Athletic Women Blog

Brockton, MA. – ProMounds Inc., the parent company of On Deck Sports, today announced that it has welcomed Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch as the newest member of its Professional Staff Team. ProMounds is a leading manufacturer of baseball and softball products.

Through this relationship, Finch and ProMounds have joined together to produce the Jennie Finch Powerline Pitching Mat. The mat’s design includes a powerline that keeps a player’s pitching motion consistent on every pitch, and a slide proof backing that ensures a safe training session on any surface. Finch and ProMounds will also be working together on a number of events around the country.

"I'm very excited about my partnership with ProMounds & On Deck Sports, especially our creation of the Powerline Pitching Mat as it’s an amazing tool for pitchers at any level," stated Finch. "I can carry the mat wherever I go and know I’ll always have a realistic surface for practice. It’s the perfect tool to refine and develop your technique, whether you’re just starting out, or pitching your country to an Olympic medal."

The Powerline Pitching Mat is now available at www.ondecksports.com, along with information on the company’s upcoming event with Finch.

"Jennie’s talent, experience and insight into the game of softball, especially the pitching technique, make her an invaluable asset to our team," stated Joe Murphy, founder and president of ProMounds.

Finch is one of America's best-known female athletes. Her success in softball began in high school where she earned multiple honors. During her college career at the University of Arizona, Finch was a two-time (2001 & 2002) winner of the Honda Award for Softball, presented to nation's best player. In addition, she was twice named PAC-10 Pitcher of the Year, was a two-time NFCA First-Team All American and holds the NCAA record for consecutive wins (60). Finch also helped Arizona reach the NCAA Women’s College World Series in each of her four years, winning the championship in 2001. After college, her achievements continued on the international level as Finch won numerous medals, including gold at the 2004 Olympics and, most recently, silver as a member of the USA Softball Team in the Beijing Olympics.

About ProMounds, Inc.:
Over the last eight years, ProMounds has grown into a leading manufacturer of baseball and softball products. Former Division I college baseball player and high school coach Joe Murphy began the company in 2001 with a portable pitching mound. Since then, the company has launched its retail division, On Deck Sports, and expanded its offerings to include netting, gym and physical education equipment and strength and conditioning products. Additionally, its products and services include synthetic grass for high-end landscaping and artificial turf removal, as well as supply. It has also designed and constructed nearly 400 indoor baseball and softball training facilities throughout the United States, and provided artificial turf to groups around the world, including U.S. troops. Based in Massachusetts, ProMounds staff consists of professionals with years of experience in all levels and areas of sports.

www.ProMounds.com

Surf and swim apparel designer Girls4Sport will honor inspiring women with its "Ordinary Heroes" essay contest. Girls4Sport invites participants to nominate the women in their lives—mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends—who have accomplished extraordinary things or inspired others [to] dream bigger and better. The contest entry deadline is August 30, 2009.

"We all have people who've helped us laugh harder, run faster, live better, be stronger and just smile more," says Kim Ruby, president of Girls4Sport. "We want to pay tribute to the unsung heroes in women’s lives and give them the credit they deserve."

Girls4Sport will select three hero stories as grand prize winners. The grand prize winners and their heroes will each receive a $100 gift certificate for Girls4Sport’s online store, shop.girls4sport.com, plus an autographed copy of Dara Torres' new book, Age is Just a Number. Ten runners up will each receive a free t-shirt and grab bag from the online store.

Winners and their winning stories will appear on the Girls4Sport website in September 2009. The deadline for nomination is August 30, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. PST. All participants in the contest will receive a 35% off coupon code good towards any purchase at shop.girls4sport.com. Participants may nominate as many heroes as they want. To nominate a hero, visit: www.girls4sport.com/contest/.