Region 8 Player of the Week Awards: March 26, 2024

Region 8 and the FCSAA would like to congratulate all student-athletes who are recognized as part of our Player of the Week Awards. Weekly honorees are automatically submitted for NJCAA Player of the Week consideration on behalf of Region 8 and the FCSAA.

For more Player of the Week coverage, follow the FCSAA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at "TheFCSAA."


DI Baseball Player of the Week | DI Baseball Pitcher of the Week | DI Softball Player of the Week | DI Softball Pitcher of the Week | DII Baseball Player of the Week | DII Baseball Pitcher of the Week | DII Softball Player of the Week | DII Softball Pitcher of the Week | Women's Tennis Player of the Week | Beach Volleyball Pair of the Week

POTW Archives: August 29, 2023 | September 5, 2023 | September 12, 2023 | September 19, 2023 | September 26, 2023 | October 3, 2023 | October 10, 2023 | October 17, 2023 | October 24, 2023 | October 31, 2023 | November 14, 2023 | November 21, 2023 | November 28, 2023 | December 5, 2023 | December 12, 2023 | December 19, 2023 | January 9, 2024 | January 16, 2024 | January 23, 2024 | January 30, 2024 | February 6, 2024 | February 13, 2024 | February 20, 2024 | February 27, 2024 | March 5, 2024 | March 12, 2024 | March 19, 2024


DI Baseball Player of the Week

Hector Mangual

Hector Mangual, Eastern Florida State
So. | SS
Orlando, Fla.  

  • Batted .500 (7-for-14) with four runs scored, one triple, five RBI and four stolen bases in four games
  • Reached base and drove in a run in each game, helping the Titans to a split of four games
  • Went 3-for-5 and swiped two bases against Indian River State
  • Recorded two hits in each game of a doubleheader vs. Florida SouthWestern on March 23

Other nominees: Cooper Clapp, Florida SouthWestern; Liam O'Neil, Polk State; Cayden Gaskin, Northwest Florida State


DI Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Cooper Whited

Cooper Whited, Gulf Coast State
Fr. | LHP
Jacksonville, Fla.

  • 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one appearance
  • Tossed a three-hit shutout in the Commodores' 8-0 win over Tallahassee
  • In seven innings, he only walked one and struck out nine

Other nominees: Brandon Clarke, State College of Florida; Ryan Grzesiak, Florida SouthWestern; Evan Koehler, Polk State; Alex Walsh, Northwest Florida State; Nick Davidson, Santa Fe


DI Softball Player of the Week

Christina Mason

Christina Mason, Northwest Florida State
So. | 3B
Cantonment, Fla.

  • Batted .636 (7-for-11) with five runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI and one stolen base in four games
  • Hit safely in each game, leading the Raiders to a 4-0 week
  • Went 3-for-5 in a doubleheader vs. Tallahassee
  • Homered in both games of a doubleheader vs. Gulf Coast State and was 3-for-3 with six RBI in game one

Other nominees: Virginia Mambelli, Florida SouthWestern; McKenzie Jewell, Eastern Florida State; Sydney Fowler, Santa Fe


DI Softball Pitcher of the Week

Cailyn Heyl

Cailyn Heyl, Northwest Florida State
Fr. | RHP
Central, La.

  • 2-0, 0.58 ERA in two appearances
  • Picked up complete-game victories vs. Tallahassee and Gulf Coast State
  • In 12 total innings in the circle, she allowed eight hits, one earned run and two walks while striking out eight

Other nominees: Lea Chevrier, Florida SouthWestern; Mallory Forrester, Santa Fe


DII Baseball Player of the Week

Anthony Ruiz

Anthony Ruiz, Palm Beach State
So. | OF
Miami, Fla.

  • Batted .500 (4-for-8) with two runs scored, one home run and seven RBI in two games
  • In game two of a doubleheader vs. Lake-Sumter State, he was 4-for-5 with a home run and seven RBI

Other nominees: None


DII Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Tyler Toro

Tyler Toro, Lake-Sumter State
So. | RHP
Oviedo, Fla.  

  • 1-0, 0.00 in one appearance
  • Tossed a two-hit shutout in the Lakehawks' 2-0 win over Palm Beach State
  • In seven innings, he allowed only two walks and struck out three

Other nominees: Max Folkman, Palm Beach State


DII Softball Player of the Week

Alyssa Vallad

Alyssa Vallad, St. Johns River State
Fr. | 1B
Riverview, Fla. 

  • Batted .526 (10-for-19) with four runs scored, one double, two home runs and six RBI in five games
  • Hit safely in each game, powering the Vikings to a 4-1 week
  • In game two against Central Florida, she was 3-for-4, scored two runs, homered and drove in two runs
  • In game one against Pasco-Hernando State, she homered for the second straight game and drove in four runs

Other nominees: Megan Wright, Lake-Sumter State


DII Softball Pitcher of the Week

Caylee Elder

Caylee Elder, St. Johns River State
Fr. | RHP
Minneola, Fla.

  • 1-0, 1.00 ERA in two appearances
  • Complete-game victory in game one of a doubleheader vs. Central Florida
  • In seven innings, she allowed six hits and one earned run and recorded one strikeout

Other nominees: None


Women's Tennis Player of the Week

Elena Martinez Prado

Elena Martinez Prado, Eastern Florida State
Fr. 
Sevilla, Spain

  • Playing at No. 1 singles, she picked up wins vs. Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and St. Lawrence, helping the Titans to a pair of team wins
  • Also victorious at No. 3 doubles vs. St. Lawrence 

Other nominees: None


Beach Volleyball Pair of the Week

Braelyn Mittauer Jayden Ponsford

Braelyn Mittauer (L), Lake-Sumter State
Fr. | Pompano Beach, Fla.

Jayden Ponsford (R), Lake-Sumter State
So. | Aurora, Colo.

  • Playing as the #3 pair for the Lakehawks, the duo enjoyed a good two-week stretch, particularly against FCSAA competition
  •  
    On March 16, they pushed NCAA Division II Erskine to three sets then bounced back for a straight-set win over St. Johns River StateIn addition to wins against FCSAA opponents State College of Florida and St. Johns River State
  • Two days later, in back-to-back duals against NCAA Division II Florida Southern, they took their opponent to three sets on both occasions
  • Finally, on March 22, they picked up another FCSAA win, defeating Palm Beach State's #3s in straight sets, 22-20 and 21-16

Other nominees: None