France Among America’s Dominant Softball Players
By Jeff Navin // April 28, 2012
SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME
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SHERRI FRANCE – 2012 INDUCTEE
• USSSA National Softball Hall of Fame
• ASA of America Team of the Decade
• Multiple All-World Series Team Honoree
USSSA HALL OF FAMER
Sherri “Lynnie” France is one of the best women’s softball hitters in the world – featuring legendary 400-foot tape measure shots. She can hit to all fields and is also a slick-fielding outfielder.
A dominate amateur softball player for the last 23 years, she was honored last fall with induction into the USSSA National Softball Hall of Fame.
France is a senior recreation supervisor for the city of Melbourne, Florida, at the Grant Street Community Center.
A 1980 graduate of Melbourne High School, she played softball and basketball for the Bulldogs, and also played college basketball at Valdosta State and Florida Tech. During her high school career, France led Mel High to the Class 3A state title in basketball during her senior year with the Bulldogs under coach Cassie Macias.
After graduating from Melbourne High School, France earned a basketball scholarship at Valdosta State. She also starred for the Florida Tech Panthers, averaging 28.5 points a game to lead all Division II players during the 1993-1994 season, and averaged 14.7 rebounds a game – good enough for fourth in the nation.
ASA ALL-TIME TEAM
The former standout prep and college basketball and softball player has since earned numerous amateur softball World Series championships with UPI TPS in 1995, UPI Kinder in 1998, ABP Kinder Sharks in 2000, Armstrong Ceiling Lady Rebels in 2003, Long Haul Enough Said Easton Tanel in 2006 and the Kinder Sharks in 2009.
In 2009, France was named to the All-World Series team in 1998 and in 2009. She was the World Series MVP in 1995 and 2000.
In Black Softball Circuit action, France has hit eye-popping 400-foot home runs and was a member of a team that won Black Softball Circuit World titles in three consecutive years from 2001 to 2003.
France has been named to the Post-1990s Amateur Softball Association of America Team of the Decade and received honorable mention status for the ASA Women’s All-Time Team.
THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 11 with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. – and dinner and ceremony at 7 p.m.
FOR INFORMATION & TICKETS to the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction dinner call 321-615-8111 or e-mail MaverickMultimedia@gmail.com
