CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 27, 2019) - The NJCAA announced its Player of the Week awards on Wednesday and included four recipients from Region 8.
The Region 8 honorees included Miami Dade College's Michelle Pruitt, the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Player of the Week; the College of Central Florida's James Nix, the NJCAA Division I Baseball Player of the Week; Santa Fe College's Brooks Walton, the NJCAA Division I Baseball Pitcher of the Week; and Pensacola State College's Shayne O'Connell, the NJCAA
Pruitt, a sophomore forward from Homewood, Ill., appeared in just one game during the voting period but it was a big one. In helping lead Miami Dade past Broward College to claim the Southern Conference Championship, Pruitt totaled 38 points, 21 rebounds, two assists and four steals.
She shot 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) from the floor and 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) from the free throw line.
Nix, a freshman right fielder from 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. He hit safely, scored and drove in a run in each game as the Patriots enjoyed a 5-0 week.
Nix had three three-hit games, including 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI vs. Florida SouthWestern
Walton, a freshman right-hander from Gainesville, Fla., was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period. He pitched a nine-inning no-hitter vs. Abraham Baldwin in the Saints’ 7-0 win. Walton walked two and struck out nine.
O'Connell, a sophomore right-hander from Tallahassee, Fla., was 4-0 with one save and a 0.55 ERA in five appearances during the voting period.
She 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. She also earned the save vs. Broward.
O'Connell totaled 25.1 innings in the circle and allowed 15 hits, two earned runs and seven walks while striking out 43.