Softball to Play in NFCA NJCAA Leadoff Classic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A pair of NJCAA national champions head the field for the 2025 edition of the NFCA NJCAA Leadoff Classic that will take place Feb. 21-23 at the South Commons Complex in Columbus, Ga.

NJCAA Division I champion Indian River State College and first-time NJCAA Division III champion Patrick & Henry Community College headline an 18-team field that includes a total of seven programs that vied for a 2024 national championship across the three NJCAA divisions.

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IRSC, which took home its second national title, is coming off a season in which it won 57 contests, its highest total in two decades and returns 2024 TUCCI/NFCA NJCAA DII Pitcher of the Year J'dah Girigorie.

Patrick & Henry knocked off defending champion North Dakota State College of Science, who is also in this year's Leadoff field, to earn its first-ever championship for any P&HCC athletics program. These two teams will square off twice on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Along with Indian River, Patrick & Henry and NDSCS, Des Moines Area Community College (DII), Johnson County Community College (DII), Jones College (DII) and Walters State Community College (DI) earned national championship berths.

Additionally, two teams – IRCC and NDSCS (55-11) – posted 50-plus victories last season, while six  - DMACC (47-11), Gulf Coast State College (40-15), JCCC (46-12), Jones (41-15), Pearl River Community College (42-12) and Walters State (46-11) - reached the 40-win mark, and four more – Danville Area Community College (34-15) P&HCC (34-25), Seminole State College of Florida (32-27) and Southeastern Illinois College (31-28) – chalked up 30-plus wins.

All teams will play five games over the three days.

2025 participating teams: Chipola College, Danville Area CC, Des Moines Area CC, Gulf Coast State College, Illinois Central College, Indian River State College, Johnson County CC, Jones College, Monroe University, North Dakota State College of Science, Patrick & Henry CC, Pearl River CC, Pellissippi State College, Roane State CC, Seminole State College of Florida, Southeastern Illinois College, Tallahassee State College, Walters State CC

The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Leadoff Classic tournaments, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to awards, to in-person and virtual events, and a National Convention.

Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining over 7,000 coaches today!

(story from 2025 NFCA NJCAA Leadoff Classic https://nfca.org/divnews/njcaa1/njcaa-leadoff-classic-schedule-release-2025)