TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 29, 2016) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for March 29 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played March 21-27.

The next poll and Player and Pitcher of the week selections will be released April 5.

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 29, 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: Northwest Florida State 25, Pasco-Hernando State 13, State College of Florida 13, Miami Dade 12, Palm Beach State 4, Seminole State 2, Pensacola State 1.

Dropped from rankings: No. 8 Northwest Florida State. 

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
March 29, 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 14, Eastern Florida State 9, St. Johns River State 7, Polk State 5, Santa Fe 3, Florida State College at Jacksonville 2, South Florida State 2.

Dropped from rankings: No. 10 Florida State College at Jacksonville.

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Chris Busch, St. Petersburg
Freshman – RF
West Palm Beach, Fla. 

• Batted .524 (11-for-21) with six runs scored, one home run, five RBIs and three stolen bases in five games during the voting period
• Led St. Petersburg to a 4-1 record
• Hit safely in all five games, including four multi-hit outings
• Was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in his first game of the week vs. State College of Florida; there hits in a win vs. State College of Florida; two hits and three RBIs in a win vs. Florida SouthWestern State

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Andrew George, Miami Dade
Sophomore – LHP
Miami, Fla. 

• 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Pitched a seven-inning no-hitter vs. Broward on March 22 in Miami Dade’s 10-0 win
• In the win, walked only two and struck out 10

Other nominees: Dominick Stefanacci, St. Petersburg; Trent Johnson, Santa Fe; Chris Grullon, ASA Miami

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Kate Kelly, Seminole State
Freshman – CF
Cape Coral, Fla. 

• Batted .643 (9-for-14) with three runs scored, two RBIs and three stolen bases in four games during the voting period
• Led Seminole State to a 4-0 record
• Hit safely in all four games, including a pair of three-hit games and a two-hit effort
• 4-for-7 in a DH vs. Lake-Sumter, including 3-for-4 in game one; 5-for-7 in DH vs. Florida State at Jacksonville, including 3-for-4 with another RBI in the nightcap

Other nominees: Molly Roark, Florida SouthWestern State; Madison Ragan, Chipola

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

• 2-0, 0.70 ERA in two appearances during the voting period
• Bucs won both of her starts and finished 4-0 overall for the week
• Tossed a pair of complete-game shutouts, both against Polk State on March 22
• In 10 total innings, allowed eight hits and one run (earned), two walks and nine strikeouts

Other nominees: Ilona Andringa, Chipola