MAY 12, 2026, GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The historic postseason accolades continue to roll in for the Grand Rapids Community College Raiders softball team, as a program-record 13 players earned postseason honors following one of the most successful seasons in school history.

The Raiders captured the NJCAA Great Lakes District B Championship this past weekend with a 6-1 victory over Lake Michigan College, securing the program's first berth to the NJCAA Division II World Series since 1998. Top-seeded GRCC enters the national tournament in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with a 41-8 record and an 11-game winning streak after also claiming its third conference championship in the past four years.

Head coach Chuck White, who was named the NJCAA Great Lakes District B Coach of the Year, said the honors are a reflection of the team's commitment throughout the season.

"This group has been special from day one," White said. "What stands out most is how unselfish they've been and how hard they've worked for one another. To have 13 players recognized says a lot about the depth and culture of our program. They've earned everything that's come their way this season, and I couldn't be prouder of them."

Leading the way for the Raiders were sophomores Lilly Klop and Natalee Beck along with freshman Megan Lillie, who each earned All-Region, All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference honors.

Klop, a sophomore pitcher/first baseman, bounced back from a Second Team All-Conference selection last year to become one of the Raiders' most versatile contributors. She batted .373 with 11 extra-base hits while also posting a 7-1 record in the circle (5-0 in conference) with a 2.13 ERA and two saves.

Beck followed up her All-American freshman campaign with another record-breaking season. The sophomore outfielder/first baseman shattered the school batting average record by hitting .525 overall and an astounding .674 in conference play, which led the MCCAA. Beck also finished with 43 RBIs and a team-best .567 on-base percentage after earning All-Region, All-MCCAA, First Team All-Conference and All-Freshman Team honors a year ago.

Lillie emerged as one of the top freshmen in the region and was named the MCCAA Northern Conference Freshman of the Year. The freshman pitcher/first baseman became the only pitcher in the region with more than 10 wins and no losses, finishing 15-0 overall and 8-0 in conference play. She added a 2.02 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and one save.

Sophomore pitcher Kalani Stowe earned All-MCCAA and First Team All-Conference recognition for the second straight year after another dominant campaign in the circle. Stowe, who last season was named conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, compiled a 13-4 record while helping lead the Raiders to the regional title, earning tournament MVP honors in the process. She led the entire MCCAA with a 1.48 ERA and 0.96 WHIP while also pacing the conference in strikeouts per seven innings at 9.02. Stowe totaled 128 strikeouts, six shutouts and held opponents to a .187 batting average, while also stealing 21 bases offensively.

Freshman shortstop Abbie Critchett and freshman infielder Kenady O'Leary each earned Second Team All-Conference honors after breakout seasons.

Critchett hit .429 overall and .510 in conference play while driving in 31 runs, collecting 12 extra-base hits and stealing 21 bases.

O'Leary emerged as one of the most dangerous offensive players in the conference, batting .481 overall and .586 in conference play, the second-best conference average in the MCCAA. She led both the team and conference with 45 RBIs and a .769 slugging percentage while also leading the MCCAA with nine triples. O'Leary added 18 extra-base hits, 33 stolen bases and hit for the cycle during the season.

Seven additional Raiders earned All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition.

• Sophomore infielder Grace Salley, who earned First Team All-Conference honors last season, batted .388 with 25 RBIs and 13 extra-base hits, including a team-high four home runs.
• Sophomore outfielder Libby VanFleet repeated as an honorable mention selection after batting .337 with a team-best 15 extra-base hits, including 11 doubles, while stealing 11 bases.
• Sophomore outfielder Lauren Wiley hit .416 overall and .500 in conference play while totaling 28 RBIs, 13 extra-base hits and seven stolen bases.
• Freshman catcher Ella Showers put together one of the top offensive seasons on the team, batting .418 with 30 RBIs, 14 extra-base hits and seven triples while posting a .734 slugging percentage.
• Freshman outfielder Caitlyn Horvath batted .425, stole nine bases, and had a perfect fielding percentage during conference play.
• Sophomore first baseman Violet McWhinnie, who earned Second Team All-Conference honors last year, hit .338 with 31 RBIs.
• Freshman infielder Ava VanderKolk rounded out the honorees after batting .371 with 22 RBIs and 12 extra-base hits.

The Raiders will now turn their attention toward the NJCAA Division II World Series, which begins May 19 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, as GRCC looks to continue one of the most memorable seasons in program history.  The team is scheduled to take on Bryant & Stratton in its first game at 11 AM. ⁠

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Interested in supporting GRCC Athletics?  All donations can be done through GRCC Athletic's Scholarship Fund and can specify what scholarship fund the gift is going to, such as the Hofmann scholarship. If you have any questions on how to support Athletics at Grand Rapids Community College, contact the Athletic Department via phone at (616) 234-3883 or email grccathletics@grcc.edu. Any support is appreciated and goes towards assisting our student-athlete scholarship funds.