Lauren Gohacki (Finleyville, Pa.) posted a .714 (20-for-28) batting average over the weekend for the Pittsburgh Diamond Stars 14U earning her the sixth ASA Junior Olympic (JO) Player of the Week award, presented by Worth Fastpitch and StudentSports.com.

Announced today by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball, this utility player (centerfield and second base) helped her team to a 7-2 record and a runner-up finish at the ASA Rage in the Valley tournament in Beaver Falls, Pa.

“First of all, I would like to thank both ASA/USA Softball and Worth for this award,” said Gohacki.  “The ASA tournaments in my area are always top notch.  I aspire to play softball at the collegiate level and would also like to thank my Pittsburgh Diamond Stars teammates, coaches and especially my Dad for teaching me how to play ball and to always play the game and practice like it was the last game of the World Series”.

Posting 20 hits including a double and a triple, Lauren also knocked in 10 RBI over the weekend and a recorded a .821 slugging percentage.  In addition, she tallied two walks and has also helped lead her team to one championship already in 2014 at the Hornets Early Bird ASA Tournament.

“We are very proud of Lauren and how much she has grown both on and off the field in the last three years that she has been playing travel softball,” added her parents Michele and Dwayne Gohacki.  “She is very dedicated and committed to playing fast pitch softball to the best of her ability into her collegiate years. We will always support her in every way to get her to the next level so she can realize her dreams.”

“Lauren is a tremendous centerfielder with great closing speed,” said head coach Josh Caler.  “When she’s at the plate she always comes up with the big hit her team needs. This past weekend we were down a starting pitcher. Lauren picked up the slack for us with great defense and a consistent bat.”

Established to recognize JO players 18 years or younger for outstanding play in an ASA/USA sanctioned event, the ASA/USA Softball JO Player of the Week will honor 14 athletes, male or female, from May 9 – August 8 following the conclusion of the ASA/USA JO National Championships.

Nominations will be taken on a week-by-week basis (see below schedule) and will be submitted and accepted through this form found on StudentSportsSoftball.com  until noon ET every Tuesday.

In order to be eligible for the award, athletes must be registered with their local ASA/USA association and must have participated in ASA/USA Softball sanctioned events or tournaments during the week nominated.

2014 ASA/USA Softball JO Player of the Week award schedule 
Week 1 (April 30 – May 6): Faith Willis (Liberty, Mo.) – Originals-Shanks
Week 2 (May 7 – 13): Allie Roberts (Rogers, Minn.) – Northwest Diamonds
Week 3 (May 14 – 20): Jordyn Kadlub – Tampa Mustangs
Week 4 (May 21 – 27): Lauren Mathis (Windermere, Fla.) – Windermere Wildifre
Week 5 (May 28-June 3): Mackenzie Dixon (Huntsville, Texas.) – Huntsville Heat
Week 6 (June 4 – 10): Lauren Gohacki (Finleyville, Pa.) – Pittsburgh Diamond Stars 14U
Week 7 (June 11 – 17): Winner announced June 20
Week 8 (June 18 – 24): Winner announced June 27
Week 9 (June 25 – July 1): Winner announced July 4
Week 10 (July 2 – 8): Winner announced July 11
Week 11 (July 9 – 15): Winner announced July 18
Week 12 (July 16 – 22): Winner announced July 25
Week 13 (July 23 – 29): Winner announced August 1
Week 14 (July 30 – August 5): Winner announced August 8

Honorable Mentions:

Mara Kipnis (Woodinville, Wa.) – Mara’s performance at the plate batting .538 for the week helped her team, the Issaquah Flame 99, at the Acer’s Northwest Classic. She saved her best performance for the championship game going 4-for-4 with two HR’s, three runs scored, and four RBI.

Lauren Caswell (Aurora, Ind.) – A shortstop for Cincy Static ’01, Lauren went 10-for-16 (.625) over the weekend at the Dayton Metro tournament and contributed two triples and seven RBI while also adding 14 putouts during the six tournament games.