Visit Panama City Beach Welcomes Top NJCAA Baseball and Softball Talent to Destination

The Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) and Gulf Coast State College will host two premier NJCAA showcase events this winter, welcoming the country‘s best junior college baseball and softball teams to the destination and drawing Major League Baseball and Division I college scouts to Publix Sports Park. The fifth annual Visit Panama City Beach College Baseball Classic will take place January 30 to February 1, followed by the second annual Visit Panama City Beach JUCO Softball Showdown February 6 to 7, featuring 36 teams across both events.
 

Visit Panama City Beach College Baseball Classic

The Visit Panama City Beach College Baseball Classic has become a nationally recognized preseason showcase, featuring top NJCAA programs that have produced standout professional and Division I talent. Major League Baseball and Division I college scouts are expected to attend throughout the weekend. The 16-team bracket will start on Friday, January 30, with a Championship game on February 1. The preseason National Junior College rankings feature six of the 16 participating teams ranked in the top 25 in their respective divisions.
 

Teams competing include No. 8 Florence-Darlington Technical College (SC), No. 11 John A. Logan College (IL), No. 15 Georgia Highlands College (GA), No. 19 Gulf Coast State College (FL), No. 20 Northwest Florida State College (FL), No. 2 (Division II) Pearl River Community College (MS), State College of Florida (FL), Chipola College (FL), Eastern Florida State College (FL), Northeast Mississippi Community College (MS), Indian River State College (FL), Wabash Valley College (IL), Wallace Community College (AL), Tallahassee State College (FL), Meridian Community College (MS), and Chattahoochee Valley Community College (AL). All games will take place at Publix Sports Park, managed by Sports Facilities Companies. An MVP of the event will be named, in honor of Hall of Famer Don Sutton, the legendary 324-game winner who pitched at Gulf Coast State College.
 

The nation’s largest baseball scouting organization, Perfect Game USA, will serve as the official scouting and media coverage partner for the event. PerfectGame.TV will produce multiple games over the weekend. Tickets are $20 per day or $40 for a three-day tournament pass—and ages 13 and under are free. Through January 28, attendees may purchase presale weekend passes at a discounted rate of $30. For tickets and event details, visit www.playpanamacitybeach.com/events/visit-panama-city-beach-college-baseball-classic/.
 

Notable Event Alumni

• Northwest Florida State College - Kyson Witherspoon (Boston Red Sox), Round 1, Pick 15, 2025
• Chipola College - Cam Collier (Cincinnati Reds), Round 1, Pick 18, 2022
• Northwest Florida State College - Malachi Witherspoon (Detroit Tigers), Round 2, Pick 62, 2025
• Northwest Florida State College - Jake Madden (Los Angeles Angels), Round 4, Pick 118, 2022
• State College of Florida - Brandon Clarke (Boston Red Sox), Round 5, Pick 148, 2024
• Gulf Coast State College - Christian Oppor (Chicago White Sox), Round 5, Pick 152, 2023
• Gulf Coast State College - Carson Dorsey (Baltimore Orioles), Round 7, Pick 219, 2024
• Northwest Florida State College - Mack Estrada (New York Yankees), Round 11, Pick 331, 2024
• State College of Florida - Michael Forret (Baltimore Orioles) Round 14, Pick 421, 2023

Visit Panama City Beach JUCO Softball Showdown

The Visit Panama City Beach JUCO Softball Showdown continues to grow as a premier early-season showcase, bringing together 20 of the nation’s top junior college softball programs at Publix Sports Park. The preseason National Junior College rankings include eight of the 20 teams ranked in the top 25 in their respective divisions.
 

Teams committed include No. 1 Northwest Florida State College (FL), No. 5 Wallace State Community College (AL), No. 12 Chattanooga State Community College (TN), No. 2 (Division II) Copiah-Lincoln Community College (MS), No. 3 (Division II) St. Johns River State College (FL), No. 4 (Division II) Jones College (MS), No. 7 (Division II) Pearl River Community College (MS), No. 12 (Division II) Itawamba Community College (MS), Gulf Coast State College (FL), Snead State Community College (AL), Daytona State College (FL), Coastal Alabama Community College (AL), Roane State Community College (TN), Andrew College (GA), Patrick & Henry Community College (VA), John A. Logan College (IL), Tallahassee State College (FL), Pensacola State College (FL), Wabash Valley College (IL), and Shelton State Community College (AL).
 

All games will take place at Publix Sports Park, managed by Sports Facilities Companies, and will be streamed live, allowing fans to watch in real time or save highlights. Tickets are $15 per day—and ages 13 and under are free. Through February 6, attendees can purchase presale tournament passes at a discounted rate of $25. For tickets and event details, visit www.playpanamacitybeach.com/events/visit-panama-city-beach-juco-softball-showdown/.