Fuentes Commits to Galveston Whitecaps

By Don Eskins

Cavegirl softball standout Kalion Fuentes, who will suit up as a senior at Carlsbad High this year, recently signed a letter of intent to compete for the Galveston College Whitecaps in Galveston, TX, during 2025-26.

The Whitecaps, a National Junior College Athletic Association Division I team, compete in the Region 14 Athletic Conference.

During 2024, the Caps went 43-13, were 18-6 in conference play, and won their Region 14 Conference Tournament championship. For their play, head coach Kelly Raines was named the NJCC Region 14 Coach of the Year.

Following their Region 14 Conference championship, they moved on to post a 3-2 record at the NJCC World Series.

Fuentes, a two-time state champion, two-time District Champion, three-time All-District 4/5A selection, and two-time Class 5A All-Stater, said she felt Galveston College looked to be the perfect fit for her collegiate ambitions.

“Galveston College has a very solid softball program. They’ve built a tradition of winning there that resembles our Cavegirl program here at CHS,” said Fuentes. “So, I felt like playing for the Whitecaps would be a great place for me to begin my collegiate career.

“On my visit there, I found the athletic facility to be very impressive, as were the players and coaches that I got to meet,” she said. “A week after my visit, I verbally committed to play for them next year.”

On Friday, December 6, at Carlsbad High, Fuentes made it official by signing her letter of intent.

Fuentes, whose first love is pitching, said Whitecaps head coach Kelly Raines plans to use her primarily in the circle.

“Coach Raines wants me to focus mostly on my pitching. That sounded really good to me,” said the Cavegirl standout. “But she didn’t rule out the possibility of me hitting or playing some spot defensively either.”

Fuentes’ resume says she could pitch or swing a bat for the Whitecaps, and quite successfully.

During 2024, the Cavegirl hurler stood out in the circle and at the plate. As a pitcher, she amassed a record of 7-7 with an ERA of just 2.05. In the circle for 102 innings, she gave up just 30 earned runs on 45 hits with 136 strikeouts and 42 walks.

At the plate, she hit a blistering .500 and went yard 11 times. In 2023, she hit .371 with eight round-trippers.

Just one season away from collegiate softball, Fuentes says coach Brian Santo’s Cavegirl program has prepared her well to compete at the next level.

“The Cavegirl softball program has set a standard for success, and we all work hard year-round to meet those standards,” she said. “Our coaches push us hard every day to get better. It’s the Cavegirl way.

“Also, as one of the most storied programs in the state, everybody gets up to play us. We get the best they have to offer every game,” the CHS hurler said. “So, we have to be ready to play every day. But facing the best other teams have to offer makes you tough. It also gets you ready to play at the next level.”

As Cavegirl head coach Brian Santo sees it, playing at the next level shouldn’t be a problem at all for Fuentes.

“Kalion has been a great example of what Cavegirl softball is all about. She works very hard and is a great mentor for the younger girls on our team,” he said. “I think her future at the collegiate level is going to be a very bright one.”

Kalion, the daughter of Jonathan and Kim Fuentes, tentatively plans to major in Criminal Justice as a student-athlete at Galveston College.