TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 26, 2019) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for February 26 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played February 18-24.

The next poll and player of the week selections will be released March 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
February 26, 2019 

The NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2019 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: Chipola 20, Tallahassee 11, Pensacola State 2.

Dropped from rankings: No. 9 Pensacola State, No. 10 Chipola.

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
February 26, 2019 

The NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll, with number of first-place votes in parentheses, 2019 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: Tallahassee 7, Eastern Florida State 4, Northwest Florida State 3, Broward 2.

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
James Nix, Central Florida
Freshman – RF
Huntsville, Ala. 

• Batted .600 (12-for-20) with nine runs scored, three doubles, two triples, two home runs, 12 RBI and one stolen base in five games during the voting period
• Hit safely, scored and drove in a run in each game as the Patriots enjoyed a 5-0 week
• Had three three-hit games, including 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI vs. Florida SouthWestern

Other nominees: Brian Dillingham, State College of Florida; Dustin Harris, St. Petersburg; Corey King, Seminole State; Drake Dobyanski, Florida SouthWestern; Robbie Scott, Lake-Sumter State; Will Moriarty, Northwest Florida State; Jisjar Clotida, Palm Beach State

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Brooks Walton, Santa Fe
Freshman – RHP
Gainesville, Fla. 

• 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Pitched a nine-inning no-hitter vs. Abraham Baldwin in the Saints’ 7-0 win
• Walked two and struck out nine

Other nominees: Francisco Mateo, Central Florida; Jeremy Adams, St. Petersburg; Louis Davenport, Seminole State; Rafael Santos, Florida SouthWestern; Brett Wisely, Gulf Coast State; Conor Angel, Northwest Florida State; Brad Jones, Hillsborough

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Dontaysha Gobourne, Santa Fe
Freshman – RF
Lake Placid, Fla. 

• Batted .583 (7-for-12) with four runs, one double, two home runs, five RBI and one stolen base in four games during the voting period
• Hit safely in each game, helping the Saints to a 3-1 week
• Had three hits, including a solo home run in game one vs. Tallahassee; finished the week going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in game two vs. Eastern Florida State

Other nominees: Owen Bowers, Florida SouthWestern; Taylor Scala, Chipola

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Shayne O’Connell, Pensacola State
Sophomore – RHP
Tallahassee, Fla. 

• 4-0, 1 save, 0.55 ERA in five appearances during the voting period
• Picked up complete-game wins over Coastal Alabama-South, Daytona State and Florida State College-Jacksonville and was the winning pitcher in a relief appearance against Seminole State
• Also earned the save vs. Broward
• Totaled 25.1 innings in the circle and allowed 15 hits, two earned runs and seven walks while striking out 43

Other nominees: Sarah Lawton, Florida SouthWestern; Brianna Bailey, Chipola