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The sands in the top half of Kaci Finchum’s softball hourglass lessen with each passing day.
Sometime next month, the senior third baseman, an example of durability with well over 100 career starts at Mount St. Joseph in her four seasons, takes her final cuts as a Division III player.
However, the Center Grove graduate would like to eventually return to softball dugouts in a different role.
“I really hope to be coaching, and the goal is to be an athletic director at a college,” Finchum said. “I really love softball, and I want to help people love it as much as I do.”
Mount St. Joseph, located in Cincinnati, is part of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference with Franklin College, Manchester, Anderson and others. Finchum is one of four Lions from Johnson County, joined by a pair of juniors in shortstop Macy Cornelius (Whiteland) and first baseman Kiley Hankenhoff (Greenwood) as well as sophomore Courtney Keller, a Roncalli grad from Greenwood.
Entering Saturday’s home doubleheader against Anderson, Finchum has started every one of the Lions’ 156 games since the first pitch of the 2021 season. She’s batting .373 this spring — second best on the team — with six doubles and 13 runs driven in.
“It’s awesome having someone be there who can do the job on a consistent basis,” Mount St. Joseph coach Beth Goderwis said. “Kaci has always been very consistent there at third base, and has always been a very consistent hitter.”
Finchum’s journey hasn’t been seamless.
As an eighth-grader, Finchum was diagnosed with Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection (TAAD), which was ultimately reversed the spring of her junior year of high school.
“It was a relief, but then I started my recruitment process late,” Finchum said. But I really appreciate the coaches here welcoming me with open arms. I love it here. We’re a big family, really. Softball has always been my escape from reality.
“I would say without athletics, and I hate to say this, but I’m not sure I would’ve gone to college.”
Two years ago, Finchum suffered a right torn rotator cuff, but played through it. Her throws from third base would start with her right hand next to her right ear to lessen the strain on her shoulder as she followed through.
Finally, this past winter, Finchum was informed that she had thoracic outlet syndrome, a compression of nerves, arteries or veins in the right shoulder area.
Just as she has all along, she keeps pushing through.
Finchum, who receives a bachelor’s degree in business administration next month, plans to remain on campus through the 2024-25 school year to work toward her master’s degree — but her playing days will come to an end when this season does.
“I do believe I have a fifth year that I could use, but I don’t plan on using that,” she said. “I’m not sure my body can handle it. I’ve really faced some adversity playing softball pretty much my whole career.”
Goderwis is confident her third baseman can go on to be a successful softball coach, whether at the high school or collegiate level. Finchum knows the game, never tires of competition and loves virtually every aspect of softball.
There is, however, an area she has yet to master.
“My tactfulness,” Finchum said, laughing. “My coach and I have had many conversations about it. Now, I kind of step back and then say it.”
Finchum continues to work on that aspect of leadership, but her at-bats, throw-outs and bus rides with teammates to road games will soon be over.
Goderwis hopes Finchum’s final weeks of playing college softball are her most enjoyable.
“Sometimes she takes it too serious, but softball is a game,” Goderwis said. “I want Kaci to have fun with her senior season, and to continue to work.”
