Pictures from Jennie's Jersey Retirement

JACK RICKARD
Tucson Citizen
May 8, 2003
When Jennie Finch arrived at the University of Arizona in fall 1998, she saw the names of past UA softball greats and the numbers that had been retired.
"I hoped for that," Finch said. "But I wanted to win a national championship. If you do everything for the team, individual awards will come along with it."
Finch led UA to the 2001 national title, and the individual awards have come in droves.
Tomorrow night at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium, Finch's No. 27 will be retired in 6:45 p.m. ceremonies before the Wildcats and UCLA Bruins square off in a game that could decide the Pacific-10 Conference championship.
"She's special for the game of softball," UA coach Mike Candrea said. "She's become the poster girl for the sport. And you haven't seen the best of her yet."
Finch said she "has tons of family coming in - brothers, sisters-in-law. Even my grandmother from Iowa."
While serving as a volunteer assistant coach for UA this spring, Finch has kept busy. She's part of the Fox network's "This Week in Baseball" show. The first show will air at 12:30 p.m. May 17 on KMSB-TV (Channel 11).
"Each week it's me and a player," Finch said. "I'll go over individual skills and fundamentals. And there's also a Jennie Finch challenge for those who want to try to hit off me."
She also has a Jennie Finch line of softball gear - bats, cleats, mitts, batting gloves and clothing items - coming out in July.
Candrea said he was not surprised Finch turned into a superstar after he recruited her from La Mirada, Calif.
"Her speed was always there," Candrea said. "She has long levers and is very competitive, a great athlete. Her competitiveness on the mound was as good as any. She's very level-headed. She wants to make her impact on the field.
"It's special what she's done here. And it's special for the game of softball."
Finch was a member of the U.S. National team that Candrea coached to the world championship this past summer. She's a leading candidate for the 2004 U.S. Olympic team, which will compete in Athens, Greece, under Candrea's direction.
"I can't wait to get back on the field again," Finch said.
Finch and Arizona Diamondbacks' organization pitcher Casey Daigle, who is in Double-A ball at El Paso, Texas, will marry Nov. 6, 2004.
Other UA players whose numbers have been retired are National Player of the Year winners Nancy Evans (No. 13, now a UA assistant coach), Jenny Dalton (No. 16) and Susie Parra (No. 1) as well as the late Julie Reitan (No. 10).

FINCH'S SOFTBALL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 2001 and 2002 national player of the year
• Set NCAA record with 60 consecutive pitching wins over three seasons
• Went 32-0 in Arizona's 2001 national championship season, an NCAA record
• Won 109 games, lost just 16; No. 2 at UA in career victories
• Hit 50 career home runs (No. 5 at UA) and had a .301 career batting average
• Pac-10 Conference pitcher of the year in 2001 and 2002
• Most outstanding player, 2001 Women's College World Series
• Three-time first-team all-America selection