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Wednesday, 15 October 2008 |
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PDN photo by David Deaton 
Lauren Deaton had the chance to see an official Gold and Silver Medal from Olympic softball champion Jennie Finch during a softball camp held in Little Rock, Ark.
By David Deaton
News Reporter
Nine Poteau Pansy Kidd Middle School softball team members enjoyed the chance of a lifetime this weekend when they attended a softball camp conducted by U.S. Olympic softball team pitcher Jennie Finch and other team members.
The two-day camp was held in Little Rock, Ark., with several members of the United States Olympic Softball Team providing extensive and intense training in hitting, fielding, catching and pitching.
The girls were able to have plenty of one-on-one time with Finch and the other athletes and also enjoyed time bonding together as friends and as team members.
Finch and her gang were not the only celebrities at the camp. Country singer Trayce Adkins was there with his seven-year-old daughter, Brianna.
Adkins was not there to sing, he was there as a dad.
Some of the best advise the campers received was to thank and appreciate their parents for supporting them.
The theme for the camp was "Dream and Believe." For the girls from Poteau it was indeed a dream to get to work with Finch.
"It is a once in a lifetime chance to get to meet Jennie, but to get to work with her, Caitlin Lowe and Crystl Bustos all at the same time was truly a dream come true," said Lauren Deaton, camper and third base player for the PKMS Raiders.
"Sure, every year people can go to Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City and see these women play, but to work with the Olympic team and get tips on hitting, catching and other skills is truly an awesome experience" said Susan Manlove of Poteau whose daughter, Cathleen, attended the camp.
Each girl received an autograph from Finch, a t-shirt, photo and memories that will last a life time.
Team USA won the Gold Medal in 2004, at the Olympics in Athens and the Silver Medal in 2008, in Beijing.
"I want to help young girls experience the love of the game of softball," Finch said. "I am living my dream and I want to help other girls to be able to live theirs. I had crazy softball parents and a father who was my pitching coach who pushed me to be the best that I am today."
Finch also told the group of more than 400 girls at the camp, "Be and do your best. If you always give your best effort you will have no regrets. Life and softball will not be easy. You will face struggles, doubts, conflicts and disappointments. The key is to learn from those struggles and move on, living life to its fullest."
Mackenzie Vandergeest, member of the professional Chicago Bandits and former catcher for Finch at the Univerisity of Arizona, said, "I want to teach these girls that friendship and bonding will help a team come together, therefore making a better team."
Finch is from La-Mirada, Calif., and attended school at the University of Arizona on a softball scholarship which paid for her entire education. Finch went on to become a member of National Championship Team in 2001; was named the Most Valuable Player; is a three-time All American and two-time Honda Player of the Year; and is a two-time World Champion Gold Medalist on the National Professional Fast Pitch Softball Team the Chicago Bandits.
Finch is married to Casey Daigle, first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and is the mother of Ace their two-year-old son. She says she hopes to become one of those "crazy softball parents."
Other instructors at the camp were:
• Crystl Bustos, All American and two-time National Champion and a member of the Akron Racers National Professional Fast Pitch League. She holds the world record for the most homeruns in the Olympic games. She is a two time Gold Medalist and a Silver Medalist.
• Caitlin Lowe is known for her quickness, being able to hit the ball and make it to first base in 2.3 seconds
Other Olympians who instructed the girls were Kelly Kretchmen, Andrea Duran, Toni Mascarenas, Jaime Clark and Mackenzie Vandergeest.
The camp was sponsored by the Little Rock Arkansas Bat Busters and was held at Sherwood Sports Complex in Sherwood, Ark.
Girls from Poteau attending the camp were Kylie Brown, Lauren Deaton, Alayna Holdsworth, Olivia Howerton, Kaylee Kingrey, Cathleen Manlove, Brenna Vise, Sidnee Ward and Gabba Wilson.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 16 October 2008 )
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