LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Featuring two NJCAA national titleholders, the 2027 NFCA NJCAA Leadoff Classic returns to the South Commons Complex in Columbus, Ga., from Feb. 26 to 28.
NJCAA Division II champion Pearl River Community College and back-to-back NJCAA Division III champion North Dakota State College of Science headline an 18-team field that includes a total of 10 programs that vied for a 2026 national championship across the three NJCAA divisions, including DII runner-up Des Moines Area Community College and DII semifinalist Murray State College.
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In its first NJCAA DII Softball World Series appearance, Pearl River (48-7) scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to rally past DMACC, 2-1, for the program’s first national title. During their championship run, the Wildcats knocked off Murray State College (66-3), Johnson County Community College (38-13), Kirkwood Community College (60-7) and Rock Valley College (58-5), who along with DMACC (60-12) are in the 2026 leadoff field.
For NDSCS, it was the second national title and third in the last four years. The Wildcats (55-8) posted a 4-1 mark at the finals in Syracuse, N.Y, winning their first three contests by a combined 25-5 score. After being forced into a winner-take-all contest against Caldwell Community College, North Dakota SCS rebounded with a 15-3 triumph over the Cobras to take another championship trophy back to Wahpeton, N.D.
Joining the previously-mentioned programs as World Series participants are Jones College, Louisburg College and Richard Bland College, who all were in the NJCAA DII field.
In addition to the World Series participants, the field includes five more programs – Gulf Coast State College (39-16), Howard Community College (22-17), Illinois Central College (32-16), Northeast Mississippi Community College (41-16) and Roane State Community College (29-18) – who collected wins in their postseason conference or region tournaments. Illinois Central captured the Region 24-B title, while Northeast Mississippi (Region 23) and Roane State (TCCAA) each posted 3-2 records. Roane State and Howard CC also posted their respective program’s first winning records.
In all, 16 of the 18 programs finished with winning records in 2026, including three 60-game winners, two more with 50-plus and three with 40 or more.
All teams will play five games over the three days and can be viewed live for free HERE. Check out all the live streaming details on our Tournament Central page.
2027 participating teams: Des Moines Area CC; Gulf Coast State College; Howard CC; Illinois Central College; Johnson County CC; Jones College; Kirkwood CC; Louisburg College; Murray State College; North Dakota SCS; Northeast Mississippi CC; Olney Central College; Pearl River CC; Pellissippi State CC; Phoenix College; Richard Bland College; Roane State CC; Rock Valley College
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Leadoff Classic tournaments, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to awards, to in-person and virtual events, and a National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining over 7,000 coaches today!
