MELBOURNE, Fla. — Melbourne High School features one of the nation’s top softball pitchers. Jazzy Francik has been leading the way inside the circle for the Bulldogs ever since she was a freshman. It’s a sport she has been playing since she was 7 years old.

“Well, my parents put me in a few different sports growing up and I fell in love with softball and I fell in love with pitching,” said Francik.

When she puts her foot on the rubber, the world goes quiet.

“I hear nothing. It’s silence. It kind of brings peace and calm,” she said.

Ever since she has been a Bulldog, she has collected more than 1,200 strikeouts in the four years she has been on the varsity team. She uses a variety of pitches to get those outs.

“Curve, screw, rise, drop, change, fastball,” said Francik. “Striking out the side or striking out a batter, I know I gave my all to the team and I know they have my back. So it’s really exhilarating.”

Senior catcher Alisha Thompson has been her catcher for all four years at Melbourne High School. The chemistry between them allows the coaching staff to trust them during the game.

“Actually, Jazzy calls the game,” said Thompson. “We kind of have what we like to call telepathy, so I kind of read her mind and I give her a little signal what I think it (pitch) is. She goes yes or no, that’s kind of how we play the game.”

After this year, Francik will be moving to Tallahassee to continue her career at Florida State University. It was an easy choice where she wanted to go.

“As soon as I stepped on campus the first time, I fell in love with it. And I fell in love with the coaching staff,” said Francik.

Her talent has also been recognized on the international stage as a member of Great Britain’s under-22 national team. Her mom is from England, which allows her to be a part of the Great Britain team.

“I have duel nationalities and I have a passport and citizenship with the UK, so I saw I had the opportunity to play for them,” she said.

She is hoping to represent Great Britain in the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles.

“That is something … from the time I was a little kid, I was always like, if I have the chance to play in the Olympics, I want to,” said Francik.

But her immediate goal is winning a state championship at Melbourne High School — something the team did two years ago when she was a sophomore. The six seniors on this year’s team know it will take a total team effort to win it all.

“Our camaraderie is super strong and everything is like gel. We all have each other’s backs,” she said.

The sport has given Francik opportunities and lessons that will last a lifetime. 

“I’m so happy for her. I’m so proud of what she has accomplished,” said Thompson.

“Playing softball gives a different perspective to the world,” said Francik. “I can do whatever I want with it, a way outside of reality to have fun and compete.”

The 2024 state championships will be held in Clermont on May 20 through May 25.