TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 16, 2016) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for February 16 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played February 8-14.

The next poll and Player and Pitcher of the week selections will be released February 23.

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 16, 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: Miami Dade 19, Broward 16, Palm Beach State 11, Hillsborough 7.

Dropped from rankings: No. 4 Broward.

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
February 16, 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: St. Johns River State 26, Polk State 22, Seminole State 21, Tallahassee 20, Santa Fe 14, St. Petersburg 13, Pensacola State 5, Hillsborough 4, South Florida State 1.

Dropped from rankings: No. 8 Polk State, No. 9 Seminole State, No. 10 Tallahassee. 

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Ethan Skender, State College of Florida
Freshman – SS
Metamora, Ill. 

• Batted .733 (11-for-15) with nine runs scored, three doubles, one triple, seven RBIs and four stolen bases in four games during the voting period
• Led State College of Florida to a perfect 4-0 week
• Hit safely in all four games beginning with a 4-for-4 (six runs scored) effort vs. University of Tampa JV; also scored and stole a base in each of the four games
• In three games series vs. Florida State College, went 7-for-11 and drove in six runs

Other nominees: Zach Biermann, Polk State; J.D. Dutka, Florida SouthWestern State; Jarren Pinkney, Northwest Florida State; B.J. Harmon, Central Florida; Christian Hammond, St. Petersburg; Tivon Faneyte, Daytona State; Jordan Feist, Pasco-Hernando State; Jordan Ding, Pasco-Hernando State

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Gage Hutchinson, Daytona State
Sophomore - RHP
Port Orange, Fla. 

• 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Threw a complete game in the Falcons’ 3-1 win over Eastern Florida State on February 10
• Allowed five hits, one run (unearned) and one walk while striking out five

Other nominees: Scott Kelly, State College of Florida; Eric Orze, Northwest Florida State; Clayton Moran, St. Petersburg

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Kelsee Cullop, Central Florida
Freshman – OF
Winter Haven, Fla. 

• Batted .520 (13-for-25) with 15 runs scored, three doubles, three home runs, 12 RBIs and three stolen bases in seven games during the voting period
• Led Central Florida to wins in each of its seven games, improving the Patriots’ record to 15-0
• Hit safely in six of seven games (four multi-hit games) and scored in each game
• Homered and drove in three runs in wins over Hillsborough, Northwest Florida State and Tallahassee
• In games against Northwest Florida State, Tallahassee and Chipola on February 14, was a combined 9-for-11 with eight runs scored, two home runs and six RBIs

Other nominees: Nalleli Lopez, Chipola; Eloise Tribolet, Gulf Coast State; Mikayla Werahiko, Florida SouthWestern State; Hannah Sparks, Northwest Florida State; Brianna Strickland, St. Petersburg

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

• 3-0, 0.64 ERA in four appearances during the voting period
• Complete-game victories vs. Miami Dade (1-0), Spartanburg Methodist (2-1) and Gulf Coast State (6-1)
• Struck out 11 in the win over Miami Dade and followed that with 19 strikeouts in the win over Spartanburg Methodist
• In 22 total innings, allowed 13 hits, two runs (both earned) and two walks while striking out 37

Other nominees: Ilona Andringa, Chipola; Kalen McGill, Central Florida; Alison Mitts, Gulf Coast State; Nikkie Kovalsky, St. Petersburg