TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 7, 2017) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for March 7 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played February 27-March 5. 

The next poll and player of the week selections will be released March 14. 

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 7, 2017 

The NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2017 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: Hillsborough 7, Florida SouthWestern 7, St. Petersburg 6, Tallahassee 3.

Dropped from rankings: No. 7 St. Petersburg

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
March 7, 2017 

The NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2017 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 9, St. Johns River State 3, Pensacola State 2.

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Nick Owens, St. Johns River State
Sophomore – SS
Charlotte, N.C. 

• Batted .833 (5-for-6) with nine runs scored, one home run and three RBIs in three games during the voting period
• Also drew four walks
• Hit safely and scored at least twice in all three games – all wins – vs. Seminole State
• Was 2-for-4 with four runs scored, a homer and three RBIs in game two vs. Seminole State

Other nominees: Juan Teixeira, ASA Miami; Bryan Lavastida, Hillsborough; Kyle Phillips, Santa Fe; Skylar Frey, Polk State; Tanner Thomas, Tallahassee

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Zach Schneider, Polk State
Sophomore – RHP
Boca Raton, Fla. 

• 2-0 with 0.00 ERA in two appearances during the voting period
• Picked up both wins in relief – and both in extra innings
• Earned the win in 12-6, 10-inning victory in game one vs. St. Petersburg with 2.2 scoreless innings
• Picked up the win in a 13-inning, 6-3 win in game three vs. St. Petersburg with 4.1 scoreless innings
• Totaled 6.3 scoreless innings, allowing only five hits and one walk with six strikeouts

Other nominees: Ryan Fernandez, Hillsborough; Kyle Farjad, Palm Beach State; Chris Kachmar, Palm Beach State; Brendon Little, State College of Florida

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Noa Armirotto, Florida State College at Jacksonville
Freshman - UTIL
Edegem, Belguim 

• Batted .727 (8-for-11) with two doubles, one home run, 12 RBIs and two stolen bases in four games during the voting period
• Helped FSCJ to a 3-1 record last week, including a win over NJCAA No. 19 Georgia Military College
• Hit safely in all four games and also scored at least two runs and drove in at least two runs in each game
• Went 3-for-6 with five runs and six RBI in doubleheader vs. USC-Sumter
• Was 5-for-5 with four runs, a homer and six RBIs in doubleheader vs. Georgia Military

Other nominees: Barbara Woll, Chipola; Brooke Barlow, Central Florida; Damisha Charles, Daytona State; Miranda Green, Daytona State; Whitney Foyer, Seminole State; Taylor Collins, Florida SouthWestern

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Giovanna Watts, Florida SouthWestern
Freshman – RHP
Winter Park, Fla. 

• 2-0 with a 0.54 ERA in two appearances during the voting period
• Picked up wins over Miami Dade and NJCAA No. 1 Central Florida
• Allowed two hits in six shutout innings vs. Miami Dade; followed with a complete-game effort vs. Central Florida, scattering six hits and one run in the 8-1 win
• Totaled 13 innings in the circle, allowing eight hits, one run, one walk and eight strikeouts

Other nominees: Krystal Goodman, Chipola; Morgan Cushman, Central Florida; Tina Velazquez, Daytona State; Melanie Murphy, Seminole State; Hailey Andrews, Indian River State; Anessa Holes, Florida State College at Jacksonville