News

Softball superstar, Jenny Finch, visits Marion

Posted March 02, 2019 10:00 pm

Staff Report

USA softball superstar pitcher Jenny Finch was the featured speaker last week at Marion Civic Center on behalf of the Canada Wild of Southern Illinois professional team that will play softball at Rent One Park this summer. Finch addressed young women who play the game and softball enthusiasts in general. She also took time to sign autographs. The Southern Illinois Miners are serving as a host to the Wild. Justin Walker photo

MARION - American softball legend Jenny Finch was the featured attraction Thursday evening at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center as she pitched the sport and all its excitement to several hundred enthusiasts of the game - including some current and future softballers - who gathered to hear more about the upcoming season of the Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois.

Having partnered with the Southern Illinois Miners, The Wild will play its home games at Rent One Park this summer when the Miners are out of town.

In addition to Finch, Miners Chief Operations Officer and field manager Mike Pinto spoke as did National Pro Fastpitch league Commissioner Cheri Kempf.

The Wild will likely play 25 games in Marion in an effort to prepare for the upcoming 2019 Olympic qualifiers and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Softball Canada recently finished third at the 2018 Women's Softball World Championship in August, and is currently ranked third in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).

Southern Illinois University has also partnered with the Canadian squad, providing housing and training facilities for the players and staff.

Celebrity softball player Jenny Finch was busy signing autographs Thursday at Marion Civic Center. Justin Walker photo

These young ladies chat while standing in front of promotional signs for Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois players Jenn Salling and Victoria Hayward, Justin Walker photo

Article Categories
News