Week 3: GPAC Baseball Players of the Week

(Sioux City, Iowa) – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and Hauff Mid-America Sports are proud to announce the following baseball player and pitcher-of-the-week for contests played February 16-22, 2026. Hauff Mid-America Sports is the presenting sponsor of the 2025-2026 GPAC Players-of-the-Week and Players and Coaches-of-the-Year awards program. 

Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Baseball Weekly Honors

Player – Cooper Benecke, Midland University (Outfielder)

Midland University outfielder Cooper Benecke is this week's GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports baseball player-of-the-week.  Benecke, a junior from Papillion, Nebraska, hit .800 this week during a midweek doubleheader with Dakota State. He had home runs in both games, including a grand slam in the Warriors' 9-2 win of game one. He finished the week going 4-for-5 with 2 homers, 6 RBI, and a walk. In the field, he converted all five chances for outs.

Pitcher – Alex Johnson, Concordia University

Alex Johnson of Concordia University is this week's GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports pitcher-of-the-week.  Johnson, a senior from Olathe, Kansas, worked five innings without allowing an earned run in his lone outing of the week. Johnson limited 25th-ranked Central Methodist (Mo.) to one hit and one walk (six strikeouts). Concordia fell in a 1-0 pitcher's duel. Johnson is the reigning GPAC Pitcher of the Year.