Kristin White turned the newest recipient of the 2023 Jennie Finch Empowerment Award, offered by Arm & Hammer, after competing for the DC Elite Nike RBI group on the Nike Softball RBI World Series in Vero Beach, Fla.
White was cheered on by her teammates and different RBI individuals after Jennie Finch known as her title because the winner of the distinguished honor.
“I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ I’m still in shock right now. I just couldn’t believe it,” White stated. “I mean I was already motivated but this shows me that hard work does pay off.”
The JFEA award, which is awarded at 4 of MLB’s signature ladies youth occasions annually, comes with a $10,000 scholarship examine from Arm & Hammer and a particular journey to Game 4 of the 2023 MLB World Series. This award is given to feminine athletes who exemplify traits of six qualities: humility, dedication, motivation, management, dedication and integrity.
On the mound, White helped lead her DC Elite group to many firsts this summer time. DC Elite turned the primary softball group to ever qualify to the RBI World Series from the District of Columbia after defeating Harrisburg RBI within the Mid-Atlantic Region.
White talked concerning the belief that she has when she is pitching together with her teammates behind her.
“Now it is almost as simple as walking to me. I know everyone on the field. We just click so well that I can tell when someone is down, and I know how to hype them up,” she stated. “It’s just amazing to play with such an amazing team.”
Not solely did White assist her group make it to Vero Beach, however she additionally led it to its first journey to the championship recreation. She was 4-1 with a 1.08 ERA in 45 1/3 innings within the Nike RBI World Series.
Bria Sewell, one among Kristin’s teammates on DC’s RBI group, talked concerning the optimistic influence that Kristin makes on their group.
“Kristin is a person that never gives up,” Sewell stated. “She always works hard during practice and games, and she always inspires me to never give up. I know that when she is out there pitching that I have her back and like when she is working hard, I’m working hard.”
Off the sector, White helps her group by volunteering. DC Elite has a detailed rising relationship with its hometown MLB group, as it really works with the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy doing group service. It works with youthful children for 2 hours earlier than it practices.
“For me, it’s just knowing that I’m helping someone else. It is so much more rewarding than any trophy and any award. That really is an award in and of itself.”
Harry Thomas Jr., the DC Elite Nike RBI coach, shared how a lot he enjoys teaching Kristin and the way she all the time takes the additional step to assist these in her group.
“Kristin is a dream come true. She’s the kind of player that when a moment comes, she’s like a fireman. She runs into the fire, not away from it, and that’s all you want as a coach,” he stated.
“One thing I ask people to do is community service. It’s another thing when they beat you to community service, and that’s Kristin. She beats us to the park, she works with the kids and then she has a three-hour practice after two hours of community service. I think she just loves helping other people so community service is just part of her life.”
Clark White, Kristin’s dad, expressed appreciation towards the chance that the DC RBI program has supplied for his daughter.
“The RBI program affords her the opportunity to go and work with younger kids for two hours before every practice, and she is just really, really excited about it before every single practice,” he stated. “She just has a knack for people coming behind her because she is just a selfless young lady.”
White summed up her motivation for enjoying a sport that features a lot failure.
“Just learning,” she said. “I’ve put so much hard work into it, and failure is just part of learning and having a positive mindset really.”
“More power to you,” the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award motto, may be very obvious in Kristin’s life. She is now part of an esteemed group of younger softball athletes who’re working to make a long-lasting influence, not solely on the softball discipline, however of their communities, too.
Content Source: www.mlb.com