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By Chris Moore

Special to the News

Six Port Neches-Groves student-athletes signed letters of intent to continue their playing careers into college Wednesday. Two football players and four softball players took center stage in the competition gym as friends and family cheered them on as they signed their national letters of intent. 

PNG defensive lineman Jonathan Hernandez and receiver London Nunley will continue to be teammates as both agreed to go to Southern Arkansas University. 

Both played key roles in the Indian’s two state championship game runs and walked away with a title in 2023.

“They played a lot of football for us and really helped raise the standard for us,” PNG Coach and Athletic Director Jeff Joseph said. “I met them as freshmen and could not have asked for a better group of young men to come to PNG. I feel very lucky to have been able to coach both of them.”

Hernandez was a two-time First Team All-District and played 44 games, earning district defensive MVP as a junior. 

Nunley earned two of the top 10 seasons for receiving touchdowns in PNG history and two of the top 20 seasons for receiving yards. Nunley finished top 5 in both categories for his career in purple and white. 

On the softball side, Kaelyn Dartez, Lillie Mason, Kiana LeDoux and Irelyn Bean also signed their letters of intent. 

Lillie Mason, who signed to play at Tallahassee State College, is one of the team’s catchers and was named a 2024 academic All-District player. So far this season, Mason has a batting average of .444.

Bean, who signed to play with Cottey College, has played third base for the Indians and recorded 48 hits last season (18 singles, nine doubles, one homerun, 21 RBIs and scored 17 times). 

Dartez, who elected to sign with Lamar State College, has been a three-year varsity player. She played her first season as a left fielder before moving to shortstop for the past two seasons. She has recorded 54 hits (37 singles, 14 doubles, one triple and two home runs, 36 RBIs and scored 35 times).

LeDoux, who signed with Iowa Western Community College, has played second base and starting first base. LeDoux is the current single-season and career homerun record holder for PNG. For her career, she has 103 hits (55 singles, 23 doubles, three triples, 22 home runs, 105 RBIs and scored 86 times. She also has earned numerous All-District awards.

“To make it to this point takes a great deal of hard work and dedication,” PNG softball coach Taylor Harvill said. “I am extremely proud of these four and the impact they have had on this program.”