Starting pitcher Jenna Johnston tossed a three-hitter and Galveston College’s offense hit five home runs on Tuesday as the Whitecaps routed San Jacinto College-South, 19-1, to win the NJCAA Division I Region 14 Tournament championship and earn a bid to the National Championship.
The No. 17 nationally-ranked Whitecaps (43-13) scored 11 unanswered runs in the first three innings of the regional tournament title game against the Ravens and added eight runs in the fourth and fifth frames to soundly defeat the host team and lift the regional crown.
Although GC had a commanding 18-run lead by the fifth inning, there was no run rule for the championship game and seven complete innings had to be played.
Brackets and matchups for the national championship (World Series) will be announced on May 14, 2024, at a time to be decided. The national championship will be played in Oxford, Alabama, on May 20-25.
In Tuesday’s game, Johnston threw a complete game three-hitter, allowed only one run and struck out three Ravens to help lead the Whitecaps to the regional title. With the victory, Johnston improved to 25-6 on the season.
Offensively, GC hit five home runs against SJCS, two from first baseman Tallulah Civoniceva, who went 2-for-4, scored three runs and drove in five. Whitecaps third baseman Breigh Houser went 4-for-5 with a round-tripper, two runs scored and four RBIs, designated player Karlie Barba went 3-for-6 with a homer, a pair of runs scored and four RBIs and catcher Brooklyn Spencer went 4-for-4, scored two runs and drove in three more. Second baseman Samantha Gonzalez also hit a dinger in GC's title-winning game.
GC’s bats slowly came alive during the tournament until the floodgates opened against SJCS. The Whitecaps outscored their tournament opponents 29-2 in three games, which included nine home runs.
On the road to the regional title, GC defeated Tyler Junior College, 3-0, on May 4 in the first round and beat Paris Junior College, 7-1, in the second round played on May 6.
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.