Jennie Finch Empowerment Award a springboard for young, proud honorees

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Kourtney Jones-Caldwell and Alina Elias have each had their moment with Jennie Finch.

Jones-Caldwell received the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award last year, while Elias was recognized with the award during this year’s All-Star Week. More recently, the two Houston Astros Nike RBI catchers were together at the Nike RBI World Series at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., where their team finished as the runner-up.

Presented by Arm & Hammer, the award provides a $10,000 scholarship to softball players who demonstrate leadership, motivation, commitment, dedication, humility and integrity.

For Jones-Caldwell, hearing her name called by Finch at the Jennie Finch Classic last year was unexpected.

“I was really proud of myself,” said Jones-Caldwell, who also received a trip to Game 4 of the World Series. “It gave me so much confidence. It made me want to move forward with softball and go even past college.”

That confidence has carried into Jones-Caldwell's plans for college. She will continue her softball career at Langston University, with the scholarship helping cover some of her college expenses.

“I'm so grateful to have this scholarship because it helped me want to push forward and, really, it made me really determined to play,” Jones-Caldwell said.

Elias has a similar goal of continuing her softball career while pursuing her education.

“I plan to go [to college] for softball, and I plan to do my best in my schooling and I plan to work in softball in the future, so that's my goal,” Elias said.

For Elias, being recognized by Finch this year also gave her an opportunity to learn from someone she considers a role model.

“Finch brings a lot of leadership, commitment and determination because she is a role model for all these young girls in the game of softball,” said Elias, who wore her Jennie Finch Classic catcher's gear. “It's like the perfect person to look up to in the future. She's helped so many people, and she's very humble.”

Finch, a three-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist pitcher, has helped Elias with her relationship with her pitchers after spending time in the Houston dugout during the Nike RBI World Series.

“Jennie Finch helped me with knowing when my pitchers are down to throw whatever pitch they like, whatever pitch is best, and when they're up to always put confidence in their best pitch,” Elias said.

Jones-Caldwell’s experience in the RBI World Series and with Finch has also shown her how softball can bring people together.

“The way teams come together and play with each other,” Jones-Caldwell said. “We're all happy to be around each other, and no one is upset after games or anything. We're all together.”

That is part of what Finch hopes to see from the players she has worked with.

“For them to know that they're empowered, they're invested in. People care. People see them, and they're leaders,” Finch said. “It's so fun to see [that] every year, the younger ones look up to the older ones. ... Now we've created this pipeline, which has just been so fun to see them grow, then blossom.”

The tangible impact of the scholarship beyond softball is also something Finch has been able to witness.

“It's so special,” Finch said. “This changes the trajectory of their entire life. ... They're getting assistance to go accomplish their dreams, compete, play at the next level and most importantly, get their education, which is going to last forever.”

Finch said she couldn't be more grateful to Major League Baseball and Arm & Hammer for building opportunities that make playing in the Nike RBI World Series and going to college more attainable for young players.

“We've been able to experience it and see firsthand the fruit of the labor,” Finch said. “Over the years now, them dreaming of playing at that next RBI event. And for the young kids coming into the academy, it gives them something to hope and dream for and accomplish eventually.”

Ultimately, the award is about giving young players opportunities and allowing them to see themselves in those who have come before them.

“It's about the future of these young ladies and the camaraderie, the sisterhood that we're creating with them,” Finch said. “For them to know that they have these opportunities at their fingertips. So just such a gift and honor to shine a light on Alina and Kourtney -- and now see them still playing at the top, and having young girls look up to them, is just truly amazing.”

But what Finch loves most about the award is that it shines a light on intangible qualities that often don't get recognition.

“I'm truly living a dream, watching and investing in the next generation living their dream, and to think that we would be here, to think that these things would be possible, and the opportunities that these young ladies have at their fingertips is everything to me,” Finch said.