Jennie Finch: An Amazing Softball Player

My Michigan Hero “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” - Babe Ruth Lauren Connell is a softball player for the Michigan softball team. She is enrolled in the college of literature, science, and the arts at the University of Michigan. Lauren Connell works hard to keep her grades up in school she was also bullpen catcher she graduated from west lafayette high school in (2012) she also registered first collegiate putout behind the plate at Ohio State (March 22) .

Freeman's success at these competitions allowed her to qualify for the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, where she reached the finals but failed to medal. In 1994,

Jackie was named the best player in the negro leagues, and now is thought as one of the best players to play the game. Going through all of the horrible things that he did, Jackie's mental strength could almost tackle anything that came across his path. Jackie had setbacks through his baseball career, and they all made an impact. A setback that Jackie had was him being an african american male.

Jackie Robinson's early life and education shows that he was destined to make history in the game of baseball from the start of his life. One of his brothers who became famous in sports was Mack Robinson. Mack was a famous track runner who set national college records at Pasadena Junior College, and won a silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. He also inspired Jackie to play sports in the first place. (“Jackie Robinson.”

Jackie Robinson is remembered as the African american that broke the color barrier for the Major League Baseball. Many words can be used to describe him, such as hero, powerful, stupid, anything of that sort, not all good, but not all bad. Keeping a cool head was key to his success, dealing with many racist names that he was called as he stepped up to the plate. With pitchers aiming at his head, he still became a very accomplished athlete in as many fields imaginable. Jackie didn’t pay attention to what people thought or said about him, just knowing he was going to get on base the next pitch.

Jackie Robinson - the first black Major League Baseball player. Arguably one of the best players ever in the sport. Although he is mainly know for his baseball career, he was also a civil rights advocate. Robinson wrote to the president, declined baseball offers, and joined Dr. Martin Luther King. He stood up for equal opportunities in and out of sports.

Some of her goal that she achieved were being a championship pitcher, being the number one pitcher in the nation, and playing softball for team USA. Jennie Finch’s most famous quote is “Dream big and believe in yourself.” This quote is a reminder to all of us that our dreams are never too big and we can doing anything if we believe in ourselves. Another inspirational quote by Jennie Finch is “All you can control is your attitude and your effort.”

Baseball is one of the hardest sports to play in the world. Basketball, Volleyball, and Soccer are difficult sports to play as well. However, softball is considered by many to be easier than baseball. Softball has statistically been proven to be more difficult than baseball.      

Flo Jo also took part in the 1600 meter relay the US came out in second and later would compete in the 400 meters relay were she anchor for her US and placed in first. The win would give Flo JO her third Gold medal at the Olympics Games. Flo Jo would later that year step out of track and retire at the age of 29. This made people questioned why she was stepping down at the most successful time in her carrier and if drugs had anything to do with it. Flo Jo explained the she was retiring to pursue an acting and writing career.

Jackie succeeded in putting the prejudice and racial strife aside, and showed everyone what a talented and dedicated player he was. Robinson led the National League in stolen bases and was selected as Rookie of the Year, he led in stolen bases that year and earned the National League's Most Valuable Player Award. Jackie Robinson became a hero of Baseball, he set league records and became the highest paid in Dodgers history. His success and achievements opened the door for many other African American black baseball players, and inspires children and kids today to play Baseball despite other people’s opinions and thoughts on it. Jackie also became very vocal and voiced his opinion on discrimination, he called out the Yankees for still not having their color barrier broken years after he played with the Dodgers.

To do that, he had to find someone that could withstand racial discrimination and learn to not fight back when dealt with harsh criticism. Jackie Robinson took an amazing risk when he became the first African-American athlete to play in the major leagues. Robinson has been a huge inspiration to athletes, paving the way for blacks, not just in the game of baseball, as well as being an outspoken activist for the rights of American-Americans. Baseball was segregated at the time, but Jackie took an unbelievable risk, breaking the color barrier in the sport.

While fighting for equal rights Robinson also kept his spirits up. Many of Robinsons credit Jackie with being the light of the team. His teammates say that Jackie Robinson Was a big reason that they put so much time, work and heart into the game, they say that Robinson was what they turned to so that they could keep going. The Dodgers won six pennants with Robinson on their team and Pee Wee Reese, Robinson 's “best friend” said Jackie was a big part of that. (The Lincoln Library of Sports Champions pg.82) and (Kuhn,web).

Virne Beatrice “Jackie” Mitchell Gilbert was the first female professional baseball player to play in a game as a pitcher. She had a contact with the Chattanooga Lookouts on March 28, 1931. During the spring training season, the New York Yankees played the Lookouts in a game. Virne Mitchell was believed to have struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig during the game. Even though Virne only played one year as a member of the Lookouts, she continued to live on playing baseball.

So obviously softball fielders have to react quicker to make the plays. The data shows that softball players have to react more quickly whether it be in hitting, pitching, or fielding. Although baseball might be America’s game, softball is gaining more fans each year due to it being a faster paced game and the athleticism shown by the complexity of the

Baseball and softball are sports with the same background. The two sports are known to be the same by people who do not play either of them. In both sports, there are two teams, one on defense and one on offence, battling for a common number of seven innings to see which team scores the most runs at the end. Although baseball and softball are very similar sports, differences exist such as: the pitching, field setting, and ball differencing. Both baseball and softball pitchers on the defensive side are striving for the same concept and that is to strike out the batter up to bat.