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Hillyer signs with UNLV By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Britney Hillyer boarded a Greyhound bus several times last summer for trips to Salem, where she met with a group of all-star softball players to practice and play in out-of-state tournaments. Hillyer logged thousands of miles and hundreds of hours to enhance her skills as a catcher with the Salem Panthers, an ASA 18-and-under team that traveled to major tournaments around the country. All of the extra work paid off Tuesday when Hillyer, a senior at North Medford High, signed a letter of intent with the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. The scholarship will be worth more than $50,000 for Hillyer, paying for her tuition, room and board and books for as long as five years. "They're offering me everything except food," Hillyer said. Hillyer has been a first-team, all-conference performer for North Medford each of the past two seasons. She batted .351 last spring but is best known for her work behind the plate, where her vacuumlike glove and laserlike arm have registered multiple outs for the Black Tornado. "I would rank Britney with the best catchers we've had at North - people like Angie Jacobs, Missy Coe and Erin Glantz," North Medford coach Larry Binney said. "Britney's probably got a stronger arm than any of them, and she also does a great job of blocking the plate." Hillyer was told she would be given a scholarship in October but Tuesday was the first day high school softball players could sign letters of intent. Portland State and the University of Buffalo also offered Hillyer full rides, but she said UNLV offered the best package and added she felt more comfortable at the southern Nevada school. "I had a good visit there," she said. "The coaches and players were great. It just felt right." Hillyer will be joining former Tornado teammate Stephanie Coe at UNLV. Coe, a pitcher and outfielder, is a freshman at the school. UNLV, a member of the Mountain West Conference, posted a 26-30 record last season. Rebels coach Shan McDonald hadn't received Hillyer's letter of intent as of Tuesday and thus, per NCAA rules, couldn't comment on the signing. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.