TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 19, 2019) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has released its NJCAA Region 8 Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Polls for March 19 and Player and Pitcher of the Week selections for games played March 11-17.

The next poll and player of the week selections will be released March 26. 

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 19, 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: Gulf Coast State 13, Hillsborough 6, Palm Beach State 4.

Dropped from rankings: No. 6 Gulf Coast State, No. 10 Daytona State

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Coaches’ Poll
March 19, 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: Northwest Florida State 18, Daytona State 13, St. Petersburg 1 

Dropped from rankings: No. 9 Daytona State

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week
Josh Crouch, State College of Florida
So. – DH
Sebring, Fla. 

• Batted .500 (8-for-16) with five runs scored, one double, two home runs, and seven RBIs in four games during the voting period
• Hit safely in all four games, helping the Manatees to a 4-0 week
• Three multi-hit games, homering in two of those and was 3-for-5 vs. South Florida State

Other nominees: Nolan Machibroda, Central Florida; Will Moriarty, Northwest Florida State; Langston Provitt, St. Johns River State; Rafael Marquez, Hillsborough; Dustin Harris, St. Petersburg

NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Jacob Kush, Northwest Florida State
Fr. - RHP
Ontario, Canada 

• 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one appearance during the voting period
• Pitched a complete game in seven-inning win over Pensacola State
• Allowed one run (unearned), five hits and one walk while striking out 12

Other nominees: Haden Erbe, Seminole State; Aaron Brown, State College of Florida; Max Charnin, Palm Beach State; Colton Gordon, Hillsborough

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Player of the Week
Juliana Speranza, Indian River State
So. – UTIL
Woodbridge, ONT, Canada 

• Batted .526 (10-for-19) with nine runs scored, four doubles, three home runs, 15 RBIs and three stolen bases in six games during the voting period
• Hit safely, scored and drove in a run in five of the six games
• Four straight multi-hit games in the Southern Conference Round-Robin
• Was 3-for-4 with three runs, a home run and five RBI vs. Palm Beach State

Other nominees: Chelsea Peace, Seminole State; Madison Boren, Daytona State; Karina Oritz-Munoz, Santa Fe; Cheyenne Nunez, State College of Florida; Anina Fernandez, Central Florida; Eila Infante, Chipola

NJCAA Region 8 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Brianna Bailey, Chipola
Fr. – RHP
Wewahitchka, Fla. 

• 2-0, 0.00 ERA in two appearances during the voting period
• Complete-game wins vs. Pensacola State and Gulf Coast State
• Pitched all ten innings in 3-2 win over Gulf Coast, with one walk and 18 strikeouts
• Totaled 17 innings in the circle, allowing 10 hits, two runs (both unearned) and five walks while striking out 25

Other nominees: Marisa Adame, Seminole State; Madi LoCastro, State College of Florida