
Melbourne softball season wrap-up: FHSAA state title, Gatorade POTY, more
MELBOURNE, Fla. — On May 28th the 2021-2022 Melbourne High School Lady Bulldog Varsity Softball Team won the FHSAA State Championship for the first time in the school’s history! The season started out 8-0 going into the Kissimmee Klassic on March 31st and the Bulldogs were riding high. The first game of the Klassic the Lady Bulldogs lost 1-0 against Hernando High School falling into the loser’s bracket.

Their last game of the tournament on April 1st against Lake Brantley went 12 innings and the Lady Bulldogs came out on top. Going into the next tournament on April 8th they faced Doral Academy. They were up 1-0 until the 8th inning when an error in the outfield allowed Doral to get a runner on base and later tied up the game giving the Lady Bulldogs their only tie of the season. Knowing the likelihood of facing Doral again down the road to avenge their only tie was good, the Bulldogs started their grind to be fit and ready for the post season. Sophomore pitcher Jazzy Francik put her head down and decided to outdo everyone in front of her. Alisha Thompson, Sophomore catcher, also made the decision to hit the gym harder and put in extra reps with Jazzy. Alisha unstoppable bat led the team in batting averages all year. Her defense plays behind the plate combined with Jazzy’s pitching made them an unrelenting duo and a force to be reckoned with. They took control of the defensive side of the game while Head Coach Dan Edel focused on the offensive side of things. And in the last 6 games played Jazzy didn’t give up any runs, which is a huge accomplishment.

On the defensive side, Shortstop Nadia English, a Junior, who along with Jazzy turned a double play in a game against Bartow on May 20th in the 9th inning to give the Lady Bulldog Varsity softball team their 2nd Regional Championship win since 2014. In addition to the mix of outstanding playing during the season, Sophomore Hailey Turner’s hitting was incredible. She was drilled by a pitch during the Bartow game, then hit 2 triples-one against Pace and the other against Doral during the State Championships. She also scored the winning run in the FHSAA State Championship Game against Doral and the team avenged their only tie of the season.
“The remarkable play along with the never say die attitude drove these underclassmen to propel the entire team to the State Championship win,” stated Head Coach Edel. “These players adopted the team motto 1 TEAM 1 GOAL.”

In a release dated June 8th from the 2022 Florida Dairy Farmers Jazzy was voted Player of the Year for 6A schools in the State and Head Coach Edel was voted the for all 6A schools in the State. They are in the running for Player and Coach of the Year for all Florida High School Divisions. We wish them and the Lady Bulldog players continued success!
On June 9th Coach Edel was notified that Jazzy has been recognized as the 2021-22 Gatorade Softball Player of the Year! Way to go Jazzy!
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