By Travis Rae, Communications and Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Latainna Eltsosie of Lubbock Christian (Texas) has been tabbed as the NAIA National Softball Player of the Week and Caitlin Santefort of Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Eltsosie and Santefort are the first honorees of the 2013 season. The pair was chosen, based on their performances from March 4 - 10 out of a pool of conference player of the week selections among 21 conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

Eltsosie, an Albuquerque, N.M., native, hit a scorching .615 (8-of-13) in helping the Lady Chaps to a 3-1 week. In her four games for the week, she recorded four home runs and 11 runs batted in (RBI). In the only lose for the Lady Chaps, Eltsosie hit two homeruns and collected four RBI. In three of the four games Eltsosie recorded multi-hit games. She recorded a slugging percentage of 1.538 for the week.

Eltsosie ranks near the top nationally in multiple categories, including tenth in homeruns (6) and 21st in RBI (22). She is hitting .286 for the season.

Santefort, a Mokena, Ill., native gave up no runs in six appearances last week for the Tigers. Santefort recorded five wins and one save in the last week. In 23 1/3 innings pitched, Santefort gave up 13 hits, while striking out 17 batters and walking four. Against No. 22 William Penn (Iowa) on March 7, Santefort allowed two hits while striking out one in an 11-0 victory.

Santefort ranks among the nation's elite in several major categories, including first in total earned runs allowed (0), Earned Run Average (0.00), total runs allowed (0) and 13th in saves (1). She is holding opponents to a batting averaging .177 on the season.

For a complete listing of all the national statistical leaders, click here.

Pitcher Nominees: Maddie Monroe, Reinhardt (Ga.); Taylor Mohler, Bellevue (Neb.); Alexis Beltran, Texas Wesleyan; Katie Cotta, Concordia (Calif.); Jennifer Garcia, Bethany (Kan.); Cassie Daniels, Auburn Montgomery (Ala.); Cheyanne Knepper, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.); Taylor Schmidt, Oregon Tech; Kelli Wenberg, Park (Mo.); Emily Lemin, Ave Maria (Fla.); Bridgett Goss, West Virginia Tech; Heidi Warmelink, Cornerstone (Mich.); Brooke Brenton, Evangel (Mo.); Bethany Sullivan, Indiana Southeast; Jennifer Whitehead, William Penn (Iowa); Natalie Newell, Bethel (Ind.); Katie VandeVoort, Northwestern (Iowa); Laura Fleck, Rogers State (Okla.); Justine Roscoe, Menlo (Calif.).

Player Nominees: Megan Walentynowicz, Southwestern (Kan.); Brittany Lamar, William Jessup (Calif.); Ciara Fraher, Southwest (N.M.); Vanessa Arandules, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Emma Napier, Campbellsville (Ky.); Kortney Loar, Concordia (Mich.); Jyssica Pepper, Auburn Montgomery (Ala.); Jess Plummer, Oregon Tech; Cj Browder, South Carolina Beaufort; Jamie Tanno, Park (Mo.); Justine Phillips, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Jacki Wood, West Virginia Tech; Megan Perry-Shifflett, Virginia Intermont; Molly Miller, William Penn (Iowa); Danielle Reilly, Bethel (Ind.); Lindsey Remien, Northwestern (Iowa); Allison Edwards, Oklahoma Wesleyan; Jordan Batliner, Indiana Southeast; Jennifer Lorenzi, Arizona Christian.

2013 Softball Weekly Honors (Player, Pitcher):
Week 1: Latainna Eltsosie, Lubbock Christian (Texas), Caitlin Santefort, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)