TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 22, 2016) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for March 22 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played March 14-20.

The next poll and Player and Pitcher of the week selections will be released March 29.

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 22, 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: Pasco-Hernando State 23, State College of Florida 22, St. Petersburg 20, Miami Dade 14, Palm Beach State 3, Pensacola State 2.

Dropped from rankings: No. 8 State College of Florida.

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
March 22, 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: Tallahassee 17, Santa Fe 11, St. Petersburg 11, South Florida State 8, Pensacola State 6, Miami Dade 4, Eastern Florida State 4, St. Johns River State 3.

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Hugo Valdes, Santa Fe
Sophomore – 1B
Key West, Fla. 

• Batted .700 (7-for-10) with four runs scored, one double, two home runs and nine RBIs in three games during the voting period
• Led Santa Fe to a perfect 3-0 record last week
• Hit safely in all three games and had a multi-hit game in each
• Was 3-for-5 with two home runs and seven RBIs in a 19-9 win over Daytona State

Other nominees: J.C. Millan, Broward; Paul Russo, Hillsborough; Omar Villaman, St. Johns River State; J.D. Dutka, Florida SouthWestern State; Chris Busch, St. Petersburg; Jesse Getford, Lake-Sumter State; Jorge Lopez, ASA Miami; Jordan Ding, Pasco-Hernando State

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Orlando Rodriguez, Broward
Sophomore – RHP
Miami, Fla. 

• 1-0, 2.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Pitched a complete-game three-hitter and picked up the win vs. Indian River State
• Allowed three hits and two runs, walked none and struck out 11

Other nominees: Adrien Rivera, Hillsborough; Tyler Carr, St. Johns River State; Skylar Arias, Tallahassee

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Gabriela Santos, Chipola
Sophomore – RF
Brazil 

• Batted .688 (11-for-16) with nine runs scored, one double, two home runs, eight RBIs and six stolen bases in six games during the voting period
• Led Chipola to a 5-1 record
• Hit safely and scored in all six games, including five multi-hit outings
• Was 4-for-6 with a home run and five RBIs in a DH vs. Southeastern; 3-for-5 in a DH vs. Gulf Coast State; 4-for-5 with a HR and two RBIs in a DH vs. Tallahassee

Other nominees: Brooke Barlow, Central Florida; Molly Roark, Florida SouthWestern State

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

• 4-0, 0.56 ERA in four appearances during the voting period
• Tossed three complete games, including both ends of a doubleheader vs. St. Petersburg
• Two of her victories were shutouts
• In game one vs. St. Petersburg, tossed eight shutout innings of four-hit ball and struck out 10 in the Bucs’ 2-0 victory

Other nominees: Kalen McGill, Central Florida; Ilona Andringa, Chipola; Erika Greek, Pensacola State