The woman who is known world-wide as the face of softball has come to Sulphur to play the last games of her professional career.
Jennie Finch, pitcher for the USA national softball team and the National Pro Fastpitch softball league's Chicago Bandits, announced her retirement from the sport in July. She leads her number one team to McMurry Park to play for the league's championship beginning Thursday night at 8:30 p.m.
"This is it," said Finch at a Wednesday press conference held at the park.
"I'm looking forward to a great game."
She feels confident that her competitive spirit will win out over the sadness of playing her final games. Winning and celebrating are her immediate goals.
"I feel blessed to be able to be with the Bandits," said Finch.
"It is exciting to see where this league is at. We're down to four teams but we're at a good place. There will be a bright future."
The irony of ending her career in husband's hometown after announcing that she would retire to focus more on family is not lost on the ball player. Casey Daigle, Finch's husband, is a 1999 Sulphur High graduate and a minor league pitcher with the Houston Astros organization.
"It is pretty ironic that this would be here but pretty awesome at the same time," said Finch.
As for what lies ahead, Finch expressed excitement about her new role in the world of softball. Walking away from the field with the time constraints and the stress of training and competing, Finch stated, would open more doors and opportunities for her to help promote the sport.
"This game has given me so much that I can never repay it."
"I will continue to do everything that I can within my power to help continue growing this game not only in the U.S. but all over the world," said Finch.
And that includes trying to bring the sport back to the Olympics. Finch led the American team to gold at the 2004 games and then to silver at the 2008 Olympics. The Olympic committee made the decision in 2005 to drop softball, making the 2008 games the possible last run for the sport at the games. Finch is crusading for the reinstatement of the sport in 2016.
"Obviously, the [loss of the] Olympics was a big blow for our sport, but we are going to continue to march on, to fight on," said Finch.
