TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 12, 2016) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for April 12 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played April 4-10.

The next poll and Player and Pitcher of the week selections will be released April 19.

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
April 12, 2016 

The NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2016 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: Broward 29, Central Florida 17, Palm Beach State 10, Northwest Florida State 6, Pasco-Hernando State 3, South Florida State 2.

Dropped from rankings: No. 9 South Florida State.

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
April 12, 2016 

The NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2016 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: Eastern Florida State 15, St. Petersburg 11, Tallahassee 7, Miami Dade 3, Santa Fe 1.

Dropped from rankings: No. 10t Tallahassee, No. 10t St. Petersburg.

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Scott Manea, St. Petersburg
Sophomore – C
Shrewsbury, Mass.           

• Batted .462 (6-for-13) with five runs scored, one double, two home runs (1.000 slugging percentage) and four RBIs in four games
• Hit safely in all four games including back-to-back two-hit games vs. South Florida State to end the week
• Was 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBIs, and also walked twice, vs. South Florida State (April 8)

Other nominees: Joe Strzdlecki, Polk State

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Christian Calleja, Palm Beach State
Sophomore – LHP
Hialeah, Fla. 

• 1-0, one save, 0.00 ERA in two appearances
• Picked up the save vs. Broward (April 6) with 1.1 innings of no-hit relief, two strikeouts
• Started and pitched seven shutout innings of three-hit ball to notch the win in Palm Beach State’s 7-0 victory vs. Indians River State (April 9)
• In 8.1 total innings, allowed three hits, no runs and four walks while striking out eight

Other nominees: Chad Tworek, Polk State; Ryan Ahern, State College of Florida; Hunter McGarry, State College of Florida; Trent Blum, St. Petersburg

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Kacie Booth, Polk State
Sophomore – INF
Plant City, Fla. 

• Batted .571 (8-for-14) with seven runs scored, two doubles, one home run (.929 slugging percentage), four RBIs and four stolen bases in four games
• Led Polk State to a 3-1 record
• Had two hits in both games of a doubleheader vs. South Florida State (April 5), going 4-for-7, including a home run in game two
• Was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs in game one vs. Hillsborough (April 7)

Other nominees: Brooke Barlow, Central Florida; Megan Woodson, Daytona State; Marta Fuentes, Florida SouthWestern; Gabriela Santos, Chipola

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Courtney Gettins, Florida SouthWestern
Freshman – RHP
Hawkes Bay, New Zealand 

• 4-0, 0.5 ERA in four appearances during the voting period
• Recorded four complete-game victories, including a shutout in game two vs. St. Petersburg (April 7)
• In 28 total innings, allowed 17 hits, seven runs (two earned) and three walks (0.71 WHIP) while striking out 26 (8.7 K/BB ratio)

Other nominees: Kalen McGill, Central Florida