Rocky Stanley/The Independent
Ashland — Camera phones clicked and aspiring young softball players hung on the speaker’s every word.
Nobody had to tell the group of girls sitting on the floor that this amounted to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s a rare thing to be this close to perhaps the biggest name in your sport’s history.
Jennie Finch, a fireballing pitcher and Olympic gold medalist, made them feel at ease during a Sunday afternoon appearance at Championship Fastpitch.
Finch, 29, talked in detail about her softball experiences, encouraged the up-and-coming athletes to believe in their dreams, put on a pitching exhibition and also signed autographs.
A crowd of about 200 consisted mostly of athletes and their parents. Some came from as far as Akron, Ohio.
“I’m really excited,’’ said Addie Fullen, a 13-year-old from Hurricane. “I always wanted to meet her. Jennie Finch is like an idol to me. I would like to be on the U.S. softball team someday.’’
Tickets cost $100 for Sunday’s event. For Fullen, who plays softball on middle school and travel teams, it was difficult to imagine a better present under her Christmas tree.
“It’s really neat,’’ she said. “When I got this for Christmas I almost cried.’’
Fullen began playing softball as a third-grader. Her first bat and glove were Jennie Finch models.
“She’s an awesome pitcher and great all-around player,’’ Fullen said.
Finch, a member of the Chicago Bandits in the women’s professional league, helped the United States win a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics and take the silver in 2008. The 6-foot-1 pitcher’s fastball has been clocked as high as 72 mph, which from 46 feet is akin to facing a Nolan Ryan fastball.
Finch spoke to the young players about pitching mechanics and gave them a mitt-popping demonstration.
“This is just a culmination of all my effort here,’’ said Dave Miller, who started Championship Fastpitch three years ago. “To have Jennie Finch walk through the front door was one of the first goals I had for this place. She is the name in softball. It doesn’t get any bigger.’’
Ashland Blazer softball player Kelsee Hammonds savored the moment.
“It’s like something we dreamed up,’’ Hammonds said. “We never thought we would be in the same room with her.’’
Hammonds had the bonus thrill of traveling with others to Louisville to bring the superstar to Ashland. Finch spoke Friday at the University of Louisville softball’s kickoff dinner.
“Obviously, since this is such a small town you wouldn’t think Jennie Finch would come to Ashland,’’ Hammonds said. “It’s a big honor to have her here. She’s real humble about everything, even though she is one of the best softball players in history.”
USA men’s national softball player Adam LaLonde is head instructor at Championship Fastpitch and had a part in convincing Finch to come to Ashland.
It also helped that Finch’s husband, Casey Daigle, came up through the Arizona Diamondbacks organization with Ashland’s Brandon Webb. Finch and Dagle have a 3-year-old son named Ace.
“I heard a lot about Ashland from Brandon Webb,’’ Finch said. “I’m glad it worked out that I could come.’’
Finch’s first trip to Ashland produced a friendly welcome and she was impressed to see a passion for softball.
“They are fired up about fastpitch,’’ Finch said. “I love that. It’s awesome to see a fastpitch-only facility. It excites me. You don’t see many of these across the country.’’
Finch is now the second-oldest player for Team USA, but her passion for the game is much the same as back in her college days. She led Arizona to the 2001 national championship, received two college player of the year awards and set an NCAA record with 60 victories in a row.
“I still have that love, that passion for the game,’’ said Finch, who runs camps and clinics across the country. “To be able to share that with other young women is pretty awesome.’’
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.
