LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Stillwater’s (Okla.) Saisului Kolone and Grand Island Northwest’s (Neb.) Graclyn Simmons earned the first GameChanger/NFCA Fall High School National Player and Pitcher of the Week honors of the 2026 season, the Association announced on Monday.
Junior right-hander Simmons threw a no-hitter and fanned 11 over seven innings last Tuesday against St. Cecilia and allowed just a bunt single in a four-inning one-hitter (eight strikeouts) versus Lincoln Southeast on Friday for the defending Nebraska state Class B champion (5-1) Vikings. Simmons also pitched a complete-game three-hitter against Standing Bear on Friday, during which she struck out 12 batters.
Simmons also excelled at the plate, going 4-for-12 with two doubles and six RBI for Northwest, which is ranked 17th in the GameChanger/NFCA Summer-Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll. She is just seven months removed from ACL surgery for an injury suffered during the wrestling season.
Kolone, meanwhile, had a standout week for the (11-2) Pioneers, who went a perfect 6-0 against teams from Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado at the Top Gun High School Invitational in Kansas City. The junior utility player collected 17 RBI while hitting .667 with two doubles, a triple, five home runs and two stolen bases.
She compiled a 1.571 slugging percentage and a 2.291 OPS for the six contests. Kolone also registered three wins and a save in the circle for the week, striking out 19 over 17.2 innings and three starts.
2026 GameChanger/NFCA Fall High School National Pitcher of the Week
Aug. 31 — Graclyn Simmons, Grand Island Northwest (Neb.), Jr., RHP, Grand Island, Neb.
2026 GameChanger/NFCA Fall High School National Player of the Week
Aug. 31 — Saisului Kolone, Stillwater (Okla.), Jr., UTL, Stillwater, Okla.
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