The Temple College Softball team was a win short of qualifying for the NCJAA National Tournament last May, as they fell in the Southwest B Championship to McLennan in the finals.
The Leopards were 41-16 overall and 22-10 in North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference play and went 2-2 in the Region V playoffs in 2025.
Having contained one of the most lethal offenses in the country, the Leopards hit .387, had an on-base percentage of .457, drilled 63 home runs, 151 doubles, 30 triples, and drove home 431 runs, while having scored 479 runs. The Leopards averaged 8.4 runs of offense in 2025.
Temple's infield committed just 74 errors in 1,328 chances, converted 946 putouts and assisted on 308 opportunities for a solid fielding percentage of .944.
"With our core of returners, we have six sophomores," Temple College head softball coach Kadie Berlin-George said. "Athletic and softball skills aside, their main qualities are leadership, kindness, and just being good people. Ultimately, talent gets you a long way. But having core leadership, drive, and determination is going to separate this team from other teams that I have had in the past."
The Leopards infield returns plenty of experience, with Jasmine Benavidez, who plays both shortstop and second base, and Angie DeLeon, who plays third base and first base. Ryley Litchfield can play multiple infield positions, Kyleigh Cambiano, Maycee Griffin, Amyah Stark, and Izzy Garcia.
The outfield returns outstanding of speed and range. Marli Kennedy covers plenty of space in the outfield and is one of the speediest baserunners in the nation, having swiped 55 bases without being caught in 2025. Lexi Dudeczka is a strong fielding right fielder and can play infield if called upon. Autumn Simmons, Brooklyn Walton, Kaiyah Ratu and Giselle Salazar provide depth for the Leopards.
The utility players on the Leopards this season will play an instrumental part in the depth team this season as Maddi Durnell and Jess Reyes contribute plenty of talent and skills.
"Don't be surprised that every time you come to a game, there is a different defensive set," Berlin-George said. "We have players that can play multiple positions. The only two that may stay at their same spots are Marli (Kennedy) and Jay (Jasmine Benavides). The pitchers can play the outfield. Angie (DeLeon) can play first, third, and can catch. Kaiyah (Ratu) can play second, third, catcher, outfield. Ryley (Litchfield) same thing. It may be different every day."
Pitching was a strength for Temple in 2025. The Leopards spun a 2.25 earned run average, with 113 earned runs allowed, striking out 307 batters while having walked 148. TC staffers hurled 18 complete games and four shutouts.
The pitching will be an interesting facet for the 2026 squad. Having graduated three of the five staff members, the Leopards return Reese Cottrell and Dalanee Ekster. Joining Cottrell and Ekster on staff is Garcia, Kat Kram, and Autumn Simmons.
"I am very impressed with how they did in the fall," Berlin-George said. "We have done a great deal of data analysis on them. We do not have a clear-cut number one starter yet. That is a great thing because we could have a different starter for each game. Each one is so different that is works perfectly. Reese has come a long way and coming into her own. She is more confident with each pitch and it has been great to see."
The early pre-conference slate is a challenging one for Temple. Ranked 24th on the NJCAA D-I Softball preseason Top 25 poll, the Leopards will see Clarendon College (Jan. 28), Tyler Junior College (Jan. 30), Kilgore College (Feb. 3) within the first six days of the season at home.
The schedule picks up intensity in the second week of the season, as they take on No. 6 Odessa College and Luna Community College the weekend of Feb. 7-8 at the Wrangler Complex.
"The main reason I wanted to play at Odessa is that I am anticipating that they will win their side of Region V," Berlin-George said. "I want us to play on that field. In the off-chance that we play in the postseason out there, we have already experienced the 5-to-6 hour drive, we have experienced staying in the hotel there, and we have experienced playing them at different times of day with different light. And sunshine."
After a road trip to San Jacinto-South on Feb. 10, Temple will have a four-game series at the Texoma Health Foundation Winter Classic in Denison that will feature four non-conventional opponents. On the first day (Feb. 13), the Leopards will face No. 13 McCook Community College and Div. II No. 18 Cowley County Community College. On the second day (Feb. 14), the Leopards will take on No. 14 Butler Community College (KS) and Northern Oklahoma College-Enid.
"We see Butler and McCook, both nationally-ranked and both went to the national tournament last year," Berlin-George said. "We want to go into those games and play well. Establish that early. We also will play NOC-Enid and a division II (Cowley). It is going to be a great tournament to see outside competition. It is easy to play a bunch of teams in Texas. I believe that we want to show that Region V has a strength and is comparable to Region 2, Region 6 and other regions in the country, especially when looking at at-large bids.
Temple will host Blinn College (Feb. 17), No. 6 Odessa (Feb. 20), Western Texas College (Feb. 24), and Coastal Bend College (March 4), and go on the road to Paris Junior College (March 2) and Galveston College (March 7) before their opening North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference series against the North Central Texas College Lions March 11 and 14.
"We chose to have high quality games against Region 14 opponents and the Region V West (Western Junior College Athletic Conference) opponents there so that we can establish ourselves early," Berlin-George said. "Our goal is to get to the national tournament. If you are not playing competitive games each week, you will not be ready for the regional tournament and you will not be ready for the national tournament. Set that standard early for the competition and the hard games so it is not a surprise."
NTJCAC has two teams in the preseason top 25: McLennan Community College at No. 4 and Temple at No. 22.
Temple, MCC, and Grayson College all lost vital sophomores to graduation and movement of their players to various colleges and universities around the nation.
"For Grayson, McLennan, and myself, we lost a good core of sophomores," Berlin-George said. "But I think that we replaced them with better incoming freshmen. I, not only anticipate us being better, but anticipate all of the teams in conference being better as well."
While the goal is always a national championship, a national tournament appearance, a region championship, and conference championship, Berlin-George's vision for this 2026 is deeper than just trophies: it is setting her players up for the future.
"I want my girls to learn, to work through hard things, to communicate with one another, and to leave as good people and graduate," Berlin-George said. "To learn how to navigate this world in a good way."
