Raiders Set for Four-Game Showdown in Panama City This Weekend
NICEVILLE, Fla. — Northwest Florida State softball is gearing up for their third weekend of competition, traveling to Panama City to compete in the Visit PCB JUCO Showdown. The Raiders will take on Jones College and Chattanooga State on Friday, followed by matchups against Daytona State and Wabash Valley on Saturday.
On Deck
VISIT Panama City Beach JUCO Showdown, Panama City, FL:
Game 1: Friday, February 7 – 12:30 p.m.
#4 Northwest Florida vs. Jones College
Game 2: Friday, February 7 – 5:30 p.m.
#4 Northwest Florida vs. #15 Chattanooga State
Game 3: Saturday, February 8 – 9:00 a.m.
#4 Northwest Florida vs. Daytona State
Game 4: Saturday, February 8 – 3:30 p.m.
#4 Northwest Florida vs. Wabash Valley
Stream Games HERE
A Strong Start to the Season
The Raiders have wasted no time making their mark in 2025, boasting an 8-0 record through their first two weeks of play. They kicked off the season with a dominant three-game sweep over Louisburg College at home.
Last week, the team traveled to Youngsville, Louisiana, to participate in the Mardi Gras Invitational, where they continued their winning streak with five commanding victories: Angelina (16-5), Bossier Parish (6-0), Alvin (8-0), Lamar State Port Arthur (8-0), UA Rich Mountain (10-1)
Tough Competition Ahead
As the Raiders head to Panama City Beach, they will face some of their toughest competition yet, with a mix of NJCAA Division I and II powerhouses. Their schedule includes two Friday showdowns with Jones College, ranked #4 in the DII poll, and Chattanooga State, which holds the #15 spot in the DI rankings.
Saturday, the Raiders will take on their Region VIII Counter part Daytona State, who's off to a 6-0 start to their campaign and Wabash Valley who finished the 2024 season with a avove.500 record and made it to the final four of the Region XXIV Tournament.
With momentum on their side, the Raiders will look to extend their undefeated streak and continue proving themselves as one of the top teams in the nation.
Explosive Start
The Raiders were one of the top offensive teams in the NJCAA last season, and they have picked up right where they left off in 2025. Through their first eight games, the Raiders have exploded for 93 runs, outscoring their opponents by an impressive 76-run margin.
As a team, the Raiders have recorded 87 hits, including 40 extra-base hits—12 home runs, 23 doubles, and five triples. They have also amassed 156 total bases, 48 walks, and 26 stolen bases, ranking inside the top ten nationally in each category.
Their dominance isn't limited to the plate. In the circle, the Raiders' pitching staff has been just as formidable, posting a 2.12 ERA while tallying 42 strikeouts and allowing only 37 hits and four home runs.
With both their offense and pitching clicking, Northwest Florida is proving to be a force to be reckoned with as they continue their 2025 campaign.
Sizzling Sister
Northwest Florida State softball's standout first baseman, Sister Arnold, has been named the FCSAA and NJCAA DI Softball Player of the Week after an explosive start at the plate in the opening weeks of the 2025 season.
Through the first eight games, the sophomore has been unstoppable, posting a .667 batting average with 14 hits, six extra-base hits—including two home runs—and 10 RBIs. Her most dominant performance came on January 31 in a 16-5 win over Angelina College at the Mardi Gras Classic in Youngsville, La., where she went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, a home run, five RBIs, and a run scored. Later in the tournament, she delivered another standout performance, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI to help the Raiders secure a 10-1 victory over UA Rich Mountain.
"No shocker here," said head coach Andy Lee. "Sister is probably the most feared hitter in the state of Florida. Hard work does pay off. Her work ethic is second to none, and she continues to get better every at-bat."
Arnold is coming off an incredible freshman campaign in 2024, where she hit .398 across 64 games, racking up 82 hits, 20 home runs, and a program-record 81 RBIs. She finished the season ranked 16th in the NJCAA in home runs, 12th in RBIs, and 17th in total bases (160). Her stellar play earned her Panhandle Conference Player of the Year honors, a First-Team Region VIII selection, and NFCA All-Region and All-American recognition.
Baker's Kitchen
Mallory Baker delivered a stellar performance in Louisiana, earning FCSAA Pitcher of the Week honors. The freshman two-way player went 2-0 over the weekend, pitching 11.0 innings with 11 strikeouts while allowing just one run on seven hits.
Baker shined on Friday with a complete-game shutout against Bossier Parish, striking out seven batters. She wrapped up her weekend with another strong outing on Sunday, fanning four in a win over UA Rich Mountain.
So far this season, Baker boasts a 3-0 record with 17 strikeouts and a 1.31 ERA across 16.0 innings of work.
At the Helm
Six-time national champion head coach Andy Lee enters his sixth season as the Raiders head coach. In his first five seasons with the Raiders, Lee has accumulated 217 total wins, culminating in back-to-back Panhandle Conference Championships in 2023 and 2024, a National Championship appearance in 2023, and a NJCAA Final Four finish in 2024.
Lee and his team have broken the program's single season record for wins in back-to-back seasons. First in 2023, when his squad won 57 games, shattered the single-season home run record (97), and made its first national title appearance. Then again, last year, they won 58 games en route to another Panhandle Conference title, NJCAA World Series appearance, and a national fourth-place finish.
Lee came to Niceville with over a decade of collegiate head coaching experience and a combined record of 674-174 (.794 winning percentage), including stints at LSU-Eunice and Hinds Community College.
In his 11 seasons as the head coach at LSU-Eunice, Lee was instrumental in turning the Bengals' softball program into a perennial powerhouse. Under Lee's command, the Bengals made 11 Region 23 Tournaments and nine National Tournaments and won six national championships with one national runner-up finish.
Before his time at LSU-Eunice, Lee began his collegiate coaching career at Hinds Community College. He spent three seasons as the head coach of the Eagles' program and led them to a 92-65 overall record from 2006-2008.