USA sends Finch off with title
OKLAHOMA CITY — Jennie Finch is closing out her international softball career as a champion.
Caitlin Lowe had a two-run triple, and the United States beat Japan 5-1 Monday night to win its fourth straight World Cup of Softball title in Finch's final game in red, white and blue.
Finch was pulled with two outs in the seventh and received a standing ovation as she headed into the dugout, stopping momentarily to wave to the crowd.
At 29, Finch decided to give up softball so she could spend more time with her family despite still being able to play at the highest level. She didn't allow a run in 18 2/3 innings at the World Cup, although she wasn't much of a factor in her final game.
Finch's teammates mobbed around her in a group hug after the final out.
A two-time Olympian and 2004 gold medalist, Finch developed into the most recognizable player in the sport after a standout career at Arizona that included the 2001 Women's College World Series title and an NCAA record 60 straight victories.
She went on to become a pop culture icon, striking out big league hitters on "This Week in Baseball" and making appearances on reality TV and late-night talk shows. At a time when the sport spread around the world with the help of the Olympics, Finch was known wherever the U.S. team went.
"I think sometimes you measure a person's success not on their accomplishments as much as how many lives they've touched," said Mike Candrea, her coach at Arizona and through two Olympics. "Jennie has transformed this sport, touched millions of young kids in many different ways — whether it's fashion, whether it's the way she plays the game — but through it all she's been very humble."
"She's become the face of this sport, and not many people could do that," he added. "It's hard to do."
Finch struck out 12 in her final start in the circle and allowed only three singles — including two that didn't make it out of the infield.
For the finale, she played first base and went 0 for 3. She was unable to duplicate her storybook start to the tournament, when she homered in her first at-bat after announcing her plan to retire.
Finch is leaving to spend more time with her 4-year-old son, Ace, and continue adding to her family with husband Casey Daigle. Daigle, a pitcher who has split this season between the Houston Astros and Triple-A, was able to get away for her final game and join a contingent of family that also included Finch's 89-year-old grandmother.
She will continue playing professionally with the Chicago Bandits until the National Pro Fast-pitch season ends next month.
