The NCAA softball tournament is officially underway, and six former Pensacola area stars are ready to make their mark on the national stage. With regionals set to kick off May 15–17, these local standouts are chasing a trip to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City—and four of them will be battling it out in the Baton Rouge Regional alone.
Leading the charge is Mississippi State pitcher Ammon, who transferred from Middle Tennessee after earning Conference USA All-Freshman honors in 2025. She's been a force in the circle for the Bulldogs, posting an 8–0 record with a stellar 1.70 ERA and 59 strikeouts over 53.2 innings. Mississippi State heads to the Eugene Regional, where they'll face Saint Mary's on May 15 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The Bulldogs are making their third straight NCAA appearance and hope to reach the Super Regionals for the first time since 2022—the program's only trip to that round. Before college, Ammon was the 2023 PNJ Pitcher of the Year and a 2024 First Team All-Area selection.
Down in Baton Rouge, three South Alabama players are making noise, starting with junior infielder Caitlyn Gavin. She's appeared in 42 games and started 20, batting .233 with an RBI and 13 runs scored. The Jaguars open against Virginia Tech at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN+ in a regional that also includes LSU and Akron. South Alabama is back in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in six years, still seeking their first Super Regional berth. Gavin, who started varsity as a seventh-grader at Jay, was a three-time PNJ All-Area selection and helped the Royals win the 2022 1A state championship.
Also representing South Alabama is Heavener, the 2024 MaxPreps National Player of the Year, who has logged the most innings on the Jaguars' staff this season. Her dominance in the circle gives South Alabama a real shot in a competitive regional.
With six local talents spread across powerhouse programs and Cinderella hopefuls, Pensacola area softball fans have plenty of reasons to tune in this weekend. Whether it's a pitcher's duel in Eugene or a slugfest in Baton Rouge, these athletes are proving that the Gulf Coast produces elite-level talent ready to shine on college softball's biggest stage.