Notice I didn’t use the word “Retire!” Retiring at 29 years old doesn’t really go. I am however hanging up my cleats. I hung up my red cleats with USA after the World Cup in July, and now its time for the pink and black to be hung up after this weekend. They will just be hung up, I am sure/hope I will un-hang them many times… for appearances, camps, clinics, Alumni games, and etc! Hopefully for next years MLB Celebrity All-Star game too!
I am overflowing with such gratitude! I am so incredibly thankful and blessed. My career has been more than I could of possibly dreamed of or even imagined! It has so super exceeded any and all expectations. It would be great however to go out with a NPF Championship this weekend, I’m not gonna lie! No, seriously… Thank you to all who have helped, encouraged, prayed, supported, cheered, loved, and more. I am so grateful and you the teammates, fans, competitors, Coaches, trainers, field crew, so many people have made it what it has been… Completely Amazing!
A lot of people have asked Why? Why now? Well my answer is I just feel it is time. My love of the game is still alive and well-Trust Me. Each summer has gotten harder and harder on us as a family though. Traveling 3-4 times a week can get a little crazy! Ace is 4 years old now and we would like to have more kids, Lord Willing. I want to thank Casey my husband for his constant support through out it all. He has encouraged me from day 1, never once not allowing me to do what I love! I look forward to the future and being there for him and supporting him in his career and life in general. Our families, my parents and the Daigles have been our backbones enabling us to do what we love and have helped us remain our sanity as a family from state to state and to country to country. They have done so very much we could never thank them enough.
These last few weeks playing have been pretty emotional knowing this is it… I have done this for 24 years. Softball is all I know and has been my life. It hasn’t been easy and it won’t be easy to hang them up. However, I look forward to the future and what God has in store for our family. I look forward to hopefully doing more within the sport with camps, clinics, and continuing the growth of this great game-NPF and all over the world. I am hanging up the cleats but will be grabbing them every now and then, I am hopeful it will be pretty often!
Some say its “ironic” my last weekend is in Sulphur, La the home of my husband but I believe its all in His plans! I am filled with gratitude and peace playing this weekend at the field that Casey’s uniform number and name are posted up high! I am looking forward to enjoying this weekend competing as hard as I ever have with my teammates- Go Bandits! Bringin’ it to the Bayou!
With a heart filled with gratitude, appreciation, & many thanks!
Continuing to Dream & Believe!
#27
January 19, 2011 at 10:59 am, brittany said:
WHEN I FOUND OUT DAT U WERE HANGING YOUR CLEATS UP I CRIED.I THOUGHT WELL I SHOULD BECOME THE NEXT JENNIE FINCH.U R MY IDOL I HAVE YOUR # 27.I PITCH AND PRACTICE 2 TRY 2 BE LIKE YOU.I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.I M GONNA MISS U SO MUCH.
January 23, 2011 at 2:48 am, Jen said:
Hey Jennie,
) and i have been playing the game ever since i was like 5 or 6 ish i can really remember … but ive have been pitching ever since i was 8 and i live and breathe softball and you have been a role model of mine for my whole pitching life… i got a couple of my friends to come and watch your final game with USA and we started crying when you left the game for the last out … and have been playing travel ball ever since i was 9 but my parents thought that i was in danger playng on a 12-and-under team because they didnt have a 10-and-under team and when i grow up i want to be just like you … play for a very long time and make the USA softball team. YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE PLAYER. LOVE YOU <3
I’m 13 years old and have meet you many time before (well two really hehe
Jen (coincidence much hehe)
January 25, 2011 at 7:07 am, Hannah said:
Hey Jennie I have always liked you! I always wanted to go to your camps but i never was able to! I would love to meet you! I have the biggest memory of me and my dad sitting on the couch watching you pitch. I told my dad that i would the just like you! Im 13 and i have tryed and tryed to be like u but its hard and im not going to lie about that. I was going to quit a couple times but i always thought i just need to “dream and belive” Thanks alot for being jennie finch! Luv you alots
Hannah
March 08, 2011 at 11:50 am, Abby said:
Jennie,
I have been a fan of yours since I started softball which was back in 2004. Your last game was very very very sad. After you left the game, at the last inning and 2 outs, I couldnt stop crying for hours. People would tell me that I was a loser for crying when you were taken out of the game. Now I look back and I say I don’t care that I cried. What really matters is that you get to spend more time with your family and your son Ace and your husband Casey. You are the Michael Jordan of softball. You are and forever will be my idol. I wish I could be as talented as you. I know I will get there after I work extremely hard. I can hit extremely well, I can pitch well, and I can make the defensive plays in the field. I love you and you will always be in my heart even when I am 65. I LOVE YOU JENNIE FINCH.
ABBY
March 19, 2011 at 10:57 am, Dani said:
Dear Jennie,
When my dad told me you were hanging up your cleats I almost died. You have been my idol ever since I started throwing stuff, watching softball and hittinf my brother with a little bat my dad when I was 3. I love that you are doing this because you have a family and a life so don’t . My coach has talked to your manager to try an get you to come to the opening of our new softball feilds. If you can make it the place is Groesbeck, TX at the street behind our city park. I don’t know the time but hope you can make it.
Love,
Your #1 fan Dani Morgan who love you!!!!!!!
May 22, 2011 at 3:34 am, Kaylie said:
Dear Jennie Finch,
I am 12 almost 13 and pitch for a 12 and under team. U r my idol I read the quotes that u write and I am trying to sign up for ur camp. U r a heroic person and I know lots of people look up to!!! I was very sad when u retired but it was the rright thing to do for ur family. My screen saver is of pitching and under it say soon to be the next Jennie finch! Love u!!!
Sincerely Kaylie
P.S. U ROCK