COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 16, 2016) - Eight baseball student-athletes from Region 8 earned all-America honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

Leading the way was first-team selection Hunter Tackett from Northwest Florida State College, the Florida College System Activities Association's 2016 Player of the Year. Tackett was the only first-team selection from Region 8. 

Three student-athletes garnered second-team all-America honors. Eastern Florida State College pitcher Blair Calvo and Miami Dade College infielder Santiago Espinal were named DI second-team all-Americans while Pasco-Hernando State College pitcher Tanner Thompson brought home the award in the DII ranks. 

Seminole State College designated hitter Rhett Aplin was the lone third-team all-American and three players - Gulf Coast State College catcher Jonathan Bennett, Santa Fe College pitcher Troy Bacon and St. Johns River State College infielder Omar Villaman - were honorable mention all-Americans. 

As part of its postseason awards announcements, the NJCAA announced its Baseball ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Awards® and Marucci Elite Hitter Awards. 

The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Awards® are given by position and Eastern Florida State College's Sammy Duran was one of three outfielders selected to the team. The freshman posted a 1.000 fielding percentage in 2016. 

The Marucci Elite Hitter Awards are presented to the All-America nominee with the highest batting average from each district. 

Aplin, representing Seminole State, took home the Division I Gulf District award with a .443 batting average while Pasco-Hernando State third baseman Jordan Ding received the Division II Southeast District award with a .467 average.