TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 5, 2019) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for March 5 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played February 25-March 3.

The next poll and player of the week selections will be released March 12. 

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 5, 2019 

The NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2019 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: Miami Dade 3, Daytona State 2, Eastern Florida State 1.

Dropped from rankings: No. 9 Miami Dade

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
March 5, 2019 

The NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2019 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: Northwest Florida State 5, Lake-Sumter State 3.

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Kaden Polcovich, Northwest Florida State
So. – 3B
Edmond, Okla. 

• Batted .438 (7-for-16) with nine runs scored, two doubles, three home runs, seven RBIs and four stolen bases in five games during the voting period
• Hit safely in four of the five games, leading the Raiders to a 5-0 week
• Homered in consecutive games to start the week, including a 3-for-6, three-RBI effort vs. L.B. Wallace

Other nominees: Jarett Backus, Lake-Sumter State; Giovany Lorenzo, State College of Florida; Jakob Sessa, St. Petersburg; Dustin Harris, St. Petersburg; Kyle Jacobsen, Hillsborough; Tommy Joseph, Florida SouthWestern

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Carter Stewart, Eastern Florida State
Fr. – RHP
Melbourne, Fla. 

• 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Started and threw eight shutout innings in a 4-0 win over Indian River State
• Allowed just one hit and walked none while striking out 15

Other nominees: Corey Ireson, State College of Florida; Jeremy Adams, St. Petersburg; Conor Angel, Northwest Florida State; Marc Davis, Florida SouthWestern

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Giavonna Auricchio, Daytona State
Fr. – DP
Boca Raton, Fla. 

• Batted .500 (10-for-20) with 10 runs scored, four doubles, three home runs, 12 RBIs and one stolen base in five games during the voting period
• Hit safely in four of five games, helping the Falcons to a 3-2 week
• Was 5-for-5 with four runs scored, a home run and six RBIs in her first game of the week vs. Palm Beach State
• Ended the week with a four-RBI game vs. Miami Dade

Other nominees: Owen Bowers, Florida SouthWestern; Megan Donahue, Daytona State; Emily Bartlett, Eastern Florida State

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Kelsi Collins, Florida SouthWestern
So. – RHP
Clermont, Fla. 

• 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Threw a complete game in Bucs’ 6-1 win over Indian River State
• Allowed six hits and two walks while striking out seven

Other nominees: None