SAUL LOEB/Arizona Daily Wildcat Former UA pitcher Jennie Finch, recently named Îhottest female athlete' by ESPN, is set to host Fox Television's "This Week in Baseball" beginning this spring.

Being tagged ESPN's Îhottest female athlete' doesn't faze the former standout UA pitcher

When ESPN posed the question, "Who's the hottest female athlete?" last year, tennis superstar Anna Kournikova aced her competition and proved that she never even had to win a singles title to achieve ESPN status.

That was before Kournikova was matched against former UA softball pitcher and current volunteer assistant coach Jennie Finch.

When this year's version of the poll surfaced last week, Kournikova was left off the list because of her dominance last time around.

After Finch steamrolled past the competition, the Page 2 staff at ESPN.COM received hoards of letters from fans upset about the absence of Kournikova from the contest, prompting them to start a new poll placing Finch and Kournikova against each other for the title of Hottest Female Athlete.

Finch clinched the title easily, beating Kournikova in her own game.

"It's kinda funny. I'm a softball player öö it's not about looks, but getting the job done. Anything to help the sport," Finch said. "My parents called me and asked, ÎDo you know what's going on?' I've gotten a few random calls. People around me get into it more than I do."

The phone call came sometime last week, when Finch said people from ESPN called her parents, and not her, to inform her that she had beaten athletes like WNBA star Sue Bird and tennis sensation Serena Williams as the Hottest Female Athlete.

After Finch clinched 32 percent of the more than 460,000 votes cast by ESPN.COM readers, the real test prevailed.

Could Finch measure up to Kournikova?

UA head coach Mike Candrea thought so, and so did the voters as Finch jumped to a commanding lead over Kournikova, grabbing 61.5 percent of the nearly 200,000 votes so far. That total dwarfed the Russian tennis player's tally of 38.4 percent.

"Jennie is a much better athlete and she'll be very productive," Candrea said. "She's very grounded and it's huge for her. I know Jennie well enough that she'll be successful in whatever she does."

While Finch is known for her astonishing career, leading UA to an NCAA championship title with a flawless 32-0 record and setting an NCAA record with 60 consecutive wins, will her newly found status interfere with her softball reputation?

"I think it's great and Jennie is a great spokesperson for Arizona softball and softball in general," Candrea said. "People look up to her, idolize her and need (a) role model. It's a great opportunity and we talked about it. It's good for the game and for Arizona."

Although Candrea never made it to the computer to cast a vote for his former pitcher, he assures that Finch has his support.

"I haven't voted, but I would vote for her. My wife voted for Jennie." Candrea said.

Finch voters will be seeing a lot more of the southern California native because ESPN's poll isn't the only contest she's won.

Starting in May, Finch will host "This Week in Baseball," a sports show that will be aired on the Fox network every Saturday before the game of the week.

Finch will also broadcast softball games and the Women's College World Series in May, an event she's well familiar with.

Fans that are inspired by Finch will have the opportunity to be one step closer to the UA star ÷ or at least dress like her.

Finch signed a contract with Mizuno USA, Inc., that will launch a line of batting gloves, bats, gloves, cleats and some apparel.

With all of her new business ventures and continued role with the UA team, Finch has definitely managed to stay busy.

But she's not too busy to say "I do."

While Kournikova may currently be single, Finch is engaged to Casey Daigle, a pitcher for the El Paso Diablos, a minor league baseball team in the Arizona Diamondbacks system.

How does Daigle feel about his fiancee's newly found status?

"He laughs about it and the guys give him a hard time at the field," Finch said. "But he thinks it's good for softball."

While ESPN reported Finch's online performance as an upset, Finch remains modest and, like Kournikova, admits to being recognized when she's out in public.

"You can't buy into it, but yeah, for the most part (I'm recognized when I go out)," Finch said. "I have no control over it. Anna did a lot for tennis and this will reflect on softball."

While Finch's softball achievements far surpass her being named as the best looking female athlete, she just hopes she remains true to the sport that made her famous.

"Anna's been ragged on that it's all about looks, but she's done a lot for herself," Finch said. "Hopefully, I'll have athletic credibility behind my name and it will help for softball."