TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 20, 2018) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for March 20 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played March 12-18. 

The next poll and player of the week selections will be released March 27. 

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 20, 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 16, Tallahassee 3.

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
March 20, 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: Northwest Florida State 13, St. Petersburg 8, Lake-Sumter State 4, Hillsborough 2.

Dropped from rankings: No. 8t Northwest Florida State

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
C.J. Alexander, State College of Florida
Sophomore – 3B
Cape Coral, Fla. 

• Batted .688 (11-for-16) with eight runs scored, three doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in four games during the voting period
• Posted four straight multi-hit games and scored at least one run in each, including three games with two or more runs, leading the Manatees to a perfect 4-0 week
• Was 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI vs. Polk State; finished the week going 2-for-4 with three runs scored, a homer and two RBI vs. South Florida State
• Also drew five walks and stole a base

Other nominees: Josh Rulli, Pensacola State; Freddy Rojas, Hillsborough; Christian Smallwood, Central Florida; Jacob Stanley, Florida SouthWestern

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Max McKinley, Santa Fe
Sophomore - RHP
Tallahassee, Fla. 

• 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Threw a four-hit shutout in the Saints’ 1-0 victory over St. Johns River State
• Walked none and struck out 10 in the victory

Other nominees: Vince Vannelle, Florida SouthWestern; Zach Attianese, State College of Florida; D.J. Wilkinson, Pensacola State; Eric Crawford, Florida State College at Jacksonville; Kevin Nunez, Hillsborough; Zac Wilson, Seminole State

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Chelsea Peace, Seminole State
Freshman – UTIL
Orlando, Fla. 

• Batted .533 (8-for-15) with eight runs scored, one double, four home runs (1.400 slugging percentage) and 11 RBI in six games during the voting period
• Hit safely in all six games as the Raiders posted a 5-1 week
• Was 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI in DH vs. Santa Fe
• Top performance of the week was going 2-for-2 with two homers and five RBI in come-from-behind victory over Central Florida in battle of nationally-ranked teams

Other nominees: Alexis Grampp, Chipola; Taylor Collins, Florida SouthWestern

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Morgan Goree, Chipola
Sophomore – RHP
Senoia, Ga. 

• 2-0, 0.00 ERA in two appearances during the voting period
• Picked up complete-game victories with a pair of one-hitters vs. Northwest Florida State and Pensacola State to open Panhandle Conference play
• In 11 total innings, she struck out 14 and allowed only one run (unearned) and two hits

Other nominees: Krystal Goodman, Chipola; Taylor Collins, Florida SouthWestern; Jordan Lawlis, Eastern Florida State