Week 4: GPAC Softball Players of the Week

(Sioux City, Iowa) – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and Hauff Mid-America Sports are proud to announce the softball player and pitcher-of-the-week for contests played February 23-March1, 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 Softball Weekly Honors

Player – Lauren Steenstra, Dordt University (Infielder)

Lauren Steenstra of Dordt University is this week's GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports softball player-of-the-week.  Steenstra, a senior from Wyoming, Michigan, hit .727 in four Dordt wins and knocked in at least one run in all four games. In all she had seven RBI and three extra base hits. She had multi-hit games in three of the four games and went 1-for-1 in the fourth game of the week.

Pitcher – Natalie Ascencio, Doane University

Natalie Ascencio of Doane University is this week's GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports pitcher-of-the-week.  Ascencio, a junior from Glendale, California, threw 10.2 scoreless innings on the week, including a complete game six-inning shutout against (RV) Friends. Additionally, she threw one scoreless frame against Kansas Wesleyan and 3.2 scoreless innings against (RV) Benedictine). Ascencio limited the opposing offensives to a .054 batting average while posting a 0.47 WHIP. Offensively, she hit .375 on the week, including a 2-for-4 effort in her win over Friends.