(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 – Jake Watson, Concordia University (Catcher)
Concordia University catcher Jake Watson is this week’s GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports baseball player-of-the-week. Watson, a junior from Lincoln, Nebraska, emerged as No. 16 Concordia’s leading hitter during a four-game sweep of Graceland (Iowa). In the series, Watson batted .571 (8-for-14) with two doubles, a home run and eight RBIs. From his catcher’s spot, Watson threw out two of three runners who attempted to steal. He is hitting .444 on the season.
Pitcher – Dexter Payne, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dexter Payne of Dakota Wesleyan University is this week’s GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports pitcher-of-the-week. Payne, a senior from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, had 11 strikeouts on the mound in the Tiger’s second game of the series against York. He recorded seven consecutive strikeouts to begin the contest in a complete seven-inning game shutout performance, only surrendering two hits on the day.