L to R: Marina Cronin, Megan Heidelbauer, Caelynn Obleton, Katie Shaner, Ashlyn Steen (photos by Frank Novak)

Posted: May 15, 2026

Five players secure NFCA All-Region accolades

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In the midst of battling for their first NCAA Regional title since 1999, the Simpson softball team had five players named to the NFCA All-Region Team.

Marina Cronin and Ashlyn Steen earned first team honors, while Megan Heidelbauer, Caelynn Obleton and Katie Shaner landed on the second team. The awards mark the third in the career of Steen and Heidelbauer, second for Obleton, and first for Cronin and Shaner.

The awards honor student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with selection to one of three teams. NFCA member head coaches nominate and then vote for the winners in their respective region. Coaches may nominate a maximum of eight players from their squad.

All honorees move forward to be considered for selection for the three NFCA Division III All-America squads, which will be announced May 27 on NFCA.org and the Association's social media accounts.

Marina Cronin, first team

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

Ashlyn Steen, first team

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)
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, second team

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

Caelynn Obleton, second team

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

Katie Shaner, second team

Junior right fielder 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