Completed Event: Softball at #12/14 Texas A&M on May 1, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 8
Final
Softball
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: Peyton Martin/University of Oklahoma
Kendall Wells Earns 2026 Johnny Bench Award
June 09, 2026 | Softball
First Freshman to Win the Award in College Softball History
NORMAN — Oklahoma Softball freshman catcher Kendall Wells has earned the 2026 Johnny Bench Award as announced by Major League Baseball, the Cincinnati Reds and Johnny Bench Tuesday, June 9. Wells is the first freshman to earn the award in the history of Division I collegiate softball and the second Sooner to earn the award, joining Kinzie Hansen (2023).
The Johnny Bench Award recognizes the top NCAA Division I baseball and softball catchers as well as the top high school baseball and softball catchers from the states Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. The complete list of 2026 winners will be announced at the Johnny Bench Awards Luncheon at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on July 7. The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission created the honor in 2000 and dedicated it to Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench, an Oklahoma City, Okla., native.
Wells put together a historic season and it has been recognized countless times in postseason awards over the past month. The freshman hit .358 with 70 runs, 39 home runs, 88 RBIs and a 1.028 slugging percentage, while posting a .993 fielding percentage. The catcher only allowed three stolen bases all season, turning back 3-of-6 base stealers.
Her 39 home runs set the OU single-season freshman and program record as well as the NCAA and SEC single-season home run records. She posted six multi-home run games, helping her post the second-most RBIs by an OU freshman in program history, which was also third-most in program history.
In 2026 she was named SEC Player of the Year, National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Freshman of the year and Diamond/NFCA Catcher of the Year. She earned first team nods by both the NFCA and SEC and was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist.
Wells joined Jessica Shults (2012) as the only catchers in program history to be named Diamond/NFCA Catcher of the Year. She is also paired with Hansen as one of two Sooners to earn the Johnny Bench Award.
2026 Johnny Bench Award Winners
Top female NCAA softball catcher
• Kendall Wells – University of Oklahoma (Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year)
Top male NCAA baseball catcher
• Vahn Lackey – Georgia Tech (MLB Draft prospect)
Top high school catchers from Ohio
• Brenna Fyffe, softball – Kenton Ridge High School (Springfield, OH)
• Lucas Flack, baseball – Delaware Hayes High School (Delaware, OH)
Top high school catchers from Kentucky
• Alivia Cooper, softball – Bullitt East High School (Mt. Washington, KY)
• Camden Tiemeier, baseball – Campbell County High School (Alexandria, KY)
Top high school catchers from Indiana
• Jayden Stephens, softball – Edgewood High School (Ellettsville, IN)
• Sean Dunlap, baseball – Crown Point High School (Crown Point, IN)
Top high school catchers from West Virginia
• Olivia Masoner, softball – University High School (Morgantown, WV)
• Zaden Ranson, baseball – Charleston Catholic High School (Charleston, WV)
Collegiate Softball Johnny Bench Award Winners
2026 - Kendall Wells (Oklahoma)
2025 - Reese Atwood (Texas)
2024 - Jocelyn Erickson (Florida)
2023 - Kinzie Hansen (Oklahoma)
2022 - Jordyn Rudd (Northwestern)
2020 - Morganne Flores (Washington)
2019 - Dejah Mulipola (Arizona)
More on the Johnny Bench Award - Per the MLB/Reds
"Congratulations to the 2026 Johnny Bench Award winners," said Hall of Famer Johnny Bench. "Catching is one of the toughest jobs in sports and demands leadership, toughness, quick instincts and a relentless work ethic. This year's winners are outstanding athletes that have proven they can handle every part of the game from managing a staff, controlling the field and delivering when it matters most. That's what this award is all about. I am proud of what they have accomplished and I look forward to being with them and celebrating with their families and coaches."
The 10 winners of the 2026 awards will be honored at the Johnny Bench Awards Luncheon on July 7 at Great American Ball Park and recognized that evening during on-field ceremonies before the Reds vs. Phillies game, 7:10 p.m.
To purchase tickets for the luncheon and table sponsorships, please contact Heather Schaffner at hschaffner@reds.com.
"Johnny Bench is the greatest to ever play the position, and having his name on this award raises the bar and inspires young catchers across Reds Country to strive for that same level of excellence," said Reds chief communications and community officer Karen Forgus Bowman. "Johnny's incredible generosity and passion for the game continues to make a lasting impact, not just on these athletes but on the future of the sport. The Reds and Reds Hall of Fame Museum are incredibly honored and grateful to be partnering with Johnny on this."
Previous collegiate winners include a two-time Women's College World Series champion Reese Atwood, 2019 No. 1 overall draft pick Adley Rutschman, 2021 Team USA Olympian Dejah Mulipola, 2021 Reds first-round draft pick Matheu Nelson and 2022 Rawlings Gold Glove winner Jordyn Rudd.
The full list of previous winners can be found at www.reds.com/BenchAwards.
The Johnny Bench Award recognizes the top NCAA Division I baseball and softball catchers as well as the top high school baseball and softball catchers from the states Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. The complete list of 2026 winners will be announced at the Johnny Bench Awards Luncheon at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on July 7. The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission created the honor in 2000 and dedicated it to Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench, an Oklahoma City, Okla., native.
Wells put together a historic season and it has been recognized countless times in postseason awards over the past month. The freshman hit .358 with 70 runs, 39 home runs, 88 RBIs and a 1.028 slugging percentage, while posting a .993 fielding percentage. The catcher only allowed three stolen bases all season, turning back 3-of-6 base stealers.
Her 39 home runs set the OU single-season freshman and program record as well as the NCAA and SEC single-season home run records. She posted six multi-home run games, helping her post the second-most RBIs by an OU freshman in program history, which was also third-most in program history.
In 2026 she was named SEC Player of the Year, National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Freshman of the year and Diamond/NFCA Catcher of the Year. She earned first team nods by both the NFCA and SEC and was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist.
Wells joined Jessica Shults (2012) as the only catchers in program history to be named Diamond/NFCA Catcher of the Year. She is also paired with Hansen as one of two Sooners to earn the Johnny Bench Award.
2026 Johnny Bench Award Winners
Top female NCAA softball catcher
• Kendall Wells – University of Oklahoma (Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year)
Top male NCAA baseball catcher
• Vahn Lackey – Georgia Tech (MLB Draft prospect)
Top high school catchers from Ohio
• Brenna Fyffe, softball – Kenton Ridge High School (Springfield, OH)
• Lucas Flack, baseball – Delaware Hayes High School (Delaware, OH)
Top high school catchers from Kentucky
• Alivia Cooper, softball – Bullitt East High School (Mt. Washington, KY)
• Camden Tiemeier, baseball – Campbell County High School (Alexandria, KY)
Top high school catchers from Indiana
• Jayden Stephens, softball – Edgewood High School (Ellettsville, IN)
• Sean Dunlap, baseball – Crown Point High School (Crown Point, IN)
Top high school catchers from West Virginia
• Olivia Masoner, softball – University High School (Morgantown, WV)
• Zaden Ranson, baseball – Charleston Catholic High School (Charleston, WV)
Collegiate Softball Johnny Bench Award Winners
2026 - Kendall Wells (Oklahoma)
2025 - Reese Atwood (Texas)
2024 - Jocelyn Erickson (Florida)
2023 - Kinzie Hansen (Oklahoma)
2022 - Jordyn Rudd (Northwestern)
2020 - Morganne Flores (Washington)
2019 - Dejah Mulipola (Arizona)
More on the Johnny Bench Award - Per the MLB/Reds
"Congratulations to the 2026 Johnny Bench Award winners," said Hall of Famer Johnny Bench. "Catching is one of the toughest jobs in sports and demands leadership, toughness, quick instincts and a relentless work ethic. This year's winners are outstanding athletes that have proven they can handle every part of the game from managing a staff, controlling the field and delivering when it matters most. That's what this award is all about. I am proud of what they have accomplished and I look forward to being with them and celebrating with their families and coaches."
The 10 winners of the 2026 awards will be honored at the Johnny Bench Awards Luncheon on July 7 at Great American Ball Park and recognized that evening during on-field ceremonies before the Reds vs. Phillies game, 7:10 p.m.
To purchase tickets for the luncheon and table sponsorships, please contact Heather Schaffner at hschaffner@reds.com.
"Johnny Bench is the greatest to ever play the position, and having his name on this award raises the bar and inspires young catchers across Reds Country to strive for that same level of excellence," said Reds chief communications and community officer Karen Forgus Bowman. "Johnny's incredible generosity and passion for the game continues to make a lasting impact, not just on these athletes but on the future of the sport. The Reds and Reds Hall of Fame Museum are incredibly honored and grateful to be partnering with Johnny on this."
Previous collegiate winners include a two-time Women's College World Series champion Reese Atwood, 2019 No. 1 overall draft pick Adley Rutschman, 2021 Team USA Olympian Dejah Mulipola, 2021 Reds first-round draft pick Matheu Nelson and 2022 Rawlings Gold Glove winner Jordyn Rudd.
The full list of previous winners can be found at www.reds.com/BenchAwards.
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