Panther softball should have plenty of talent next spring.
After an excellent 2025 including a Mountain Seven title for Franklin, the conference’s coaches met for their annual postseason meeting. There they recognized the team’s entire starting lineup, including seven All-Conference selections and two Honorable Mentions. Four of these players are listed in alphabetical order below, to be continued in next week’s edition.
Suzanna Cabe
The conference’s Pitcher of the Year and an All-State selection by the N.C. Softball Coaches Association, Suzanna Cabe turned in one of Franklin’s greatest-ever freshman seasons.
After leading Macon Middle School to a conference title in 2024, Cabe joined the varsity team as its readymade top-of-the-rotation workhorse, breaking Franklin’s single-season record with a conference-leading 181 strikeouts. She also led the conference in innings pitched (134 of Franklin’s 144 and two-thirds) and wins (16, to just six losses), and finished third in earned runs average (2.09), allowing just 112 hits and 64 runs.
At the plate Franklin’s leadoff hitter was also one of the Mountain Seven’s best, finishing second conference-wide in runs scored (34) and third in hits (35), including eight doubles, three home runs (which tied for eighth) and a grand slam. She also finished fifth conference-wide in RBIs (25) and sixth in stolen bases (15). Among Panther starters she finished third in batting average (.412).
“Suzanna’s cut out of that same mold as a lot of these past players we’ve had,” said head coach Bobby Bishop of the freshman, who has already gained notice from national-level recruiting services. “She plays all the time and works at it all the time, and … she said, ‘I’ll pitch as much as you need me to pitch.’ If she wasn’t pitching for us, she could play the infield, the outfield – I mean, just a super athlete. She’s fast, she hits for average, hits for some power, and she’s just going to get a little bit stronger every year.”
Jozy Dehart
Franklin’s only senior and a NCSCA All-District selection, Jozy Dehart brought her career to a fitting end.
Hitting in the heart of the Panther order, she finished third on the team and seventh conference-wide in RBIs (21), often laying down key sacrifice bunts to move her teammates over. Among Panther starters she finished sixth in average (.268), seventh in runs scored (13) and fifth in hits (19) including four doubles. She also tied for fourth team-wide with two stolen bases.
Often playing with the sun in her eyes at second base, she regularly tracked down difficult-to-follow fly balls, posting 28 put outs, 16 assists and a double play in 56 total chances.
“Jozy had a really good senior year,” said Bishop. “She had played a little bit even back as a freshman in the outfield for us … and of course played on the JVs there for two years and played some last year, but this year I knew I had to really lean on her. She did a really good job at second but really, really came along with her bat this year, as far as getting a lot of big hits in big-time situations – just a super, super kid.”
Layla Maloy
Joining Cabe as Franklin’s two underclassmen earning All-Conference First Team honors, Layla Maloy should be a force for years to come.
Franklin’s everyday third baseman and emergency third-string pitcher, the sophomore was one of the Panthers’ most sure-gloved fielders, finishing fifth among the team’s starters in fielding percentage (.884). In 43 total chances she posted 17 put outs and 21 assists. In one inning on the mound the recorded two strikeouts and allowed zero hits.
At the plate Maloy batted in the heart of the Panther lineup, finishing seventh in RBIs (11), runs scored (13) and hits (15), including four doubles and one home run. She also ranked seventh in average (.268) among Panther starters. When not putting the ball in play she also excelled at earning “free passes,” finishing second on the team in walks (12) and stolen bases (5).
“Layla came a long way from having to start as a freshman last year, and now as a sophomore [she] played really good at third base,” said Bishop. “I think she hit probably the first home run she’s ever hit this year, because kids – it doesn’t take much – but every year you can just tell they get a little bit bigger and a little stronger. She got us some big hits, didn’t care if I asked her to bunt when we needed to bunt, and has pretty good wheels running.”
Meliah Mason
A junior earning NCSCA All-District honors, Meliah Mason was one of the team’s most important players this year.
A power hitter at the plate, she finished second on the team and fifth conference-wide with four home runs, including her go-ahead two-run shot in the seventh inning at West Henderson to clinch the conference title April 29. She finished fourth on the team in runs scored (15), sixth in RBIs (13) and fifth in hits (19), which also included five doubles. Among Panther starters she finished fourth in slugging percentage (.537) and fifth in average (.284).
As Franklin’s everyday first baseman she was also one of the team’s surest gloves, finishing third among starters in fielding percentage (.937). In 63 total chances she posted 58 put outs, one assist and two double plays.
“Meliah played on the JVs the last two years, and I really wasn’t sure where I was going to play her,” said Bishop. “We played her in the outfield a little bit … and she had caught some for the JVs and back when she played Little League and stuff, but she told me, ‘Coach, I’ll play anywhere you need me to play as long as I’m in the lineup.’ But what really impressed me more about Meliah was how well her bat [progressed] as the season went on. She was a little bit slow at first with her bat, but as the season went on I think she just got more confident and worked at it harder, and of course got some huge hits – especially the one at West Henderson that won the game. … I think next year she’ll have a great senior year and will help us a whole, whole lot.”