TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 23, 2016) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for February 23 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played February 15-21.

The next poll and Player and Pitcher of the week selections will be released March 1.

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 23, 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: Eastern Florida State 36, St. Petersburg 31, Broward 14, Palm Beach State 10, Central Florida 7, Hillsborough 4, Pasco-Hernando State 1.

Dropped from rankings: No. 8 St. Petersburg, No. 10t Eastern Florida State. 

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
February 23, 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: Miami Dade 23, Tallahassee 11, Seminole State 9, Polk State 9, St. Petersburg 6, Santa Fe 2, Hillsborough 1.

Dropped from rankings: No. 9t Miami Dade.

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Hunter Tackett, Northwest Florida State
Sophomore – LF
Knoxville, Tenn. 

• Batted .600 (9-for-15) with five runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and 14 RBIs in four games during the voting period
• Led Northwest Florida State to a perfect 4-0 week
• Four straight multi-hit games and drove in at least one run in each
• Top performance came against Lurleen B. Wallace when he was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two home runs and seven RBIs. Was a combined 4-for-7 with a home run and six RBIs in a doubleheader sweep of Andrew on February 20

Other nominees: Paul Russo, Hillsborough; Yeison Gomez, Polk State; Scott Manea, St. Petersburg; Bradley Felkel, Central Florida

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Shane Sawczak, Palm Beach State
Sophomore - LHP
Lake Worth, Fla. 

• 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Threw a seven-inning, complete-game shutout vs. Florida State College at Jacksonville on February 20
• Allowed just two hits, walked none and struck out eight

Other nominees: Drew Peden, Daytona State; Tanner Thompson, Pasco-Hernando State

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Molly Roark, Florida SouthWestern State
Freshman – 1B
Jacksonville, Fla. 

• Batted .467 (7-for-15) with four runs scored, two doubles, four home runs and seven RBIs in five games during the voting period
• Led Florida SouthWestern State to a 4-1 record in games in which she played
• Hit safely in all five games
• Homered in drove in two runs in game one vs. Palm Beach State then homered in her final three games of the week (vs. Indian River State, DH vs. Lake-Sumter State)

Other nominees: Kendall Arcia, Daytona State; Gabriella Santos, Chipola; Jess Delawder, Florida State College at Jacksonville; Hannah Sparks, Northwest Florida State

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Jesse Goddard, Daytona State
Freshman – RHP
Surrey, BC, Canada 

• 2-0, 0.54 ERA in two appearances during the voting period
• Tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout in 1-0 win vs. South Florida State
• Allowed three hits and one run over six innings in her team’s 7-1 win vs. St. Petersburg
• In 13 total innings, she allowed six hits, one run and four walks and struck out 13