume being in sync and always being on the same page just comes with the territory, but each is separate from one another with a special bond that will always keep them together throughout their lives.
"I would like to add that having a twin has its pros and cons, the good thing is that you always have someone to talk to and relate to, but you never really get a lot of personal space," Derek said.
"People might think that twins are exactly the same or are telepathically in sync but all in all we are different people who happen to be similar," Jacob said.
Whether how similar or not the two twins are, both have made a seamless adjustment to playing at the collegiate level. With a shortened year as sophomores, the future still remains bright and with a lot of promise for the Maiben's with still two more years left at WOU to continue to build on a strong foundation each have built.
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Seeing double, Maiben twins use close bond to excel on and off the field for Wolves - WOU Athletics
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