Four KJCCC D-II teams in top 20 preseason poll 

The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference led the way with four teams in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Softball Top 20 poll, announced Monday by the NJCAA. Four schools from the Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC) also were among the top 20.

Johnson County Community College earned the highest preseason ranking, coming in at No. 9, followed by Labette Community College (No. 11), Highland Community College (No. 13) and Cowley College (No. 15). Labette and Highland were the two district champions in 2016, earning spots at the NJCAA D-II National Tournament.

Defending D-I champion Butler No. 2 in preseason poll 

Butler Community College will begin its national title defense as the No. 2 ranked team in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Softball Top 20 poll. The Grizzlies finished 2016 with a 51-4 record and defeated Chipola, 4-2 to claim the program's first-ever national championship. 

The Grizzlies went 5-0 at nationals and finished 8-0 overall in postseason play. Butler outscored opponents 37-12 during their run through the national tournament.