Ripken/Jennie Finch Throw Like a Girl tourney in Myrtle

Anyone been to this? My (14U) DD's team is going. But my (12U) younger DD will be with us and she would like to be able to sit with the team on opening day for Jennie Finch stuff, meet Jennie take pic etc. My Older DD's coach says we should probably roster my younger DD to the team so we can make sure she's included. But there is a fee that's not cheap to do so. Has anyone been to this tourney that can say is it super strict? Does Jennie Finch's autograph line allow "visitors" as well as players? I have no issue paying to roster younger DD so that she can participate, but would hat to go through all of that if we get down there and it turns out to be super lax and she could have just sat in anyway.

DD's team did this last year.

First, Finch will only be there for the first day. She'll take pictures with all of the teams then you will never see her again. Second, I don't think she'll autograph an item that was not purchased there to be autographed. You'll see, it really is all about the money with her unless they change things this year.

I think all of the fields at Ripken are turf and they get very hot. Keep your girls hydrated. Also, make sure you have rosin for your pitchers. The balls they used last year were plastic pieces of crap that none of the pitchers could grip. The shop there sold out of rosin the first day and I had to go to a bowling alley to get rosin.

While we didn't really have a bad time, the experience didn't turn out to be what everyone thought it would be.

spleen1015 said:

DD's team did this last year.

First, Finch will only be there for the first day. She'll take pictures with all of the teams then you will never see her again. Second, I don't think she'll autograph an item that was not purchased there to be autographed. You'll see, it really is all about the money with her unless they change things this year.

I think all of the fields at Ripken are turf and they get very hot. Keep your girls hydrated. Also, make sure you have rosin for your pitchers. The balls they used last year were plastic pieces of crap that none of the pitchers could grip. The shop there sold out of rosin the first day and I had to go to a bowling alley to get rosin.

While we didn't really have a bad time, the experience didn't turn out to be what everyone thought it would be.

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Yeah I kinda expected she'd just do the first day opening ceremony stuff. I have scoured the internet trying to see how it goes, like do only the girls on the team get to sit down where she's speaking and the parents/siblings have to sit back in bleachers kind of removed from it all? If that's the case we may want to make sure my younger DD can sit with the team, she really wants to meet Jennie Finch, more so than her older sister whose actually playing.... So I'm just trying to figure that part out, or if Jennie only takes one pic with the entire team then it may be weird to have my 12 yo in her sisters 14u team pic (maybe it will just be annoying to her big sis lol). If you had a girl who really wanted to participate in that stuff should we make sure she's with the team? Or was there a separate autograph line that anyone could wait in?

I fully understand this is a money grab. I don't have high expectations, we've played at a Ripken/Finch experience facility in NJ and it was just like you say. Turf is very hot, girls had to wear turf shoes instead of cleats and the store on property was more than happy to sell you $50 turf shoes. No individual coolers had to buy "thier food", etc. Good heads up on the rosin bags. Thanks for the tip,

As far as the team picture goes, they had a blow up building that was fully air conditioned. Team walked in, arranged themselves, took pic then left. I don't think there was much time for mingling with JF.

To be able to do what it sounds like you are looking for it would be better to attend a Finch pitching camp. We went to her camp in Spooky Nook two years ago. She was great with the kids... siblings were welcomed to bring items for autographs and take pics at her chat with the girls. Was only $125 each and included some quality time with Jenny and her dad. She actually spent time with my kid helping her with her curve ball.

As far as the tournament goes your best bet would be to call the person in charge of booking the teams. Her name is listed on the website. She will tell you if you can do what you're looking to do.

Have fun!