McLennan Softball dominates NTJCAC Awards

The top-ranked McLennan Softball squad dominated the 2024 North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Awards.

Head coach Chris Berry was named the Coach of the Year after leading the Highlanders to a conference championship with a 31-1 record and an overall record of 54-2 in the regular season. This is Berry's second time earning the accolade since taking over the program prior to the 2019 season.

Pitcher/shortstop Katia Reyes was named the Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Pitcher. In 31 conference games, the sophomore from Weslaco, had a .468 batting average with eight doubles, three triples, 19 home runs and 62 RBI. She has an 8-0 record for conference games in the circle, with a 0.84 ERA, allowing 22 hits and seven runs in 50.0 innings with 66 strikeouts.

Freshman first baseman Trinity Allen was named the Co-Offensive Player of the Year. The Cypress native had a .630 batting average in conference play with 18 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs and 62 RBI.

Allen and Reyes were both First-Team All-Conference selections along with sophomore pitcher Taryn Batterton, sophomore pitcher Makenzi Jenkins, sophomore outfielder Taylor Meier, freshman outfielder Madison Garcia and freshman designated player/utility Ellie Loveless. Batterton, from Latta, Oklahoma, was 6-1 with two saves during conference play, allowing 37 hits and 16 runs in 43.1 innings while striking out 31. Jenkins, also from Cypress, was 8-0 in the circle, allowing 37 hits and 20 runs in 43.2 innings while striking out 44. Meier, a Lake Jackson native, had a .500 batting average in conference play with six doubles, three triples, one home run, 19 RBI and 28 stole bases. Garcia, from Crosby, boasted a .512 conference batting average with four doubles, eight triples, one home run, 30 RBI and 20 stolen bases. Loveless, a Washington, Oklahoma native, appeared in 25 conference games with a .500 batting average, five doubles, nine home runs, 28 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

Second-Team All-Conference honors went to sophomore pitcher Brinly Maples, sophomore catcher Chesnee Faile, sophomore infielder Madison Hornback and freshman outfielder Mickayla Tosch. Maples, from Oklahoma City, also had an 8-0 conference record, allowing 42 hits and 24 runs in 44.0 innings while striking out 39. Faile, from Mont Belvieu, had a .400 batting average with six doubles, five triples, two home runs, 23 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Hornback, a West Columbia native, appeared in 27 conference games with a .366 batting average, four doubles, two triples, three home runs, 20 RBI and 12 stolen bases. Tosch, from Rosenberg, has a .386 conference batting average with four doubles, four triples, five home runs, 22 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

As the conference champions, the Highlanders receive a first-round bye in the Region V North Tournament and will play either North Central or Weatherford at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 4, in Denison. All tournament games will be streamed live on Centex Sports Network, www.centexsportsnetwork.com.