Jennie Finch can still do it all

I have tremendous admiration for this young mother. She is an outstanding athlete, and more so, she has become "someone to look up to" for so many young girls. I'm sure she is a great Mother also. 

By Anthony Gimino
This seems like as good an excuse as any to run some pictures of former Arizona Wildcats All-American Jennie Finch.

The pitching star remains one of the most visible UA alums, a cross-cultural phenom and mother of three who remains active promoting softball and being a role model to girls all over the nation at camps and clinics. And how’s this for a fun few days:

She competed in the Aquaphor New York City Triathlon on Sunday (you can read her account of it at ESPN.com), appeared in the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game at Citi Field later that day … and then she walked the red carpet in Los Angeles at Wednesday night’s ESPY Awards, hobnobbing with sports’ biggest stars. Never a dull moment.

Finch and husband Casey Daigle have three children — 7-year-old Ace, 2-year-old Diesel and their first girl, Paisley Faye, who was born on Jan. 12.

Jennie Finch

Jennie Finch Softball Camps

December 11-12
Rochester, MN

February 12-13
Monroe, Michigan

Learn to practice like a champion, play like a champion and live like a champion!

Join Jennie Finch and her Olympic and Professional softball teammates for two full days of personal instruction covering all aspects of softball. Come and learn from the best softball players in the world. Discover what it takes to be a Champion on and off the field!

Jennie Finch Softball Camps offer instruction for all positions and aspects of the game. Usually held over a Saturday and Sunday, camps offer each camper the opportunity to interact with and learn from some of the best softball players in the World, including professional, Olympic, and collegiate athletes.

A Tribute to Jennie Finch

I don't know how many of you watch or follow women's softball,  I have for a number of years. It is pure sports competition. No millionaire primmadonna athletes, just a bunch of gals who love to play the game.

The finals of a tournament are being played tonight, in Oklahoma, the USA versus Japan, the championship game.

But a bigger story, a few days ago, Jennie Finch announced her retirement from the USA team. Her list of achievements is long. All American at Arizona, a National Championship, some Gold Medals at the Olympics, many records, and a whole world of accomplishments. She is one of the more dominant pitchers in the game today, she plays first base and is a great hitter. She is a model, and great spokesperson for the game, always has time to talk with kids and give autographs, and, in my mind, she is one of the most beautiful women in the  world, at 6'2'. 

She is respected by all of her team mates, and for her last game, her old coach from Arizona went to Oklahoma to see the game and to be there with her. 

Oh, yes, her husband and young son are at the game also, sitting in the full stands, to watch Jennie play her last game in a USA uniform. She is only 29, but has dedicated most of her life to softball and her education, and now wants to spend more time with her family. Is that a great kid, or what?

I admit it, I have been in love with her for many years, and have the utmost respect for her. She could be a full time model, or perhaps even have had a Hollywood career, but she chose softball, and that makes her very special to me. There are many beautiful women athletes, but not all excel at their sports like Jennie does.

There have been many nice tributes (Jennie just fielded a  hot grounder and made the put out at first) payed to Jennie tonight by her teammates and coaches, clips that were filmed prior to the game, none were dry eyed.

One more out, the coach to Jennie out to a standing ovation. She told the coach she wanted to stay in for the last out.

The game is over, all hugs a lot of tears, not a dry eye on the field, I must admit I have a tear in my eye. I have watched and admired her for a number of years. She is a class act. Each member of the Japanese team bowed to her. She is almost embarrassed by the attention.

What a shame there are not more like her in the world. If you haven't been watching and following her, you have missed out on watching a unique woman, athlete, team mate, wife and mother.

The world could use a lot more like Jennie Finch.