Finch, Jennie (1980…), an American pitcher, became the most famous softball player of the 2000’s. Pitching for the United States , Finch won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games and a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. She is a two-time Pan American Games gold medalist (2003 and 2007), three-time World Cup champion (2006, 2007, and 2009), and three-time world champion (2002, 2006, and 2010).
Finch played softball at the University of Arizona from 1999 to 2002. She led the school to the 2001 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) softball title. She won the Honda Sport Award for Softball twice—in 2001 and in 2002. The Honda Sport Award is presented to the top woman athlete in a variety of college sports. Finch was also the 2001 Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year and the 2001 Women’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player. From 2005 to 2010, she pitched for the Chicago Bandits in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league.
Jennie Lynn Finch was born in La Mirada, California, near Los Angeles , on Sept. 3, 1980. Growing up, she was a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball team. Finch began pitching when she was eight years old. She became known for her excellent hand-eye coordination, speed, and powerful arm. Finch retired from softball in 2010. She wrote the book Throw Like a Girl: How to Dream Big & Believe in Yourself (2011, with Ann Killion).
