Breona “Bre” Benavidez

2027 P/UTL 5’4~ #29 Impact Gold Tamburine ~Newcomer of the Yr Dist 15-5A (24) ~1st Team All Dist 15-5A (25)~Ennis HS [email protected] TEMPLE COMMIT

[National Softball Recruiting @NatlSBRecruit]

College Softball Program of the Day #017: Temple College Leopards

58 wins. 529 runs. The best fielding percentage in the country. Temple College came into 2026 ranked No. 22 and left Oxford, Alabama, one game away from a national title.

2027 and 2028 players, if you want to see what elite JUCO softball looks like, start in Temple, Texas.

The 2026 season by the numbers:
- 58-8 overall
- NJCAA Division I national runner-up
- NTJCAC and Region 5 North regular-season champions
- Southwest District B champions
- 5-2 at the NJCAA World Series
- Led the nation with just 33 errors in 66 games and a .978 fielding percentage

The offense hit .378 as a team with a .448 on-base percentage, 138 doubles, 35 triples and 62 home runs, and scored 529 runs.

The run in Oxford showed what this team is made of. Reese Cottrell walked off Southern Idaho 4-3 in the opener. After a 12-2 loss to top-seeded Florida SouthWestern, the Leopards had to win out from the elimination bracket. They beat Santa Fe 7-1, Paris 15-4, then turned around and beat Florida SouthWestern 4-1 to reach the championship game.

The stars: freshman Izzy Garcia went 29-2 with a 2.17 ERA and 175 strikeouts in 170.2 innings, held hitters to a .180 average, and hit .404 at the plate. She was an NFCA First Team All-American. Sophomore Reese Cottrell hit .436 with a .521 on-base percentage, 13 homers and 77 RBI, then went 9-2 with a 2.20 ERA out of the bullpen on her way to NFCA Second Team All-American. Shortstop Jasmine Benavidez hit .425 with 68 RBI and won the NFCA Rawlings Gold Glove. Freshman catcher Kaiyah Ratu hit .381 with 19 home runs and 61 RBI and has since signed with Florida State.

Head coach Kadie Berlin-George played at Pratt Community College and Ottawa University, coached at Pratt and Southwestern Oklahoma State, and spent six seasons as head coach at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa before taking over at Temple. In 2026 she was named NFCA Midwest Region, Southwest District B and Region 5 North Coach of the Year, and her team also had 12 NFCA Academic All-Americans.

The staff around her: longtime assistant Maurice Zaleski, who was part of the staff that won the 2018 NJCAA Division I national championship, and assistant Rhein Carmichael, a former Waco Midway and Illinois standout who works with the outfield, slappers and defense after coaching at McLennan.
@SoftballTemple @TC_Athletics1 @NJCAASoftball

National Softball Recruiting | @NatlSBRecruit
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[Temple College Softball @SoftballTemple]

#YahLeps

[Temple College Softball @SoftballTemple]

#YahLeps #MTF

[Temple College Softball @SoftballTemple]

Great day! Good luck to our Lep and Team New Zealand! #YahLeps

[Temple College Softball @SoftballTemple]

Congrats to @reesecottrell @izzygarcia44 Kaiyah Ratu on making the National Tournament Team!

[Temple College Softball @SoftballTemple]

Game 1:
Dudeczka 2-2, 1R, 2SB
Cottrell 2-4, 2 RBI
Walton 3-3, 3R
WP: Garcia

#YahLeps

[Temple College Softball @SoftballTemple]

Oxford Bound
#YahLeps AGTG

[Temple College Softball @SoftballTemple]

Dinner on the Bayou 🐢🐊

[Impact Gold Tamburine @IGTamburine]

Congrats Breona Benavidez, Ennis HS 2027 and Temple College commit on being named pitcher of the year in a very competitive district. Way to work Bre!! 💪
@jazzvesely @coachjrtorres @SoftballTemple

[Impact Gold Tamburine @IGTamburine]

Coaches, come check out our squad as we kick off our Summer schedule this weekend at the Mesquite Softball Complex in Mesquite, TX. We have 2028s and 2029s that are looking to get your attention. @AGLSoftball @coachjrtorres @D1Softball @ExtraInningSB @jazzvesely @LineDsoftball

[Breona “Bre” Benavidez @BenavidezB29]

Season is officially over. We are back to putting that work in and getting better 1% everyday!!!! Ready for summer ball 💪💪💪

[Breona “Bre” Benavidez @BenavidezB29]

What a great way to end the night. Tonight we focused on being intentional, being tight with my spots and really spinning the ball. Big game tomorrow ready to ball out!!!! 1% better everyday💪💪💪🧪

[Breona “Bre” Benavidez @BenavidezB29]

What a great way to end a beautiful Sunday. Back to work on Monday we’re ready to ball out again this week!!!! 1% better everyday 💪💪💪

[Breona “Bre” Benavidez @BenavidezB29]

A great Sunday full of great reps!!! The work never stops 1% better everyday 💪💪💪🧪

[Breona “Bre” Benavidez @BenavidezB29]

@softballhype @TakeCharge_SB @IGTamburine Thank youuu

[Breona “Bre” Benavidez @BenavidezB29]

I’m truly grateful for this opportunity. It means a lot to me, and I sincerely appreciate the trust and consideration. Thank you for giving me the chance to be part of this.

[Breona “Bre” Benavidez @BenavidezB29]

@MHDBSOCCER @TakeCharge_SB @IGTamburine Thank youu!!!

[Breona “Bre” Benavidez @BenavidezB29]

@MaciBarnes2029 @TakeCharge_SB @IGTamburine Thank youu!!

[Breona “Bre” Benavidez @BenavidezB29]

Had a great game against North Forney today winning 13-3!!! District is soon can’t wait to ball !!! 1% better everyday 💪💪

[Breona “Bre” Benavidez @BenavidezB29]

Great reps today got in some BP this morning . Feeling great and Ready to ball !!!!! 1% better everyday 💪💪💪