Raiders Clinch Second-Straight Conference Championship
NICEVILLE, Fla. — For the second consecutive year, Andy Lee and Northwest Florida State Softball have secured the Panhandle Conference Championship after sweeping Chipola in a midweek doubleheader.
This marks the eighth Panhandle title for the Raiders in program history, second for Coach Lee during his tenure. The Raiders achieved this after featuring a 48-3 overall record and 15-1 conference record—tied for the most conference wins in program history.
Speaking of history, Cailyn Heyl picked up her 28th win of the year, making her a perfect 28-0 and tying her with Julia Petty (2023) with the most single-season wins by a pitcher in program history. Also, with their 183 stolen bases this season, the Raiders are just one stolen base shy of tying the team's single-season record for swiped bags in a year (184).
Now that the Raiders have secured another conference championship, the team can rest knowing they have an automatic spot in next month's state tournament. However, sitting as the No. 2 team in the nation, the Raiders would like to keep their momentum going in hopes of securing the first overall seed in that tournament. With four games left in the season, this is a realistic possibility if they could win.
GAME ONE
Northwest Florida State secured a thrilling victory in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader with a dramatic 5-4 walk-off triumph over the Chipola. McKayla Ferguson delivered the game-winning blow with a solo home run to left field after Autumn Vessier tied the game up with a leadoff home run.
The Indians got their offense going in the top of the second inning after a Northwest Florida State error, followed by Kayla Franklin's RBI single, each scoring a run. Responding swiftly, Britt Bourgoyne's solo homer to right field in the bottom of the inning leveled the score.
In the third inning, EmmaLee Essary's two-run homer to center field gave Chipola the lead. However, Northwest Florida answered back, narrowing the gap to 4-3 with Sophia Jones's solo home run and Sister Arnold's RBI groundout.
The climactic moment came in the bottom of the seventh, as Autumn Vessier and Ferguson each launched homers, propelling Northwest Florida State to victory.
Raiders' pitcher Cailyn Heyl earned her 28th win of the season, pitching a complete game with three strikeouts over seven innings. This win ties her with Julia Petty (2023) for the most wins by a pitcher in program history.
Contributing to Northwest Florida's offense were Gyvan Hammons, Jones, Vessier, Ferguson, Arnold, and Bourgoyne, each collecting hits and driving in runs. Essary led Chipola College Lady Indians with two RBIs, while Brown led in hits with a 2-for-2 performance.
GAME TWO
Northwest Florida State showcased their offensive prowess in game two, powering past the Chipola 10-2. The Raiders erupted for six runs in the second inning, setting the tone for the game.
McKayla Ferguson kicked off the scoring with a sacrifice fly, followed by RBI singles from Kamryn Carver and Gyvan Hammons. Ashlyn Shirah's double brought in two more runs, while Sister Arnold's single added another to the scoreboard.
Pitcher Breana Barnes delivered a solid performance, earning the win for Northwest Florida with five hits and two runs allowed over five and two-thirds innings, tallying three strikeouts with no walks. Hannah Worthington started for Chipola College Lady Indians, surrendering five hits and six runs over one and two-thirds innings, with Tori Taylor relieving later in the game.
The Raiders' offense was firing on all cylinders, amassing 12 hits during the game. Shirah, Carver, Autumn Vessier, Arnold, and Britt Bourgoyne each collected two hits, with Shirah, Vessier, and Arnold driving in two runs apiece. Carver showcased her speed with two stolen bases, contributing to the team's total of four stolen bases. The Raiders are now one stolen base shy of the programs' all-time stolen bases record of 184 which was set in 2021.
Chipola found some success with Amari Brown and Heaven Bibbs driving in runs, while Diana Arcay led the team with three hits. Despite their efforts, Chipola College Lady Indians remained error-free in the field, with Kayla Franklin making the most plays with four chances.
UP NEXT
Next week, the Raiders will resume play with an exciting lineup of games. They'll kick off with a single game against Tallahassee on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. Then, they'll travel to Gulf Coast on Thursday for another single game at 6:00 p.m. Afterward, they'll return home on Saturday for their final regular season matchup in Niceville, facing off against Pensacola.