Play Like a Girl: Jennie Finch

You might attribute it to her 6-foot, 1-inch frame. But for Finch, sports are a part of her being. With a love for the hard work required to excel in sports, she thrived in competitive environments. That passion helped her succeed in volleyball and basketball, lettering twice in both. However, it was her softball talent where her athleticism shone through.

The California native was an All-Suburban League selection and All-California Interscholastic Federation Division II choice in softball after letting for four years. She caught the eye of several universities and chose to play for the Arizona Wildcats, where she starred as the team's pitcher.

There, Finch's star began to rise: throwing a no-hitter her freshman year and clinching a 21-game win streak her sophomore year. She was twice named Pitcher of the Year and also a two-time, first-team selection by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. On top of that, she was recognized as Honda's Player of the Year.

To honor her legacy as a Wildcat, the University of Arizona retired her No. 27 jersey a year after she graduated.

Finch, however, didn't stop at college.

She helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, and a silver medal in Beijing in 2008.

In between the Olympics, Jennie played professionally for the National Pro Fastpitch softball league, setting records and putting professional softball in the spotlight.

Finch retired from playing in 2010, but has kept busy. On May 29, 2016, she made history as the first woman to manage a professional baseball team for a day for Atlantic League's Bridgeport Bluefish. Now, she is a youth ambassador for Major League Baseball, promoting the game of softball. Finch also worked tirelessly to have softball reinstated in the 2020 Olympics after the International Olympic Committee initially dropped the sport.

Jennie Finch: I helped me tremendously, especially with flexibility and coordination. Because I was so tall, playing different sports helped me learn body control and also prevented me from getting injured. Studies have shown that when an athlete does the same movement over and over again, they make themselves more prone to injury. So I developed different muscles, and it helped me become stronger, faster, and safer at the same time.

AA: For the parents reading this, do you think sports are shifting too much in the direction of kids focusing on one sport too early on?

JF: I have three kids who are all playing sports now, and it's hard, to be honest. My son is 6 and he's in his second season of travel, and it's not something we wanted him to do, but he wants to compete and play. My feeling is if your kid is loving it and it's in a controlled and healthy environment, and limited tournaments, then it doesn't have to be outrageous. I also understand the pressure though since so many more kids are verbally committing to colleges at 13- and 14-years-old. At the end of the day, I think we are missing the big picture of sports that it develops character, and that is something that goes beyond the physical. We also need to really make sure that competing at a high level is something our kids really want, and that we're not pushing it on them.

AA: Why is character development important in sports?

JF: I look back on the gift that sport has given me: It's given me an amazing platform and gold medals and a college scholarship, and all those things. Most importantly though, it's the lessons that I learned about discipline, sacrifice and teamwork. All of those skills will take kids far in life, no matter what path they choose. Sport should be a positive outlet for kids to grow and develop. Not every kid competitive in sport will receive an athletic scholarship to college, but it doesn't mean sport can't add some sort of value to their lives.

AA: Girls drop out of playing sports at a higher rate. What do you think we can do to support girls better to stay in sports longer?

JF: Well, I think the opportunity for girls to play sports has never been better. But as far as we have come, we still have a long way to go. First, we need to expose girls to sports and put them in a positive environment where they can find their passion in their gifts as a kid. For instance, if you only play one sport, and you realize you don't like that one sport, then you have nothing else to fall back on. Right now with our 11-year-old, we want him to do everything and find what he truly loves. The same opportunities need to be given to girls to explore, and sports should be a place where they better understand and find themselves.

AA: You were taller than the average girl growing up. Did you ever struggle with body image?

JF: Oh my goodness. I feel like I was always trying to be smaller than I was. First of all, I feel like I think there were only two or three guys taller than me in high school. I was always on the bigger side so it was a struggle. Then in high school I started realizing that this is just an amazing gift that I have: Big, strong shoulders and arms, which enabled me to throw the softball hard.

AA: Did playing sports help you find body confidence?

JF: Yes, without sport I don't know if I would have discovered what my body was capable of. And it absolutely helped me embrace my athletic build and strength.

AA: Did you ever doubt yourself when you were younger with your ability on the field and how did you continue to push yourself to be the best athlete?

JF: I always struggled with negative thoughts. Even when I became a national champion at 12-years-old, that negative voice was still there. When I made varsity as a freshman, the negative voice was still there. Looking back, I realize that it's always going to be there. Part of the negative voice drove and motivated me to be better though, so I found a way for it benefit me rather than work against me. You can't give in to the negative voice. You have to battle it and realize that the more you prepare, the harder you work, the more confident you will become despite the negative voice.

AA: For girls who want to play sports collegiately, professionally, or who may want to become an Olympic champion one day, what's the main thing you think they should focus on?

JF: Focus on one day at a time. You're not going to become the best over night. And while it's great to have goals, never stop learning and discovering different ways to become better. Lastly, focus on what you can control and put your energy into where you know can improve. That is where you will see growth and change.