Top NJCAA College Baseball & Softball Teams to Compete in Panama City Beach January 31 - February 2 & February 7-9

Visit Panama City Beach is pleased to announce that the fourth annual Visit Panama City Beach College Baseball Classic will take place on January 31 - February 2, 2025, followed by the inaugural Visit Panama City Beach JUCO Softball Showdown on February 7 - 9, 2025. Hosted in partnership with Gulf Coast State College, these tournaments will feature 30 of the nation’s top junior college baseball and softball teams at Publix Sports Park, drawing Perfect Game and Major League Scouts for an exceptional collegiate athletic showcase. 

“We look forward to welcoming athletes, families, and fans from across the country to Panama City Beach for the College Baseball Classic and JUCO Softball Showdown,” says Dan Rowe, president and CEO of Visit Panama City Beach. “These tournaments showcase incredible talent, and we’re thrilled to host them at Publix Sports Park, our premier sports venue, in partnership with Gulf Coast State College."

Visit Panama City Beach College Baseball Classic

Preseason National Junior College rankings come out later this month, and six of the fourteen teams competing finished in the top 20 teams in the country in their respective division in 2024. Three participating teams received votes for the top 20. Competing teams include Gulf Coast State College (FL), Chipola Community College (FL), Northwest Florida State College (FL), State College of Florida (FL), Pearl River Community College (MS), Eastern Florida State College (FL), John A. Logan College (IL), Coastal Alabama Community College (AL), Florence Darlington Technical College (SC), Indian River State College (FL), Wabash Valley College (IL), Wallace Community College (AL), Dyersburg State Community College (TN), Meridian Community College (MS). All games will take place at Publix Sports Park managed by Sports Facility Management.

The 14-team tournament will take place at Publix Sports Park, beginning Friday, January 31, with the championship game on February 2. Perfect Game, the world’s largest baseball scouting organization, will provide live-streaming and scouting coverage through PerfectGame.TV, featuring MLB announcers Daron Sutton and Steve Phillips. Perfect Game's JUCO team of Blaine Peterson and Troy Sutherland will lead the scouting coverage on PerfectGame.org and social media.

Major League Baseball and D1 college scouts will be in attendance as these NJCAA programs have produced some of the best players in country. In addition, the MVP of the event will be named after Legendary 324 game winner Hall of Famer Don Sutton who pitched at Gulf Coast Community College. 

Tickets for the Panama City Beach College Baseball Classic are $15 per day and $35 for a three-day tournament pass. Through January 30, attendees can purchase pre-sale weekend passes for a discounted rate of $25. To purchase tickets, please visit the website.

Notable Event Alumni:

• Chipola College - Cam Collier (Cincinnati Reds) Round 1, Pick 18, 2022
• 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
• 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 inaugural Visit Panama City Beach JUCO Softball Showdown will take place on February 7-9, 2025, at Publix Sports Park. Hosted by Gulf Coast State College and Visit Panama City Beach, the 16-team tournament will feature some of the nation's top junior college softball teams.

Seven of the sixteen participating teams earned top 20 spots within their respective divisions in 2024. Committed teams include Gulf Coast State College (FL), Northwest Florida State College (FL), Chattanooga State Community College (TN), Snead State Community College (AL), St. Johns River State College (FL), Itawamba Community College (MS), Jones College (MS), Daytona State College (FL), Andrew College (GA), Pearl River Community College (MS), Patrick & Henry Community College (VA), Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (AL), Volunteer State Community College (TN), College of Central Florida (FL), Wabash Valley College (IL), Wallace State Community College (AL).

Tickets for the Visit Panama City Beach JUCO Softball Showdown are available at $15 per day, and $35 for a three-day tournament pass. Through February 6, attendees can purchase pre-sale weekend passes for a discounted rate of $25. To purchase tickets, please visit the website. To live stream the games, visit here.