McLennan softball, baseball players receive NJCAA preseason honors

Highlassies softball players Ashley Mills and Amber Mills were named Top Returning Players for District D by the NJCAA.
 
Ashley, a left-handed pitcher from Groesbeck, was one of four pitchers from Region V North to make the list. She notched a 19-3 record with a 1.87 ERA and 121 strikeouts in the circle last season to earn first-team all-conference honors. Amber, a second baseman from Friendswood, recorded a .323 batting average with three home runs, 24 walks and 25 RBIs last season to earn first-team all-conference honors. Both players were selected to participate in the Texas Junior College Softball Coaches Association Sophomore All-Star games in the fall.
 
The Highlassies open the 2015 season this weekend at the Galveston College Invitational.
 
Highlanders baseball catchers J.T. Stevenson and Mason George were named Top Returning Position Players and Nathan Bertness was named a Top Returning Pitcher for the Southwest District.
 
Stevenson, a McKinney native, recorded a .500 batting average with 11 walks and eight RBIs while appearing in 17 games as a freshman. George, a China Spring graduate, recorded a .273 batting average with 12 walks and 12 RBIs while appearing in 33 games as a freshman. Bertness, a left-hander from Sugar Land, notched a 3-1 record with 4.00 ERA while appearing in 12 games as a freshman. He participated in the Texas-New Mexico Junior College Sophomore All-Star Games in the fall.

The Highlanders open the 2015 season on Saturday in Wharton.