TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 27, 2018) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for February 27 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played February 19-25. 

The next poll and player of the week selections will be released March 6.

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
February 27, 2018 

The NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2018 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: Central Florida 12, Gulf Coast State 12, Florida SouthWestern 6, Eastern Florida State 5.

Dropped from rankings: No. 9 Central Florida, No. 10 South Florida State 

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
February 27, 2018 

The NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2018 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: Pensacola State 10, St. Petersburg 2.

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Austin James, State College of Florida
Sophomore – SS
Valrico, Fla. 

• Batted .455 (10-for-22) with seven runs scored, one double, one home run, 10 RBI and three stolen bases in five games during the voting period
• Hit safely and recorded at least one RBI in four of five games, helping the Manatees to four wins
• Was 4-for-4 with four runs scored, a homer and five RBI vs. University of Tampa JV and closed the week going 3-for-5 with three RBI vs. Chipola

Other nominees: Carter Smith, Florida SouthWestern, Mario Presutti, Daytona State; Tucker Rayburn, Tallahassee

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Rafael Santos, Broward
Freshman – LHP
Deerfield Beach, Fla. 

• 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Tossed 8.2 scoreless innings of four-hit ball and struck out six, earning the win vs. Indian River State in Southern Conference play

Other nominees: Vince Vannelle, Florida SouthWestern; Alec Barger, Polk State 

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Meghan Sexton, Seminole State
Sophomore – SS
Orlando, Fla. 

• Batted .684 (13-for-19) with 11 runs scored, three doubles, one triple, two home runs, five RBI and three stolen bases
• Hit safely and scored at least one run in all six games, all victories for the Raiders
• Was a combined 5-for-7 in doubleheader vs. Hillsborough
• Closed the week going 4-for-4 with two homers and three RBI in game two vs. Broward

Other nominees: Rachel Phelps, Lake-Sumter State; Mikenzie Vaughn, Florida SouthWestern; Anina Fernandez, Central Florida

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Jasmine McQuaig, Lake-Sumter State
Sophomore – RHP
North Marion, Fla. 

• 2-0 with one save and a 0.00 ERA in three appearances during the voting period
• Picked up wins against Broward and Palm Beach State and earned the save vs. South Florida State with three scoreless innings
• For the week, she worked 11 total innings and allowed only three hits, no runs and one walk while striking out ten

Other nominees: Kelsi Collins, Florida SouthWestern; Lindsay Markham-Rosario, Central Florida; Liz Gollin, Indian River State