Rehoboth softball improves to 17-0 overall

THOREAU, N.M. – The Rehoboth Christian softball team is off to its best start in program history.

The Lady Lynx improved to 17-0 following Tuesday’s doubleheader win over Northwest High School under first-year coach Crystal Pablo, 28, who previously coached Gallup High to its first state title two seasons ago.

Under Pablo, Rehoboth is the lone New Mexico team regardless of classification that has yet to be beaten this season. Last season, the Lynx finished at 12-11 overall.

“We have a really young group, but they have completely embraced what we’re trying to teach them,” said Pablo, who is assisted by younger sister Katelyn Pablo, 21.

“They’ve put in the work the past few months and they’re getting the results they want,” she added.

The Pablo siblings were hired in February, inheriting a young team that includes two seniors, one junior and 14 underclassmen.

Of those underclassmen, two are eighth graders while the remaining dozen is split between sophomores and freshmen.

“We have two returners that came back from last year’s team,” Pablo said of seniors Kaylee Becenti and Cayleen Hurley.

“They’re doing an outstanding job leading the group,” she said. “Our two eighth graders – Sage West and Deiyanera Franklin – have become our 1-2 pitchers and they’re doing well.”

Pablo brings a ton of coaching experience to Rehoboth as the Gallup native has won at the high school and club level. She is heavily involved with the New Mexico Titan softball program that has won several regional tournaments in the area.

She currently has three Rehoboth players that compete in the Gallup traveling team. They include Shanoah Eddie, West and Franklin.

“They played with the Titans throughout the summer,” said Pablo, who played collegiately at Scottsdale Community College, St. Gregory’s University and University of Nebraska Omaha, with the latter being a Division I program.

“I want to invite more of the girls from Rehoboth to be part of our traveling team,” she said. “The new girls are noticing what club ball can do and they’re seeing that from those three girls.”

“I think it makes a big difference,” West said of playing club ball. “I’ve gained a lot of experience and so much knowledge about the game. It has helped me overall with my game.”

Pablo is hoping to build Rehoboth into a perennial state powerhouse at the 1A-2A level.

“Looking at this year’s team, I think we can compete at the state level,” Pablo said. “I know that our schedule doesn’t reflect that, but we’re going to give it our best shot.”

Next season, Pablo is looking to enter Rehoboth in a few competitive tournaments in preparation for the state playoffs.

“We’ve played a lot of local teams and we definitely want to beef up our schedule,” she said. “We’re going to potentially be playing 3A and 4A teams at these tournaments so the girls can gain that experience.”

This past season the Lynx did not enter any tournaments. Rehoboth, however, will see its stiffest test on Saturday when they travel to Estancia.

“They’re actually a top five team, so that’s going to be a good test for us,” Pablo said. “We also have Laguna Acoma, and they always compete in this district.”

Saturday’s non-district contest will be key as Rehoboth is looking to earn one of the top four seeds for the 12-team state bracket. The top four teams will have byes in the first round with the remaining eight teams playing in a single elimination play-in game.

After those play-in games, the tournament will move into a double-elimination format.

Currently, the Lynx areranked fifth in the MaxPreps.com statewide rankings with an overall rating of 0.60.

Tularosa leads the 1A-2A field with a rating of 12.31 followed by Loving (11.71), Las Cruces Mesilla Valley Christian School (8.18) and Estancia (6.34).

Defensively, Pablo says her team is still working out some kinks. But for the most part they have a better understanding of where to play the ball.

“It’s still a learning experience for them, but they’re starting to think ahead,” the Rehoboth coach said of her club. “They’re looking at the next play, knowing where the ball needs to go. They’re learning the different situations they’ll encounter on the field because when we get to state a lot of those teams are going to be well-seasoned.

“We have to prepare the girls for that,” she added.

Offensively, the first year coach has 11 players hitting above .400 headed by West, who has a team-best .785, followed by freshman Shanoah Eddie (.783) and Hurley (.690).

“We’re making contact,” West said. “It’s good to have that confidence at the plate because we’re getting the hits that we need.”

“It’s all about getting reps and being able to see the ball and time it down,” Pablo said. “We’re also working on base running because we want to take advantage of the other team’s errors.”

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