BILLINGS, Mont. – Three seniors from the Montana State University Billings baseball team garnered preseason honors when the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its preseason all-region and rankings on Wednesday.
 
The Yellowjackets, who were picked No. 7 in the preseason all-region poll and No. 2 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason rankings also released Wednesday, are the reigning GNAC regular-season champion after going 33-18 overall and 29-11 in league play in 2018.
 
Senior outfielder Jalen Garcia was a first-team preseason all-region selection, while second baseman Conner Linebarger and starting pitcher Steen Fredrickson each earned second-team recognition. "It is a great honor to get recognized with preseason awards," said third-year MSUB head coach Aaron Sutton. "All three of these guys are deserving coming off great 2018 campaigns. Jalen, Steen, and Conner all play major roles on the field, but what most don't see are their leadership skills and the quality young men they are. These guys are rocks for this program, and we know all of them are very appreciative of this award. They are fired up to go out and have a great start to the 2019 season."
 
Garcia was a first-team all-GNAC and second-team NCBWA and American Baseball Coaches Association all-region outfielder a season ago. He ranked third on the team with a .351 batting average, while starting 47 games playing primarily in center field. One of the most well-rounded players in the region, Garcia hit nine home runs, drove in 51, and stole an MSUB-record 25 bases during the 2018 campaign.
 
Garcia returns to lead a talented outfield squad this season, after reaching base at a clip of .403 and slugging at .653 during his junior season. Garcia led MSUB with 20 doubles and seven triples among his 71 hits.
 
Fredrickson was an honorable mention all-region selection a year ago, after being named the GNAC co-Pitcher of the Year. The Ashland, Oregon, native led the GNAC with 70 strikeouts and ranked third in the league with 69 1/3 innings pitched. His seven victories tied the MSUB single-season record, and his opponents' batting average of .252 ranked second in the conference.
 
The right-hander figures to ace this season's pitching staff, after being the No. 1 starter last year. He is a two-time academic all-conference selection as well.
 
Another first-team all-GNAC pick in 2018, Linebarger was one of the Yellowjackets' most consistent players in starting 50 of 51 games primarily at second base. The Bozeman native batted .333 with six home runs and 44 RBIs, while racking up 62 hits and scoring 44 times. Linebarger reached base at .422 and slugged a .522. He was one of the league's top defenders as well, posting a fielding percentage of .952 in 209 chances in the infield.
 
MSUB had the most preseason all-region selections in the GNAC, with Jared McDonald and Connor McCord of Western Oregon University each earning second-team honors. Reigning NCAA D2 west region champion UC San Diego was given the unanimous nod in the preseason poll, receiving all seven first-place votes. MSUB was the highest-ranked GNAC team, with Western Oregon also cracking the rankings at No. 9 and Central Washington University receiving one vote.
 
The Yellowjackets begin the 2019 season February 9-10 in Golden, Colorado, against Colorado School of Mines. For a complete 2019 MSUB baseball schedule, visit the team online here.