Olympic gold medalist and La Mirada High graduate Jennie Finch teamed up with a cadre of Olympians and elite sluggers to coach and inspire 120 softball student athletes to dream and believe at La Mirada High School from Jan. 21-22.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be back at La Mirada High, where it all started for me,” Finch said. “Whatever your pursuits may be, stay confident, work hard and step up to the challenge.”

Finch and her coaches conducted workshops on pitching, catching, fielding, hitting and fitness training. Finch posed for pictures with her Olympic medals, gave a pitching demonstration and spoke to the campers about the sacrifices she made as she endeavored to be a world-class athlete.

“If you want to compete athletically at the highest levels, you have to devote yourself to training 24/7,” Finch said. “When I received a full scholarship to play for the University of Arizona, everyone realized that my hard work and determination had paid off.”

In March 2016, newly hired La Mirada High softball coach Brent Tuttle retired Finch’s No. 27 jersey to honor her career. In November, Finch contacted Tuttle when she was looking to relocate her annual Southern California camp to a new venue.

Finch and her coaches held a Champions Dinner at La Mirada High the night of Jan. 21, which raised $3,500 for the La Mirada High girls softball booster program through donations and a silent auction.

“It’s wonderful to see our alumni return to their alma mater to give back to the community where they grew up,” NLMUSD Superintendent Hasmik Danielian said. “Thank you to Jennie for inspiring our student athletes to develop a strong work ethic and to continue to reach for their dreams.”

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021617_NLMUSD_SOFTBALL1: Olympic gold medalist and La Mirada High School graduate Jennie Finch demonstrates a softball pitch to 120 girls who attended a two-day softball camp at the high school.