JENNIE AND TONI

 

Virtually every batter got a hit off Jennie Finch – and the Olympian loved every minute of it.

 

Jennie and former Arizona teammate Toni Mascarenas were in Aberdeen , Md. , helping conduct a camp for the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation.  The Saturday-Sunday camp had three groups – 7-9; 10-12; 13-15 – perhaps 50 kids in all – receiving instruction from 16 very experienced instructors: Jennie, Toni, Billy Ripken, Doug Finch, Lehigh Valley pitcher Jen Roberts, and a host of former baseball and softball players.

 

A number of these players, some not much taller than their bats, others showing some developing skills, were sent to the camp by the Baltimore Boys & Girls Club – inner city youth, some of whom could not afford their own bat or glove.  The camp is free.

 

They all knew Jennie – and while some of the older girls surely sensed that Jennie was softly grooving the ball to their swing, a very excited group of wannabe’s could go home tonight telling Mom and Dad that they hit the ball – off Jennie Finch.  Some of those “hits” by the little kids barely cleared the box; some of the infield throws weren’t caught, and some of the throws were off – and every kid got instant coaching.  Watching the Peewees was fun; they would turn 360’s in the box, and Jennie, Toni and other coaches were right there telling them how to hit the next soft throw.  I remember coaching at this level, where the kids still think you know more than they do – a belief which vanishes rather rapidly as they move up.  One tyke was about eye-level with Jennie’s belt buckle while Jennie helped adjust her stance, but, she finally tapped a pitch and ran.  The running game on the Peewees’ field was hilarious; when those kids got to 3rd, they were going home.  The older players were more disciplined – and it was interesting to watch the differences that two ages makes in terms of skills and confidence.

 

The rewards to the coaches – and to the players – are obvious.  Several of the “older” girls showed real promise – sharp throws, comparatively good hits, several very good catchers, and a few pitchers whose mechanics suggest they can make the grade.  Several showed they knew how to play positions, and knew something about coverages.

 

I remember when Jennie and Toni played 14U ball, and, with that thought, came the realization that camps like the one at “ Cal ’s Yard” are the foundation of our game.  These camps tell a substantial number that they have a future in softball, and these camps let all of these girls, at every age, realize how much fun softball can be – played well.

 

A tip of the SPY glass to Jennie, Toni and Doug for coming cross-country for this camp (see the announcement below about Jennie’s agreement with the Ripken Foundation), and to Billy and the other coaches for their enthusiastic participation – and the eagerness and patience they all showed in helping these youngsters.

 

Cal ’s Yard, adjacent to Ripken Stadium, is a great park – three well-maintained fields, with a fourth underway.  ASA should applaud every such effort – especially in the East.  We build support for our game, one player at a time.  Some blocks were laid today.

 

A number of pictures taken by SPY are appended, after the formal announcement.

Foundation Press Release:  The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation recently announced that it has entered into a partnership with softball star Jennie Finch. Over the next nine months Finch will conduct five softball camps around the country for disadvantaged youth selected from Boys & Girls Clubs and other after school organizations.

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit institution created in 2001 in memory of a man regarded by many as the pre-eminent baseball teacher of all-time. Cal Ripken, Sr., who succumbed to lung cancer in 1999, spent 37 years as a player, coach, and manager in the Baltimore Orioles organization.

The mission of the foundation is to use baseball as a tool for helping young people ­ especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds ­ develop positive character traits such as leadership, teamwork and good sportsmanship, as well as a healthy lifestyle. With seed money from MBNA America, the Baltimore Orioles and several other corporations, as well as a grant from the federal government, the foundation has begun to develop facilities, on-field activities and off-field educational programs to fulfill this mission.

Finch, 22, is a former Division I softball player for the University of Arizona who is currently playing for Team USA and competing for a position on the team that will play in the 2004 Olympic in Athens, Greece.

Jennie, a native of La Miranda, CA, compiled a 50-12 record at La Miranda High School with six perfect games, 13 no-hitters, a 0.15 ERA and 784 strikeouts in 445 innings pitched.

At the University of Arizona she helped the Wildcats to the national championship as a junior. In addition, she was named NCAA Women¹s College World Series Most Outstanding Player, a two-time Honda Award winner (given to the top collegiate player in a sport) and she set the NCAA record for consecutive wins (60).

Jennie recently joined MLB Productions as the first female correspondent on "This Week in Baseball" and was part of the broadcast team for the just-completed NCAA Division I Softball Championships on ESPN.

Cal Ripken, Jr. said, "We are very pleased to have Jennie join our team at the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. In speaking to her it is evident that she cares about the game of softball and places a great value on passing on the craft to youth through the Foundation. We placed a great value on teaming up with the game¹s best player in our efforts to positively impact kids."

The first of the five camps will take place at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen , MD , June 26-27. Other camps are tentatively scheduled to take place in September in the Boston , MA area, October in the Baltimore , MD area and early 2004 in Houston , TX and Arizona .

End of press release

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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