TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 3, 2018) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for April 3 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played March 26-April 1. 

The next poll and player of the week selections will be released April 10. 

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
April 3, 2018 

The NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2018 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 14, Northwest Florida State 12.

Dropped from rankings: No. 9, Northwest Florida State, No. 10 Hillsborough

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
April 3, 2018 

The NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2018 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: Pensacola State 18, Northwest Florida State 16, St. Johns River State 6, St. Petersburg 4.

Dropped from rankings: No. 8 Pensacola State 

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Joey Bellini, St. Johns River State
Sophomore – 2B
Orlando, Fla. 

• Batted .625 (10-for-16) with five runs scored, one home run and five RBI in four games during the voting period
• Had at least one hit, one run scored and one RBI in each of the four games
• Three multi-hit games, including a 4-for-6, two-RBI effort vs. Central Florida

Other nominees: John Pichman, State College of Florida; Christian Smallwood, Central Florida; Blaise Maris, South Florida State

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Grant Stewart, Northwest Florida State
Sophomore - LHP
Paxton, Fla. 

• 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Threw a six-hit shutout against nationally-ranked Chipola in his only appearance of the week
• In the Raiders’ 1-0 win, he allowed no walks and struck out five

Other nominees: Hunter Perdue, State College of Florida; Kyle Coleman, South Florida State

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Chandler Sparkman, Gulf Coast State
Sophomore – DP
Decatur, Ala. 

• Batted .533 (8-for-15) with three runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI in four games during the voting period
• Hit safely in all four games, helping the Commodores to a 3-1 record
• Had two homers and six RBI in game one vs. Tallahassee and was 5-for-8 with three home runs and eight RBI total in the doubleheader

Other nominees: Olivia Pope, Northwest Florida State

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Morgan Cushman, Central Florida
Sophomore – RHP
Lake City, Fla. 

• 2-0, one save and 0.48 ERA in three appearances during the voting period
• Picked up the save with 2.2 innings of one-hit ball in game one vs. Santa Fe; tossed a complete-game shutout in game two
• Pitched two-hit shutout vs. St. Johns River State
• In 14.2 total innings, she allowed 10 hits, one run (earned) and four walks while striking out 12

Other nominees: Chandler Sparkman, Gulf Coast State