Jazzy Francik powers FSU softball into NCAA tournament

Jazzy Francik’sevolution from a talentedFlorida Statefreshman into one of the ACC’s most dominant pitchers has been defined as much by mental clarity as physical command.

Whenever the sophomore steps into the circle, the noise disappears.

“When I’m on the field, I don’t hear the fans, and I don’t hear the other team,” Francik said. “Everything goes quiet. The internal self-talk is just a reminder — I can throw this pitch for a strike. It doesn’t matter if it’s 0-1, 0-2 or 3-2. It’s me believing I’m going to give my best pitch.”

That mindset has translated into one of the most efficient and productive pitching seasons in the conference.

After bursting onto the scene as one of the nation’s top freshmen, Francik showed flashes of dominance but struggled under postseason pressure. One year later, the difference is measurable. Entering the postseason, Francik is 23-1 as a starter — the most wins in the ACC — with a 1.72 ERA and 114 strikeouts, ranking among the league’s top two in both categories. She also threw six no-hitters this season

Her improved command has been the key variable. Francik has reduced high-leverage mistakes and forced opponents into weaker contact, allowingFlorida Stateto control tempo early in games. The result: fewer extended innings, greater pitch efficiency and more consistent defensive support behind her.

The numbers and consistency earnedFrancik ACC Pitcher of the Yearhonors and helped power Florida State to its20th conference championship— a benchmark that reflects both individual growth and systemic strength.

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Jazzy Francik's growth complements Lonni Alameda's development

Head coachLonni Alameda,who has built a reputation for developing elite pitchers over her 18-year tenure, sees Francik’s growth rooted in process.

“I think Jazzy has been really good at going process to process,” Alameda said.

That mentality — focusing pitch-to-pitch rather than inning-to-inning — has become the foundation of Francik’s maturity.

Her development has also been shaped by the staff around her. TeammateAshtyn Danley, who navigated similar freshman growing pains, has provided both perspective and stability. The pairing has emerged as one of the ACC’s most reliable one-two punches, giving Florida State flexibility in both series play and postseason matchups.

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With the addition of freshmanBella Dimitrijevic,the Seminoles’ pitching depth has become a defining strength. The trio blends experience, adaptability and contrasting styles, allowing Alameda to tailor matchups based on opponent tendencies — a critical edge in tournament play.

Florida State’s current form reflects that complete pitching structure. The Seminoles have surged late in the season, climbingin the Top 10 in the RPI,positioning themselves to potentially host both a regional and super regional. In a postseason format that often hinges on pitching depth and turnaround, FSU’s staff gives it a measurable advantage over similarly ranked teams.

At the center of that advantage is Francik, whose sophomore leap has turned potential into production.

She has yet to pitch on the sport’s biggest stage — the Women’s College World Series — but her trajectory suggests that barrier may not hold for long. With sharpened command, a fortified mindset and a deep staff behind her, Francik is no longer just a breakout talent. She is the stabilizing force of a team built to contend.

And if her season-long progression is any indication, the silence she creates in the circle may carry Florida State all the way to Oklahoma City.

More:Jazzy Francik's pitching lifts FSU softball past VA Tech for ACC title

Holland's prediction: FSU takes 6 seed after two convincing ACC tournament wins

FSU's back-to-back wins overStanfordandVirginia Techin the ACC championship should provide enough of a boost to move it into the top eight. The sixth seed appears reasonable based on its previous No. 9 position in the RPI.

FSU could climb even higher depending on results elsewhere. Losses by Texas Tech and Nebraska in their respective conference title games could help the Seminoles move up.

Throughout the season, Florida State has proven it can compete with and defeat higher-ranked teams, winning in multiple ways through offense, pitching and defense while relying heavily on nine freshmen. The Seminoles have earned the right to host, and the conference title should be enough to push them into the top-six range.

More:FSU softball vs Virginia Tech recap: Seminoles take ACC crown

How to watch the 2026 NCAA softball tournament selection show

• When: Sunday, May 10 / 7 p.m.

• Watch: ESPN2

More:Ashtyn Danley thrives as two-way star in FSU softball surge

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don't hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat:Jazzy Francik leads FSU softball to NCAA tournament

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May 13, 2026

Jazzy Francik powers FSU softball into NCAA tournament

Jazzy Francik’sevolution from a talentedFlorida Statefreshman into one of the ACC’s most dominant pitchers has been defined as much by ...

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Louisiana advances plan to eliminate majority-Black US House district after court ruling

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Republican senators in Louisiana advanced a plan Wednesday to eliminate one of two majority-Black, Democratic-held congressional seats followinga U.S. Supreme Court rulingthat struck down the state's U.S. House map as an illegal racial gerrymander.

The early morning Senate committee vote came after hours of impassioned testimony from Black residents and Democrats opposed to the move. Republicans opted not to pursue a more aggressive approach, which could have targeted both Democratic seats for elimination.

The Supreme Court's recent ruling weakening federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities has prompted Republicans in several Southern states to try to eliminate House districts with large minority populations that have elected Democrats.TennesseeandAlabamaalready have acted to implement different House maps that could help Republicans win an additional seat. A similar effort fizzled Tuesday in theSouth CarolinaSenate.

The redistricting efforts to undo minority districts are the latest variation in a 10-month-long national redistricting battle that already has involved about one-third of the states. It gained steam when President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans last year to redraw House districts in an attempt to win more seats in the midterm elections. Democrats in California responded with their own new districts. Numerous Republican states have redistricted since then.

Republicans think they could gain as many as 15 seats so far from new House maps in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama. Democrats, meanwhile, think they could gain six seats from new maps in California and Utah. TheVirginia Supreme Courtlast week struck down a redistricting effort that could have yielded four more winnable seats for Democrats.

Louisiana map resembles 2022 districts

The Louisiana Senate could vote Thursday on the new House map advanced by a committee tasked with redistricting.

The plan keeps a New Orleans-based, majority-Black district represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Troy Carter. But it significantly reshapes the 6th District, represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, which currently snakes northwest from Baton Rouge to Shreveport to create a second majority-Black district.

State Sen. Jay Morris, a Republican who sponsored the revised map, said the new districts are very similar to those used in 2022 that resulted in five Republicans and one Democrat winning election.

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A federal judgestruck down the 2022 mapfor violating the Voting Rights Act. Then in 2023,the U.S. Supreme Court ruledthat Alabama had to create its own second largely Black congressional district.

In light of the Alabama ruling, the Louisiana Legislaturepassed a revised map, creating a second majority-Black district that was used in the 2024 elections. That map also was challenged, leading to last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Louisiana's districts had relied too heavily on race. The Supreme Court followed that with a decision also overturning a judicial order mandating that Alabama use a House map with two largely Black congressional districts.

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry haspostponed Louisiana's U.S. House primaries, scheduled for Saturday, to allow time for new districts to be put in place.

Democrats wanted to preserve 2 districts

During committee testimony, many Democrats and Black residents suggested that Louisiana could revise its districts in response to the high court ruling in a way that could preserve two Democratic-leaning seats that give Black voters an opportunity to elect the candidates of their choice. They argued that it was a matter of fairness.

As the hearing stretched into Tuesday night, Josiah Hardy, a high school sophomore, told lawmakers his great-grandfather fought for civil rights and equal representation in Louisiana when Black voters were disenfranchised.

“Why are we still fighting the same fight decades later?” Hardy questioned. “My great-grandfather believed democracy is stronger when more people are included, not excluded. Further generations should not have to keep fighting the same battles for fairness and voting rights that leaders before us have already fought.”

Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri.

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May 13, 2026

Louisiana advances plan to eliminate majority-Black US House district after court ruling

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Republican senators in Louisiana advanced a plan Wednesday to eliminate one of two majority-Black, Democratic-h...

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What prediction markets say about AOC's possible presidential run

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is one of the main namesbeing thrown around for a possible Democratic nominee in the next presidential race.

And in an interview this past weekend, she said her ambition was to "change this country" — only strengthening the speculation for a White House bid.

Here's what the congresswoman said, and what prediction markets are currently thinking about who could be the next Democratic nominee in the 2028 election.

Kalshi, Polymarket odds on Democratic nominee

While no major candidate has officially announced a 2028 bid, people are already placing odds on big names, Ocasio-Cortez included.

Kalshi and Polymarket are prediction-market platforms that allow users to buy shares predicting real-life events, and the odds (and price) change as traders bet.

On Polymarket, the likelihood of AOC being the Democratic presidential nominee was 8.6%, according toPolymarket odds, per live bets as of Wednesday, May 13. The market on AOC had a trading volume of over $12.8 million.

In total, the prediction market had a trading volume of over $1.1 billion. Gov. Gavin Newsom remained the frontrunner amongst market players at 24%.

Polymarket odds place former Vice PresidentKamala Harrisat 9%.

On Kalshi, Newsom still leads the pack with 25% predicting his nomination. But AOC comes second in odds, at 10%. Harris follows closely behind at 9.8%, according toKalshi prediction odds. In total, the prediction market had a trading volume of $105 million.

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Odds can fluctuate quickly as users trade in or out of the market.

What AOC has said about running for president

The progressive joined Democratic strategist David Axelrod for an interviewthis past week, who asked her flat-out if she was considering a presidential or Senate run. In response, she said her "ambition is to change this country."

"They assume that my ambition is a title or a seat," Ocasio-Cortez said. "And my ambition is way bigger than that. My ambition is to change this country."

The crowd erupted in cheers after her response.

"Presidents come and go. Senate, House seats, elected officials come and go," she said. "But single-payer healthcare is forever, a living wage is forever, workers' rights are forever, women's rights, all of that."

This is not the first time she has had to answer about her own political ambitions. In February, AOC was asked a similar question during a panel, the interviewer saying: “So, when you run for president, are you going to impose a wealth tax or a billionaire’s tax?”

Instead of answering flat-out, the congresswoman said that Americans “don’t have to wait for any one president to impose a wealth tax.”

“I think that it needs to be done expeditiously."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What prediction markets say about AOC's possible presidential run

byNeo

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May 13, 2026

What prediction markets say about AOC's possible presidential run

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is one of the main namesbeing thrown around for a possible Democratic nominee in the next presidential ra...

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FC Barcelona win El Clásico, back-to-back La Liga championships

El Clásico just became more classic.

FC Barcelona beat Real Madrid, 2-0, on Sunday, May 10 to capture back-to-back La Liga championships. It is the first time in the 100-year history of the rivalry that a club has won the league championship as a result of the rivalry match.

Marcus Rashford netted a free kick in the ninth minute and Ferran Torres added a goal nine minutes later to secure the victory at Camp Nou. The club is undefeated in league play at home.

Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal did not participate in the matchdue to a hamstring injuryhe suffered last month. He enthusiastically supported his teammates on the sideline while wearing a pink Stone Island hoodie.

Kylian Mbappé did not play for Real Madrid. He was not included in the game-day lineup and missed his club's previous game with his own hamstring injury. The French superstar is the leading scorer in La Liga with 24 goals on the season.

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Jude Bellingham attempted to give Real Madrid life in the second half with a goal, but he was ruled offsides. In another play, he made contact with Eric Garcia while trying to get the ball, fell to the grass and cut his face.

Barcelona only needed a draw to capture their 29th league title. The last time they won consecutive championships was during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. The Spanish club has captured 11 of the last 18 La Liga championships.

Barcelona won this game while wearingkits featuring Olivia Rodrigo's logoas part of the club's partnership with Spotify. The popstar sang the Barça anthem before kickoff and had a quick chat with Yamal. There was also a moment of silence for Hansi Flick's father. The club announced the passing of the manager's father hours before the match.

Barcelona Femení, the club's women's team, won Liga F earlier this week.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:FC Barcelona clinch La Liga title with El Clásico win vs. Real Madrid

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May 12, 2026

FC Barcelona win El Clásico, back-to-back La Liga championships

El Clásico just became more classic. FC Barcelona beat Real Madrid, 2-0, on Sunday, May 10 to capture back-to-back La Liga champio...

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Mourners remember 8 slain children as city reels from tragic shooting

SHREVEPORT, LA ‒ Mourners gathered to pay their respects during a mass funeral service for the eight children killed in April by a gunman in a shooting that hasunleashed a wave of griefacross the city.

According to authorities, a man killed two women and then seven of his own children, along with one of their cousins. He died following a police chase. Shreveport is in northwest Louisiana near the borders of Texas and Arkansas.

With a row of hearses parked out front of the church, mourners walked past pictures of the children: Jayla Elkins, 3, Shayla Elkins, 5, Kayla Pugh, 6, Layla Pugh, 7, Markaydon Pugh, 10, Sariahh Snow, 11, Khedarrion Snow, 6, and Braylon Snow, 5.

Inside the Summer Grove Baptist Church, mourners wearing pink, purple and blue embraced before the service, which featured a gospel choir and prayers from faith leaders. Open caskets were backed by their pictures and their favorite characters, including Lilo and Stitch with angel wings. Mourners also held a crowning ceremony, where tiaras and crowns were placed atop the bodies to signify eternal life.

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"Their presence was a gift: gentle, vibrant and full of promise," said Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux, who read their names aloud. "Their absence is now deeply felt."

Religious leaders who spoke at the service thanked God for the gift of the children's lives, and said they take heart knowing they are with him now. Authorities say Shamar Elkins launched his attack amidst a separation from his wife, and have asked community members to consider the implications of domestic violence across the city.

The community also remembered the children at amemorial service on May 8, with open caskets and floral displays topped with stuffed Disney character toys.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:8 children slain in Shreveport, Louisiana honored at funeral service

byNeo

in

May 12, 2026

Mourners remember 8 slain children as city reels from tragic shooting

SHREVEPORT, LA ‒ Mourners gathered to pay their respects during a mass funeral service for the eight children killed in April by a gunm...

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