Two-Time Olympic Medalist Hosts Softball Camp at Alicia Park

At ease at home base with her game face on, Mayor Cathy Schlicht caught the first pitch of the day delivered by Olympian Jennie Finch, kicking off an exciting weekend softball camp at Alicia Park.

More than 165 young female campers traveled from as far as Rhode Island to take part in the annual softball camp hosted by Finch, a two-time Olympic medalist in softball.

Finch won the 2001 Women’s College World Series and helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Time magazine described her as “the most famous softball player in history.”

Throughout the weekend, the campers learned about Finch’s famous “Windmill” pitch and other techniques from a professional coaching staff that also included Olympians Toni Mascarenas and Leah O’Brien-Amico as well as members of the Mt. Sac Women’s Softball team and Mission Viejo Diablos.

The girls enjoyed lunch and received an official camp T-shirt autographed by Finch along with a certificate of participation and a photo with the Olympian and her medals.

Mayor Schlicht said Finch serves as an inspiration and role model to us all.

“Jennie’s Arizona Wildcat Coach Mike Candrea said it best: ‘Jennie has transformed this sport, touched millions of young kids in many different ways ...but through it all, she’s been very humble,’” Mayor Schlicht told the crowd. “It isn’t often that any of us gets the opportunity to learn from the very best.”

Submitted by the City of Mission Viejo.