LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Blue Springs South’s (Mo.) Riley Hollister and Papillion-LaVista’s (Neb.) Kaylee Huffman garnered the latest GameChanger/NFCA Fall High School National Player and Pitcher of the Week honors of the 2026 season, the Association announced on Monday.
Second baseman Hollister went 12-for-18 (.667) with nine runs, a double, four home runs and 10 RBI to help lead the (17-12) Jaguars to their sixth conference championship. The senior has tied the school hits record with 49 heading into Wednesday’s Class 5, District 7 tournament game against Smith-Cotton.
Huffman, meanwhile, continued her strong season for the (25-9) Monarchs, picking up three victories in the circle and tossing a no-hitter (seven strikeouts) on Wednesday versus Norfolk. The senior right-hander fanned 11 more Panthers in a five-hitter when the two teams squared off again on Thursday, and also had a four-hitter last Monday against Elkhorn North.
District titlist Papillion-LaVista, which qualified for a record 34th-straight Nebraska state tournament, plays Millard West on Wednesday.
2026 GameChanger/NFCA Fall High School National Pitcher of the Week
Oct. 12 — Kaylee Huffman, Papillion-LaVista (Neb.), Sr., RHP, Papillion, Neb.
Oct. 5 — Lucy Reliford, Liberty (Mo.), So., RHP, Liberty, Mo.
Sept. 28 — Rory Gilworth, Putnam County (Mo.), Jr., RHP, Unionville, Mo.
Sept. 21 — Zoie Griffin, Tahlequah (Okla.), Sr., RHP, Tahlequah, Okla.
Sept. 14 — Landry Marsh, Chillicothe (Mo.), Sr., RHP, Chillicothe, Mo.
Sept. 7 — Zoie Griffin, Tahlequah (Okla.), Sr., RHP, Tahlequah, Okla.
Aug. 31 — Graclyn Simmons, Grand Island Northwest (Neb.), Jr., RHP, Grand Island, Neb.
2026 GameChanger/NFCA Fall High School National Player of the Week
Oct. 12 — Riley Hollister, Blue Springs South (Mo.), Sr., 2B, Blue Springs, Mo.
Oct. 5 — Sadee Leach, Neosho (Mo.), Jr., C, Neosho, Mo.
Sept. 28 — Shelby Callahan, Smithville (Mo.), Sr., SS, Smithville, Mo.
Sept. 21 — Rylee Stark, Tahlequah (Okla.), So., 2B, Tahlequah, Okla.
Sept. 14 — Marleigh McDonald, Smithville (Mo.), Sr., CF, Smithville, Mo.
Sept. 7 — Abby Dinkelman, Grand Island Northwest (Neb.), So., SS, Grand Island, Neb.
Aug. 31 — Saisului Kolone, Stillwater (Okla.), Jr., UTL, Stillwater, Okla.
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Players are nominated by member coaches via the Coach’s Box at NFCA.org.
The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention.
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