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Jennie Finch is closing out her international softball career as a champion. Here check out the list of her records. She had no trouble in dazzling everyone.

The striking blonde with the unhittable stuff was the most dominant softball pitcher of her time giving her sport a new face just as it was starting to really catch on in the United States. She won an NCAA championship in record-setting fashion and added Olympic gold as she spread softball’s popularity in America and beyond.

She is turning her eye on her family and her desire to have more children after 10 years of playing internationally. She announced to retire from the sport next month when the National Pro Fastpitch season is over.

In an interview with the Associated Press said “This whole career has been way more than I ever even imagined or dreamed, the opportunities that I’d be able to enjoy and appreciate and be a part of, it’s been incredible.”

In Beijing, Finch won gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and silver four years later. She helped the U.S. win its seventh straight world championship earlier this month. Starting Thursday night in Oklahoma City her final international games will come in the World Cup of Softball. The Chicago Bandits, her pro team is scheduled to play its last regular-season game on Aug. 22 at home in Elgin, Ill.

“You go anywhere and you can say, ‘Jennie Finch,’ and people know who that is,” U.S. shortstop Natasha Watley said. “You say you play softball, ‘Oh, do you know who Jennie Finch is?’ Well, yeah, actually she’s my teammate. “Just what she’s done for this sport is amazing.”

As the most recognized player in a sport enjoying growing popularity, the 6-foot-2 Finch was much more than a pretty face as she took over for Lisa Fernandez. She plays like a girl, and she is used to be one of baseball’s classic insults. She has made it cool to not only throw like a girl, but to run, field and hit like one.

Jennie Finch Fast Facts:

  • Impressive high-school pitching career boasts a 50-12 record, including six perfect games, 13 no-hitters, 0.15 ERA and 784 strikeouts.
  • While at the University of Arizona, completed her 2001 season with a 32-0 record, setting an NCAA record.
  • Also holds NCAA record for most consecutive wins, amassing 60 straight over three seasons.
  • Two-time honoree of softball’s Honda Award, which is presented to the nation’s top player.
  • Member of the 2004 Olympic gold-medal softball team; will compete in Beijing in 2008.
  • Voted “World’s Hottest Sports Personality” by espn.com, graced the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue, and named to People magazine’s list of “50 Most Beautiful People” in 2004.
  • Helped patent the “Finch Windmill”, a pitching strength and endurance apparatus, with father Doug, who invented the conditioning device when Jennie was 11.
  • Struck out MLB sluggers such as Albert Pujols, Mike Piazza, Richie Sexson and more as a correspondent on ESPN’s This Week in Baseball and at various exhibitions

A Few Accomplishments

  • Two-time Pan American Gold Medalist (2003 & 2007)
  • World Cup Champion (2006 & 2007)
  • Two-time World Champion (2002 & 2006)
  • Olympic Gold medalist (2004)
  • Olympic Silver medalist (2008)

National Team Experience:

2008

Silver Medalist at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China

2007

  • Led team in appearances during the summer with eight and six starts for a 5-0 record and 0.23 ERA
  • Threw 49 strikeouts in a team-high 31.0 innings pitched, allowing only nine hits.
  • Gold medalist at Pan American Games
  • Made one appearance, a combined no-hitter, at the Pan American Championships
  • Accounted for 11 of 12 outs in the 4.0 innings pitched, all strikeouts
  • World Cup Champion
  • Posted a 1-0 record; worked 11.0 innings with 18 strikeouts, allowing only four hits and one walk

2006

  • Gold medalist at ISF World Championships
  • Made two appearances with one start and one win
  • Posted nine strikeouts in 9.0 innings pitched
  • Offensively hit .125 (2-for-16) with a double, RBI and two runs scored
  • World Cup Champion
  • Pitched three innings of relief where she recorded six strikeouts
  • Against the Houston Thunder in exhibition, recorded 12 strikeouts in 5.2 innings in first appearance after having son, Ace

2005

  • Silver medalist at Japan Cup
  • Silver medalist at World Cup
  • Posted 0.88 ERA with one win and 11 strikeouts

2004

Gold medalist at Olympic Games in Athens, Greece

2003

Gold medalist at Pan American Games

2002

Gold medalist at ISF World Championships

2001

Gold Medalist at Pan Am Qualifier

2-0 record and 0.00 ERA

At Arizona:

  • Arizona’s co-winner of the Ruby Award, most outstanding female senior student athlete (2002)
  • Set NCAA record for consecutive wins with 60 (2002)
  • Three-time NFCA First-team All American
  • Three-time First-Team All Pac-10 and All-Pacific Region
  • Top three finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year (2002)
  • Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year (2001 & 2002)
  • Led Arizona to NCAA Women’s College World Series title (2001)
  • Finished the season 32-0, NCAA record for wins in a season (2001)
  • Two-time Honda Award winner for softball at Nation’s top player

Other:

  • Member of NPF Chicago Bandits (2005, 2006, 2007)
  • Named NPF Co-Pitcher of the Year (2005)
  • Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation Amateur Choice Award (2004)
  • Personal website is www.jenniefinch.net
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