Latest news with #NorthwestFloridaState
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NWF Lady Raiders still have something to prove
YUMA, Az. (WMBB) – The Northwest Florida State Lady Raiders have arrived at the NJCAA National Tournament in Arizona after receiving the No.3 at-large bid. However, this year they are not here to just there to make an appearance, they are there to make a statement. Sophomore first baseman Sister Arnold reflected on the journey, and discussed the team's at-large bid to the tournament after falling to Santa Fe College in the state playoffs. 'We went toe to toe in conference, but we went in thinking we were kind of untouchable,' Arnold said. 'And then we got there, and we were touchable. I think (that game) helped us in a way, for sure.' That loss served as a wake-up call for the Raiders, a reminder of the high bar they set at the start of the season: National title or nothing. Receiving the at-large bid gave them a second chance and it was definitely one they don not intend to waste. 'We got in with that at-large bid, so I feel like people are thinking, 'Oh, they kind of got a handout. They're not really that great,'' Arnold said. 'But I'm hoping we see that and use it as fuel, and that we go out, win ballgames, and play Raider softball the way we know how to.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NWF star, Arnold named state player of the year
NICEVILLE, Fla. (WMBB) – Liberty County High School alum and Northwest Florida State softball standout, Sister Arnold has been named the FCSAA Player of the Year. Arnold was also named the Panhandle Conference Player of the Year, First-Team All-Panhandle Conference and First-Team All-State. The sophomore first baseman finished the regular season with a .437 AVG, 62 hits, 50 RBI, and 12 home runs. Arnold led NWF to a 54-2 record and they're currently riding a 38-game win streak heading into the FCSAA Region VIII Tournament. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commodores claim conference title after 15 years
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Gulf Coast State baseball team secured first place in the Panhandle Conference for the first time since 2010. The Gulf Coast State Commodores were sent to the postseason for the first time since 2016. After Northwest Florida State fell to Tallahassee State in two of four games in the series, a path was cleared for the 15-9 Commodores to finish on top and secure the Division I Panhandle Conference title for the first time since 2010. A total of 53 home runs have already been recorded by the Commodores, led by sophomore Alex McCranie, who holds a .386 batting average. Coming off of a four-game winning streak, the Gulf Coast State Commodores will host a best-of-three regional series beginning Friday, May 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
McGowan carries on Holmes County reputation at NWF
NICEVILLE, Fla. (WMBB) – Following in her father's and cousin's footsteps, Northwest Florida State freshman Karson McGowan is living up to the reputation of star Raiders from Holmes County. Less than a year after leading her high school softball team to the Final Four, McGowan is making a name for herself at the Northwest Florida State. Through 28 games, McGowan has a .421 batting average, 32 hits, 33 runs, 23 RBI and 4 HR. The freshman earned her way into the Raider's starting lineup and even she was a bit surprised by her early collegiate success. 'I don't want to say surprised, because I do believe in myself, but at the same time, I definitely was a little bit shocked,' McGowan said. Northwest Florida State Head Softball Coach Andy Lee said he knew he had recruited a talented player but he was impressed with McGowan's quick adaptation to NJCAA softball. 'Karson was a big surprise this year,' Lee said 'You know, in the fall she split time, and in the spring I gave her an opportunity, and she's putting up probably some of the best numbers on the team right now.' While McGowan is exceeding expectations, she did have a bit of pressure hanging over her head when she arrived in Niceville. She is following behind the wildly successful two seasons of her cousin, Colby Jones, a star player on the NWF baseball team who was drafted by the Atlanta Braves last summer. 'I'm actually known as Colby Jones's cousin here,' McGowan laughed. 'So, it's definitely big footsteps to fill, because he made such an impact, not only on the field but off the field as well. And so, I think it was more of motivation instead of pressure.' Coach Lee said he had the opportunity to teach Jones in one of his classes when he was on campus and that he sees similarities between him and his younger cousin. 'Colby was just a straight-up competitor,' Lee said. 'I mean, the guy was a dog. He worked so hard. And you can see genetically that it kind of runs in the family. Karson's a little quieter and doesn't talk about it as much as Colby would. But, you know, that bloodline runs very deep athletically, and they've learned from each other how to compete and how to win.' Karson said that her cousin Colby is not the only reason she decided to play at Northwest Florida State. 'Actually, it's not just him that came here,' McGowan said. 'My dad played here as well when he was in college.' Through half of her freshman season, McGowan has done well to carry on the torch from her family members and she is hoping to continue proving that small-town softball players can compete with the best in college. 'It is a big transition, me and Sister (Arnold) talk about all the time, coming from a 1A school,' McGowan said. Coming here, it gave me a lot of confidence in the fact that it doesn't matter where you come from, as long as you put in that hard work, you can pretty much do anything.' The Northwest Florida State softball team is 28-2 on the season and ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA. The Raiders will host Snead State for a doubleheader on Friday, February 28. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watch: National championship or bust, NWF ring chasing
NICEVILLE, Fla. (WMBB) – The Northwest Florida State softball team is currently the top-ranked junior college in Florida and chasing the ultimate goal of winning an NJCAA Championship. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
