WATCH: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Sherri France Was Among Best Softball Players In America
By Space Coast Daily // November 26, 2023
SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME
SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Sherri “Lynnie” France was one of the best women’s softball hitters in the world – featuring legendary 400-foot tape-measure shots. 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. (Video produced in 2012)
SHERRI FRANCE – 2012 INDUCTEE
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Sherri “Lynnie” France was 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 dominant amateur softball player for decades, she was also honored with induction into the USSSA National Softball Hall of Fame.
France was 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.
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