By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
*CLICK HERE for video highlights.
*CLICK HERE for photos from the event.
The lobby of the Diamond Sports Training facility in Sterling, Va., was saturated with elementary and middle school softball pitchers early Sunday morning. All had at least one piece of memorabilium in her possession, standing and chatting in nervous anticipation.
One in particular was able to balance five softballs in her nine-year-old arms, not missing a beat in conversation.
“These two are for Chelsea and Meghan,” said the girl with an irrevocable smile, circling the diamond of her club team’s starting infield by name. “This is for Ashley and my sister.”
She then nodded to the ball, hat, rolled-up poster and jersey tucked under her right arm.
“And these are for me.”
Just seconds after the giddy gaggle was ushered down to the facility’s back quarters, the source of the girls’ excitement walked through the employee-entrance glass doors.
Bearing incorrigible grace on a 6-feet, 1-inch, Olympic frame, the most famous softball player of all-time — and arguably the sport’s most dominant force ever — Jennie Finch, had arrived for one of her myriad softball clinics that she hosts nationwide each year.
“I play softball and I’m living my dreams out,” Finch said. “It’s so exciting to be able meet the future softballers and see the excitement of our game and of U.S.A. softball.
“Just to be able to be a positive role model to these young girls, it’s an incredible honor. It’s the best part about doing what I do.”
Finch, who was in town for a national autograph signing event, agreed to host the clinic on short notice and with smaller-than-typical attendance. Her two-day camp in Williamsport, Pa. in early December had sold out its 400 slots over three weeks ago.
“When we contacted her, she was really excited about it,” said John Lechler, Director of Softball Operations at Diamond Sports Training. “She’d basically rather do this than an autograph show … I was kind of expecting a little bit of a prima donna attitude, but she was awesome. She answered every question and it was absolutely great to have her in here.”
Because of the haste in organizing the clinic, an important vacancy wasn’t filled until the week of the event: Finch’s catcher for her pitching demonstration. So Stone Bridge alumnus Kayla Lechler, a 2007 AAA Virginia first-team all-state selection, was asked to fill in and agreed — without much resistance.
“It was an amazing opportunity to catch for someone who not only has been in the Olympics, but has done so well in college,” said Lechler, a freshman at Columbia University in New York, N.Y. “I was also very nervous because, of course, she’s going to be the best pitcher I ever caught for.”
Finch, 28, even asked to exchange numbers with Lechler in case she needs a training partner whenever Finch travels to New York.
“It’s great for them to know I was once in their shoes, dreaming of being an Olympian,” said Finch, whose clinic on Sunday was sandwiched between similar demonstrations in New York and Chicago and a charity luncheon Indianapolis within a week. “[I’m] encouraging them to go after their dreams and share the love of our game. There’s only a select few that will go on to be Olympians, but it’s about the game.
“This game teaches you so much beyond the playing field, such as teamwork, discipline, and leadership.”
The autograph session, not surprisingly, doubled its estimated duration. But Finch signed, and signed, posing for countless photos with an admirable genuineness.
She even momentarily stopped her question-and-answer session to offer an autograph to a girl who had to leave early.
The event left moms misty-eyed and the girls beaming.
“It’s special. You almost have to pinch yourself every time [those reactions] happen,” said Finch, 42-2 all-time when pitching for the U.S. National team. “There are so many great things this game has given me and if I can relay those things to younger girls — and share the excitement of it — then it’s great.
“And I want to do it.”
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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