Steen named A-R-C Player of the Year, highlights eight Storm on all-conference team

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Following a 34-5 season, capped off by winning the A-R-C Tournament for the first time in program history, Ashlyn Steen was named the American Rivers Player of the Year, headlining eight Storm named to the All-Conference team on Wednesday.

Steen claimed Simpson's second straight A-R-C Player of the Year honors after Megan Heidelbauer won the award in 2025. Steen was one of four Storm named to the first team along with Heidelbauer, Brielyn Ginnaty and Emma LaFave. Four more Storm received second team honors in Caelynn Obleton, Katie Shaner, Mackenzie James, and Marina Cronin.

Ashlyn Steen, A-R-C Position Player of the Year/First Team All-Conference

• Senior centerfielder from Mount Vernon, Iowa
• Led the conference in batting average (.516), on-base percentage (.600), and slugging (.869)
• Ranked first in the conference in runs scored (61), hits (63), triple (8), and stolen bases (40)
• Her 40 stolen bases set a new program record for most steals in a single season, becoming the first Storm to hit the 40-mark
• In 122 at-bats, collected 12 doubles (8th in conference) and five home runs (6th in conference) with 29 runs batted in (15th in conference)
• In conference action, Steen slashed .600/.672/1.067, leading the A-R-C in all three categories
• Collected at least one hit in 35 of Simpson's 39 games, reaching a season-best 19-game hit streak
• Recorded 20 multi-hit games with a season-long five multi-hit game streak
• Named the American Rivers Player of the Week once on April, 20
• Selected to the mid-season NFCA Division III Pitcher and Players of the Year watchlist

Megan Heidelbauer, First Team All-Conference

• Senior first basemen from Marion, Iowa
• Played in all 39 games for the Storm, slashing .415/.458/.762 with seven home runs and 61 RBIs
• Led the American Rivers in RBIs and tied for third most in home runs, doubles (14), and triples (5)
• Ranked second in conference in slugging, fourth in batting average, and 13th in on-base percentage
• Her 1.220 OPS was second on the team and third best in the A-R-C
• Finished with the sixth most hits (51) and seventh most runs scored (41) in the conference
• Was a perfect 8-for-8 on the base paths and walked 10 times to only 12 strikeouts in 130 at-bats
• Named the American Rivers Player of the Week after leading Simpson in the conference tournament with five RBIs, four of which came in the championship game

Brielyn Ginnaty, First Team All-Conference

• Junior designated player from Great Falls, Montana
• Burst onto the scene with a .354 average, seven home runs, and 30 RBIs over 33 games
• Her seven home runs was tied with Heidelbauer for most on the team and tied for third most in the conference
• A .671 slugging percentage ranked sixth in the conference along with finishing tied for 13th in RBIs
• Over 82 at-bats, Ginnaty collected five doubles with six walks, while only striking out four times

Emma LaFave, First Team All-Conference

• Senior pitcher from Clive, Iowa
• Started 20 games in the circle while making 21 appearances, going 15-2 with a 2.47 ERA
• Tied for the conference lead in wins while ranking fourth in ERA, fifth in opposing batting average (.227) and sixth in innings pitched (107.2)
• Finished third in the conference in strikeouts (87), and strikeouts looking (27)
• Pitched a team-leading 12 complete games, allowing only 38 earned runs and struck out 5.46 batters per seven innings

Caelynn Obleton, Second Team All-Conference

• Senior third basemen from Marion, Iowa
• At the hot corner, Obleton finished the year with a .354/.453/.515 batting line with 18 runs batten in
• Over 39 games, Obleton collected 35 hits with 23 runs scored, 15 walks, and 10 stolen bases
• Collected 13 extra base hits with 10 doubles and three triples
• Ranked 15th in conference in on-base percentage, 20th in slugging, and 19th in OPS (.968)
• Was named the A-R-C Player of the Week once on March 2

Mackenzie James, Second Team All-Conference

• Junior leftfielder from Ankeny, Iowa
• Played in all 39 games, collecting 37 hits over 115 at-bats with three home runs and 33 RBIs
• Slashed .324/.394/.539, ranking 17th in the conference in slugging and 23rd in OPS (.933)
• Her 14 doubles was tied with Heidelbauer for most on the team and third most in conference
• Ranked 12th in conference in RBIs and 20th in walks (15), while only striking out once all year
• Was a perfect 7-for-7 on the bases and finished with 18 extra base hits

Katie Shaner, Second Team All-Conference

• Junior rightfielder from West Des Moines, Iowa
• Started all 39 games in right field for the Storm, hitting .408 with five home runs and 34 RBIs
• Ranked fifth in conference in batting average, 11th in slugging (.633), and 18th in on-base (.450)
• Collected 49 hits (tied for 10th in conference) with 27 runs scored (24th) and her 34 RBis ranked 11th most in A-R-C
• Slugged 16 extra base hits with 10 doubles, one triple, and the five home runs

Marina Cronin, Second Team All-Conference

• Sophomore pitcher from Kingsley, Iowa
• A three-time A-R-C Pitcher of the Week (3/2/26, 3/23/26, 5/11/26)
• Appeared in 23 games, making 13 starts, going 15-2 with a 1.80 ERA
• Led the conference in ERA, second in strikeouts (101), opposing batting average (.199) and tied with teammate LaFave in wins (15)
• Pitched 135.1 innings with nine complete games while allowing only 26 earned runs all season
• Got the call in the championship game, going a full seven innings, allowing just one run with two hits and five strikeouts
• Recorded three saves, tied for second most in the conference