When Ganado Maiden Kalyn Benavides came to the plate in the fifth inning of the Maidens district game against Weimar, she already had an amazing game, putting two homers on the board, but by the time the game ended, Benavides had a history- making game. She hit two more home runs, helping the Maidens secure a 16-0 victory.
“I saw my hitting instructor Brent Bubela the night before the game,” Benavides said.”So leading up to my at bats, I felt confident and relaxed.” Benavides hit all four home runs off the same pitcher.
When the Maidens won the State Championship last year, Benavides had a great season, tying for the team lead with eight home runs. With her four-homergame on Tuesday, Benavides broke the Ganado softball record for home runs in a game. The game brings her season total to 13, which leads all of 2A, and puts her in a tie for 13th across all classifications.
“It is a cool accomplishment but I know the season is not done yet and that can change,” Benavides said about her home run total. “I’m not going to dwell on that and whatever happens happens.”
And she is only a junior.
As a freshman, Benavides hit four homers before jumping up to eight last year. Now she has 13 with two district games to go before the playoffs.
Last year she also led the team in batting average with a .542 mark and runs batted in with 55. In the Weimar game, she added eight RBI’s bringing her season total to 42.
Softball has always been in Benavides’ life and she hopes to continue playing at the next level.
“I don’t have a dream college, but my dream is to go to a college that will help me meet my goals and help me grow to become the best version of myself,” she explained.
On Tuesday, the Maidens will face Shiner for the district title. Both teams will have one game remaining, but if the Maidens win against Shiner, they win the district but that is only the start of where the Maidens want to get. Facing teams like Shiner and Weimer and difficult teams in tournaments will help the Maidens as they enter the playoffs.
“Playing bigger schools and seeing different pitching will definitely get us prepared for our run in the playoffs,” Benavides concluded.
The softball playoffs begin on April 20.
