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The562’s coverage of Cabrillo Athletics is sponsored by the Cohn Family.
There have been marked improvements for Cabrillo softball since coach Gabe Tablada came back last year.
This season it’s the Jaguars’ talent level coming from all four grades to even out a growing program. That includes players like Sophia Fabrigas who has All-Moore League honors, and freshman Brianna Cathey who will be an immediate impact.
“To get that kind of talent over here at Cabrillo is really rare,” said Tablada. “She is very versatile, has been playing softball for a few years and she will bolster the entire program.”
Like most of the starters on the roster, Cathey will be playing multiple positions including pitcher, shortstop and second base. Fabregas will pitch while also playing shortstop, outfield and catcher so Tabalda called there the, ‘Backbone of the team.’
Another key returner is senior Ericka Gutierrez who will primarily play third base. She said she’s noticed an improvement of the program at Cabrillo.
“It is getting better, our coach really pushes us and that helps us push each other,” said Gutierrez.
Gutierrez also said that watching other more elite teams in the Moore League has shown her what needs to be added at Cabrillo.
“I’ve seen a lot of teams with chants and they’re really a community,” said Gutierrez. “So here at Cabrillo we kind of took that and be more like that and uplift each other more. We are doing more chants from the dugout and stuff like that.”
“She is a great kid, a 4.0 student and she’s part of ASB and really involved with the school and she’s a great leader with this team,” said Tablada of Gutierrez. “Last year she had a quiet year until she really took off the last two weeks of the season and had a really good winter.”
This isn’t the first time Tablada has taken over the softball program at Cabrillo, he also did so in 2011 and 2019. He has been teaching at Cabrillo for 23 years.
“If we beat Jordan and Compton twice I consider that a good season, as long as the learning curve gets better and the new kids who are learning to play softball so it’s a work in progress,” said Tablada. “It about coming out and being competitive and scoring some runs. This year’s team is a little bit more competitive and I’m hoping that shows on the field. I think the sky’s the limit with this squad. Kids are developing more than I even expected.”
Cabrillo has its key games against Jordan (March 7, April 9) and Compton (March 14, April 16) early in the league rounds.
