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Dancing with the Stars Smirnoff finds Major League fiance, Penny

By April MacIntyre Nov 7, 2010, 22:21 GMT

10/29/2010 - Karina Smirnoff - 2010 Rising Stars Gala - Arrivals - Beverly Hilton Hotel - Beverly Hills, CA, USA © Tommaso Boddi / PR Photos

One of the most athletic and popular dancers of "Dancing with the Stars," Karina Smirnoff, is engaged to baseballer Brad Penny of Oklahoma.

This season, Karina was paired with MTV "Jersey Shore" star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, and the two were recently eliminated from the competition.

The Ukrainian export has been engaged to St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Penny since Oct. 4, according to People.

"We kept it quiet because my family is in New York and Brad's family is in Oklahoma so we kind of wanted them to come out and celebrate and be a family first before we let the cat out of the bag," she told People.

Smirnoff, 32, was given a 4.5 carat Asscher Cut diamond engagement ring by Penny.

"I'm marrying a Southern Gentleman," she said.

The couple began dating in October 2009, when Smirnoff and fellow Dancing With The Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy, also from the Ukraine, ended their nine month relationship.

According to People, Smirnoff and Penny were introduced by a mutual friend, UFC fighter Chuck Liddell.