Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
The impact that Frann Zverina ’74 left on the Heidelberg University softball program was immediate and immense.
Inducted into the Heidelberg Athletic Hall of Fame as a contributor, Zverina was the lead donor for the softball field project which now bears her name. Since Frann’s Field opened in 2015, the Heidelberg softball team has won an OAC regular season and two tournament titles, and participated in the conference tournament each year.
From its first game to the present, “Frann’s Magic” has lifted the Student Princes to numerous thrilling walk-off wins and come-from-behind victories. In the first four years playing at their new home, Heidelberg Softball has compiled an impressive 46-15 record (.754). Of their 46 wins, 14 have come in their final at-bat and 10 have come via the mercy rule.
Less than a month after it was officially dedicated, Frann’s Field hosted the OAC Tournament and the NCAA Super Regionals.
More than just a silent donor, Frann has been a visible presence for the better part of the last decade. A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Frann was sure to attend every game The Berg played near her home, including the contests at John Carroll University. In tune with the demeanors of the players on the team, Frann cared about each person on the roster and was a vocal supporter. Through her generosity and through her actions, she was a shining example of what all Heidelberg alumni should aspire to be.
Her lead gift for the softball field enabled the team to move back on campus after a brief stint playing on a field in Tiffin’s Hedges-Boyer Park -- giving the squad a much needed morale boost. A fourth-generation Heidelberg graduate, Frann participated in volleyball, basketball, softball and tennis during her time on campus.
Sadly, Frann passed away on Friday, October 19, 2018 -- exactly one week before she was to be enshrined in the Heidelberg Athletic Hall of Fame. While she battled cancer, her fervent support of Heidelberg University and its softball team never wavered. Showing off her characteristically fiery personality, Frann attended Senior Day near the end of the 2018 softball season. She surprised the soon-to-be graduates -- the first class to play all four of their years at Frann’s Field -- with a ring and a jersey.
Unbeknownst to her, the program had also purchased a jersey for her. On the back, above the number 0, the jersey read “Frann’s Magic” -- a fitting description of her transformational contribution to her alma mater.
