TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 14, 2017) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for March 14 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played March 6-12.

The next poll and player of the week selections will be released March 21.

Follow the FCSAA and NJCAA Region VIII sports online throughout the season at www.theFCSAAsports.com. The FCSAA is also on Facebook and Twitter @theFCSAA.

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Coaches’ Poll
March 14, 2017 

The NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2017 record, previous ranking and total points in voting by Region 8 baseball coaches, the FCSAA Baseball Chair and the FCSAA Scoreboard Coordinator.

Also receiving votes: Hillsborough 11, St. Petersburg 8.

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
March 14, 2017 

The NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2017 record, previous ranking and total points in voting by Region 8 softball coaches, the FCSAA Softball Chair and the FCSAA Scoreboard Coordinator.

Also receiving votes: Santa Fe 9, State College of Florida 6, St. Johns River State 3.

Dropped from rankings: No. 10 Santa Fe.

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Andrew Bechtold, Chipola
Sophomore – 3B
Chadds Ford, Pa. 

• Batted .688 (11-for-16) with seven runs scored, five doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs in four games during the voting period
• Doubled, scored and drove in a run in all four games of the opening PC doubleheader vs. Tallahassee
• Was 2-for-4 in game one then went a combined 7-for-9 in the middle two games of the series
• Homered in games two and three of the set with Tallahassee and was 4-for-4 in game three
• Had three RBIs in games two, three and four

Other nominees: David Flores, Central Florida; Gavin Garay, St. Petersburg

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Nate Pearson, Central Florida
Sophomore – RHP
Tampa, Fla. 

• 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout vs. Seminole State on March 6
• Walked only one batter and struck out ten

Other nominees: Jack Riley, St. Petersburg; Austin Genao, Broward; Kyle Morton, Santa Fe

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Jessica Harney, State College of Florida
Sophomore – 1B
Hopewell, N.Y. 

• Batted .632 (12-for-19) with nine runs scored, six doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs in six games during the voting period
• Helped SCF to a 5-1 record
• Scored a run in each game and hit safely in five of six games
• Homered and drove in three runs in game of one of a doubleheader vs. St. Petersburg; was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs in game two vs. South Florida State
• Was a perfect 7-for-7 with four runs scored, four doubles, and one homer (grand slam) and seven RBIs in doubleheader vs. El Paso

Other nominees: Taylor Collins, Florida SouthWestern; Destinee Lizzmore, Central Florida; Amanda Nikhazy, Daytona State; Alyssa Oakes, Seminole State; Noa Armirotto, Florida State College; Alexis Grampp, Chipola

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Morgan Goree, Chipola
Freshman – RHP
Senoia, Ga. 

• 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two appearances during the voting period
• Back-to-back complete-game victories vs. Central Alabama and Wallace State-Hanceville at the NFCA Leadoff Classic
• Pitched a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts against Central Alabama
• Came back with a perfect game (eight strikeouts) in a 3-0 win over Wallace State-Hanceville
• For the week, totaled 14 innings and allowed one hit, no runs and just one walk while striking out 18

Other nominees: Courtney Gettins, Florida SouthWestern; Morgan Cushman, Central Florida; Olivia Printiss, Daytona State; Kyra Gipson, Seminole State