Cardinal Softball Geared For Big Year

Mike McGraw
Hoosier Authority

There is more than a little reason for optimism within the Southport softball community this spring. The Cardinals are coming off a 13-8 season a year ago, and return plenty of the same ammunition. Coach Melissa Franzosi, who is entering her fourth year at the helm, is approaching this season as a culmination of the progress the Cardinals have made the past three years.

Much of softball is pitching. The Cardinals are well stocked in that department. They return their number one starter from a year ago in senior Miranda Hollenbach. The right hander will be joined on the staff by sophomores Nikki Thomas and Amy Dreibelbis. To make matters even better, Southport returns a senior catcher to handle the stable of talented pitchers. She is Amy Hommema and handling a pitching staff is not her only talent. Hommema and Hollenbach were also the leading hitters for the Cardinals a year ago.

Offense will also be supplied by returning position players Brittany Tyler and Renae Thomas. Tyler was the leading RBI producer last season and Thomas returns as the leadoff hitter.

Obviously experience is one of the factors Franzosi points to in explaining her optimism going into the campaign. She also cites very strong team chemistry as perhaps the key to this group’s success. She also believes a strong freshman class will provide some additional talent for the Cardinals.

Southport finished second in Conference Indiana last year behind perennial power Franklin Central. It is a position they hope to reverse this time around. The showdown date is April 22^nd on the Cardinals’ home diamond. Sectional play will bring another challenge as Center Grove will await. Last season the Trojans ended Southport’s season with a one run victory in the sectional semi-finals.