The Galveston College Whitecaps Softball team has a clear goal this season: repeat as the Region 14 South Conference and Region 14 champions, and earn another trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament.
The Whitecaps will begin the season on Friday as the No. 6-ranked team in the nation, according to the NJCAA preseason poll released on Jan. 21. GC finished last season with a 46-15 record and a fifth-place finish at the 2024 NJCAA Softball National Tournament at Oxford, Alabama.
GC will open the season at home against Howard College on Friday at 1 and 3:30 p.m. at the Lassie League Complex, located at 2506 83rd St. in Galveston. Games are free and open to the public. The Whitecaps will conclude their four-game weekend opener against HC on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
“We feel that this year’s team is prepared to step on the field and be very competitive,” said GC Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach, Kelly Raines. “After a tough fall schedule where we played highly competitive select teams as well as NCAA Division I, II and III programs, the team is prepared for what will be a tough non-conference and conference schedule. The goal again is to win both the conference and regional championships while earning a trip to the 2025 NJCAA National Tournament in Yuma, Arizona.”
Coach Raines, who was named the 2024 Mid-South A District Coach of the Year, returns for her fourth season at the helm of the Whitecaps. She has continued her winning ways at GC after having previously built a highly successful softball program at Howard College. Assisting Raines is Whitecaps Assistant Coach, Rome McNary, who returns for his third season.
The Whitecaps will return nine sophomores from last year’s regional championship team. GC’s squad will be bolstered by three sophomores who transferred to the college this year and 13 freshmen entering the program this season. The Whitecaps roster will consist of players from California, Oklahoma, Canada and Texas.
“We believe that we have recruited student-athletes that will take care of business in the classroom and will play the game the right way,” said Raines. “We have a great group of sophomores that have shown all the leadership qualities necessary to lead our freshman in the right direction. They have led by example with their work ethic in the classroom and on the field. We believe this group of players can be a very special team and we’re looking forward to working with these ladies this season, and hope to continue our success from the previous seasons.”
The 2024-2025 Whitecaps Softball team competed in 11 fall doubleheader scrimmages and will compete in 52 games during the 2025 season. The 2025 Region 14 Regional Tournament will be held at Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City, Louisiana from May 3-6. This season’s NJCAA Softball National Tournament will be held in Yuma, Arizona from May 19-24.
For more information about the Galveston College Whitecaps softball program, rosters and season schedule, visit https://www.gcwhitecaps.com/landing/index.
ABOUT GALVESTON COLLEGE
Galveston College was founded in 1967 and is a comprehensive community college providing the residents of Galveston Island and the surrounding region with academic, workforce development, continuing education and community service programs.