Pitcher Jennie Finch announces retirement

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) icon and Bandits’ pitcher Jennie Finch announced her retirement plans today, stating her professional and international softball career will end following the final Chicago Bandits home stand and NPF playoffs in August.

“While it saddens me to see her hang up her cleats, I feel blessed to have shared a portion of her tremendous career with her,” said Bandits owner Bill Sokolis. “She has been laboring over this decision for a long time, Jennie is an intelligent woman, she has thought this through and her decision is right for her family.”

“I know Casey and Ace will be happy. The Bandits organization, and the NPF, could not have asked for a better role model for our young players, and she is a model ambassador to this great game.”

“Jennie entered the NPF as the number one pitcher in the world and will exit the NPF as the number one pitcher in the world. That is hard to do. I will miss her, but I will enjoy watching her here for one last series, in Elgin, the final week of the season.”

The Olympic gold medalist brings an end to a 10-year career in which she helped the sport blossom in the United States.

The 6-foot-2 pitcher was a standout at Arizona before becoming an icon with the U.S. team, going 32-0 her junior year and putting together 60 consecutive wins – both NCAA records. She won gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and silver four years later in Beijing.

This month, she helped the U.S. win its seventh straight world championship in Venezuela.

Finch was much more than a pretty face as she took over Lisa Fernandez’s place as the sport’s most recognized player during a period when the following for the Women’s College World Series and the national team experienced marked growth. Her 60-game run stretched over nearly two years and included the 2001 WCWS title.

Her dominance carried over to the national team, where she combined with the likes of Fernandez and Cat Osterman to make up the world’s best pitching rotation through the early part of the decade.

Coupled with her softball skills, Finch’s beauty and charm landed her a place in pop culture. She struck some of the big leagues’ best hitters in appearances on “This Week in Baseball,” competed on “Celebrity Apprentice” and made the rounds on late-night talk shows.

Finch’s final home series with the Bandits will be against Monica Abbott and the Tennessee Diamonds. The five game series features games on August 19 at 7:05 p.m., August 20 at 7:05 p.m., August 21 at 2:05 p.m., August 21 at 7:05 p.m., and concludes Sunday, August 22 at 2:05 p.m.

Promotional nights for the final home series include 94.3 K~LOVE Family Faith Night (Aug 19), Pack the Park Night with $5 tickets (Aug 20) and Fan Appreciation Day (Aug 22).

Tickets to see Jennie Finch and the Bandits in action are still available at 877-722-6348. For more information about the Chicago Bandits visit www.chicagobandits.com.

Chicago Bandits wrap up the Akron Racers

Chicago Bandits’ pitcher Eileen Canney (1-2) came out in the circle today with unfinished business. The last time she faced off with the Racers, she started and had a great game, giving up just one run and three hits in six innings.

The Bandits would go on to lose the game in extra innings after Canney was pulled.

Today, was a different story with the Bandits (14-8) coming out on top 8-0. Canney would surrender just four hits in seven innings of work. The Racers (12-10) would not put more than two runners on the bases for the game—both hits coming in the sixth inning off two singles from Jessica Vallis and Crystl Bustos.

Bustos’ hit struck Canney straight in the knee, but the tenacious pitcher would tough it out to finish the game.

The Bandits bats were out and cracking again today as they recorded 12 hits and handed Racers’ pitcher Lisa Norris (8-1) her first loss of the season.

Bandits’ centerfielder Emily Friedman was especially active today, going 3 for 4 at the plate with a home run in the second and a single and RBI double. Angela Findlay was right behind her, adding two more RBI to her record, as well as a double and solo home run.

After Friedman’s homer in the second, the Bandits continued to dominate offensively, plating three runners with an error and Friedman’s double to left field.

The Bandits ended with a bang in the sixth inning, racking up five consecutive hits, three singles and two doubles to hammer the nail into the coffin for the Racers and end the game with a final score of 8-0.

Today’s win secures the series for Bandits at 3-1, a far different cry from the other two series against Akron, which the Bandits lost 2-1 and 3-1 respectively. It also puts the Bandits in first place in the league at a 14-8 record.

The Bandits will be heading to Nashville for a five game series against the Tennessee Diamonds beginning on Wednesday, July 14.

For information about the Bandits and how to get tickets call 877-7BANDIT or go to www.chicagobandits.com

~Written by Blair Stenzel

Rockford Thunder wins 2009 NPF Championship

AKRON, Ohio – The Rockford Thunder captured their first Cowles Cup at Firestone Stadium on Sunday afternoon crowning them the 2009 NPF Champions as they defeated the USSSA Pride 2-0 in the final game of the season.  Rockford climbed back from a 1-0 deficit and near elimination to win both of their series on the weekend and become champions.

Cat Osterman led the way with her second complete game shut out of the day only allowing the Pride to have one single and a walk on the day.  Between the two games on Sunday, Osterman struck out an amazing 26 batters and only gave up four hits.  For the tournament, Osterman struck out 50 batters in 31 innings in five starts, pitching 31 of her team’s 41 innings.

The only player to get on for the Pride in game three was Oli Keohohou who drew a walk and hit an infield single that bounced off of Osterman’s glove in the fifth inning.

The Thunder picked up enough offense for Osterman against tough pitching by Sarah Pauly and Monica Abbott.  Leadoff hitter Shanel Scott got Rockford going right away with a hit to left field just past a diving Kristin Schnake.  Scott would eventually score on a sacrifice bunt by Lyndsey Angus to give Rockford a 1-0 lead.  For good measure, Chelsea Spencer added another run when she blasted a towering shot that soared over the center field fence for a solo home run.

The home run would be the last pitch Pauly threw as the Pride turned to Abbott, who shut down Rockford’s offense the rest of the way.  Abbott gave up a signle to the first hitter she faced, but then retired 12 of the next 13 hitters to close out the game.  Even though Abbott kept the Pride close, Osterman wouldn’t allow the Pride offense an opportunity to get back in the game.

Following the Championship Game, Osterman was announced as the MVP of the NPF Championship Series presented by The Game after picking up all of her team’s victories.  The Thunder ace only gave up an astonishing two runs, one earned, in her five starts of the tournament

(via press release)

NPF Championship Series opens today

Hey softball fans. Join the Regular Season Champions, the Chicago Bandits as they defend their 2008 NPF Championship Series title against the Akron Racers, Rockford Thunder and USSSA Pride at the NPF Championship Series…Firestone Stadium , Akron, Ohio, August 20-23, 2009.

Focus is on the future for National Pro Fastpitch

MLB’S STATEMENT REGARDING THE IOC’S DECISION

Pretty Tough Tuesday: Fastpitch 411

1. The NCAA Division 1 Regionals wrapped up on Sunday. Take a look at the brackets to see how your fave team is doing.

2. Recently, Jennie Finch has penned some emotional and amazing posts on her blog. Get to know Jennie here.

3. Softball is on ESPN during the month of May. Check out this week’s Super Regional softball television schedule.

4. Are all bats the same? Find out on Fastpitch TV.

Have a fabulous week, everyone!  

Pretty Tough Tuesday: Fastpitch 411

Get caught up with the week in softball every Pretty Tough Tuesday.

1. What major movie star will play a professional softball player in her next movie? Find out here.

2. Florida (46-3) still number one on the  ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll.

3. Looking to catch a game? Check out the softball television schedule here.

4. Does windmill pitching increase an athlete’s risk for a muscular injury? Take a look at this study by the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Have a fabulous week, everyone! 

Pretty Tough Tuesday: Fastpitch 411

Get caught up with the week’s top softball stories every Pretty Tough Tuesday.   

1. The ASA announced the 27 athletes who accepted invites to USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Camp. Did your favorite fastpitch player receive an invite? Check it out here.  

2. UCLA’s Megan Langenfeld was named the April 5^th – 12^th USA Softball Player of the Week. Don’t miss this article on the junior pitcher’s amazing week.  

3. Florida (42-3) tops ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll. 

4. Looking to catch a game on TV? Check out the softball television schedule here.  

5. What do you think of the 2009 DeMarini Cat Bat? How about the Voodoo Black Bat?

 Have a fabulous week, everyone! 

Pretty Tough Tuesday Fastpitch Weekly Round Up

1. The Florida Gators (39-3) are holding strong at the number one spot on the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll for the fifth straight week. Check out the rest of the poll here.
2. Last week, the ASA selected the twenty-five finalists for the 2009 Collegiate Softball Player of the Year Award. View the complete list here. 
3. Olympic softball in 2016? Here’s the latest information.
4. Fastpitch TV – Basketball is winding down and softball is gearing up. Don’t miss the complete fastpitch television schedule for this week.

Have a fabulous week! 

Softball Shamrocks and Superstitions

Maybe it’s a certain pre-hitting routine like tapping the plate. Maybe it’s a lucky jersey number. Maybe it’s avoiding the chalk lines. Whatever it is, softball players are known for their superstitions.

Cat Osterman never steps on chalk lines. Natasha Watley always wears a wristband. Jessica Mendoza found her Olympic teammates’ superstitions so entertaining, she blogged about it here. Do you have a good luck routine? If so, what is it? And while you’re thinking about luck, check out this article and compare your superstitions with other high school softball players.  

Happy St. Patty’s Day! 

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