Spurred by solid pitching, a stingy defense, explosive bats, a six-game winning streak and a 21-3 overall record, Galveston College was ranked among the Top 10 teams in the nation in the current National Junior College Athletic Association Division I softball rankings.
The Whitecaps have won 14 of their last 16 games, and 21 of their first 24 games of the season, scored 293 runs for an average of 12 runs per game, hit 71 home runs and have a .413 team batting average.
“I’m proud of how the team has come together this year and the way we’ve been playing, they deserve this ranking,” said Galveston College Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach, Kelly Raines. “We finished last year ranked in the Top 20 and although we graduated some key players, we’ve built on where we left off last season. Our returning players and freshmen have gelled and are playing some great ball, offensively and defensively.”
In GC’s most recent series, the Whitecaps swept Western Texas College, 13-1 and 16-1, on March 4. Both games ended after five innings.
Whitecaps right-handed freshman hurler Jenna Johnston pitched three innings of no-hit, shut-out ball in the first game of the doubleheader against WTC and struck out five batters en route to her eleventh victory to improve her record to 11-1.
GC jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the first inning and added five more in the third to take a commanding 11-0 advantage they never relinquished.
The Whitecaps cranked four homers, including a grand slam by first baseman Tallulah Civoniceva. GC left fielder Jessica Munro, shortstop Ella Herrewig and center fielder Hannah Griffith also hit home runs in the opening game.
In the nightcap, the floodgates opened early for the Whitecaps, who unloaded for nine unanswered runs in the opening inning for a 9-0 lead. That was all GC sophomore righthander Karlie Barba needed to shut down the Lady Westerners.
Barba pitched three innings, allowed one run on four hits and struck out one to get the win and improve her mark to 8-2 on the year.
Offensively, Munro and Herrewig each went 2-for-3 and combined to score five runs and drive home another seven. Barba also went 2-for-3 to help her own cause, scored three more runs and brought in another three.
Prior to the WTC game, GC swept Odessa College at home, 8-0 and 12-3, on March 2 and defeated Navarro College on the road, 11-5 and 16-8, on March 1.
The Whitecaps are competing in the Crossover Tournament this weekend in Mesquite, Texas, and will spend spring break on the road at San Jacinto College-South on March 13 and visit Lamar State College-Port Arthur on March 16. GC returns home on March 20 for a doubleheader at 1 and 3:30 p.m. against Coastal Bend College at the Lassie League Complex, located at 2506 83rd St. in Galveston. Games are free and open to the public.
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.