TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 1, 2016) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for March 1 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played February 22-28. 

The next poll and Player and Pitcher of the week selections will be released March 8. 

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 1, 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: Central Florida 34, Broward 24, St. Petersburg 19, South Florida State 12, Daytona State 9, Palm Beach State 6, Pasco-Hernando State 4, Pensacola State 2, Hillsborough 1.

Dropped from rankings: No. 10 South Florida State.

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
March 1, 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. Petersburg 16, Miami Dade 9, Seminole State 8, Polk State 7, Santa Fe 4, Tallahassee 4, South Florida State 2. 

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Luke Heyer, Central Florida
Sophomore – 3B
Lithia, Fla. 

• Batted .556 (10-for-18) with six runs scored, one double, two home runs, 10 RBIs and one stolen base in five games during the voting period
• Led Central Florida to four wins in five games
• Hit safely in four of the five games, including three straight three-hit games to start the week
• Was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs in back-to-back games vs. State College of Florida; 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a homer and four RBIs vs. South Georgia State

Other nominees: Stephen Smith, Santa Fe; Chad Stockdale, Santa Fe; Jorge Lopez, ASA Miami; Cody Burgess, Polk State

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Addison Reed, Chipola
Sophomore - RHP
Kennesaw, Ga. 

• 1-0, 1.29 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Beat Wallace-Dothan on February 26, allowing one hit and one run over seven innings in Chipola’s 11-1 victory
• Allowed no walks and struck out 13

Other nominees: Ronnie May, Northwest Florida State; David Lebron, Central Florida; Drew Peden, Daytona State; Jaun Terron, South Florida State; Jordan Spicer, Polk State

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Shannon Bell, Hillsborough
Sophomore – OF
Brandon, Fla. 

• Batted .636 (21-for-33) with 10 runs scored, seven doubles, three triples (1.030 slugging percentage) and seven RBIs in eight games during the voting period
• Led Hillsborough to a 7-1 record last week
• Hit safely in each game, extending her hitting streak to 18 games overall. Had six multi-hit games, including four hits against both Palm Beach State (4-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Broward (4-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI)
• Was 6-for-9 in DH vs. NJCAA No. 13 Miami Dade, helping the Hawks to a split

Other nominees: Madison Ragan, Chipola; Caeley Nix, Central Florida; Kayla Rangiawha, Florida SouthWestern State; Veronica Frees, Florida State College at Jacksonville

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Kaitlyn McMillan, St. Petersburg
Sophomore – RHP
Valrico, Fla. 

• 4-0, 0.54 ERA in four appearances during the voting period
• Three complete-game victories, including one vs. Central Florida, handing the Patriots their first loss of the season
• Also picked up wins vs. Oakland, Tallahassee and Pensacola State
• In 26 total innings, allowed 22 hits, six walks and three runs (two earned) while striking out 15

Other nominees: Ilona Andringa, Chipola; Kalen McGill, Central Florida; Courtney Gettins, Florida SouthWestern State