MONTERIA, Colombia – After a standout junior season with the Crimson & White, Kendal Lunar set out on the trip of a lifetime. While the catcher calls nearby Alamogordo home, she left the Land of Enchantment for the Southern Hemisphere. Across the end of June and early July, Lunar represented the Venezuelan National Team at the XI Pan American Women's Championship in Colombia. 
 
"I got to experience a whole different side of softball," said Lunar. "It was incredible to play with women from all different backgrounds and age groups. They were all so very welcoming, strong competitive and passionate. It was truly an experience of a lifetime. Being able to see two amazing countries while playing against teams from all over the world is something I'll never forget. I'm so blessed and thankful for the opportunity to represent my dad's country."
 
Fifteen nations competed at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Pan Americas Championship. The top five finishers were guaranteed a spot in next year's World Cup Group Stage. Canada earned the gold medal, defeating Puerto Rico in the Championship Game. Mexico took home the bronze medal ahead of Cuba, with Lunar propelling Venezuela to a fifth-place finish. 
 
The group went 3-1 in Group C play, including an 11-2 win over Guatemala, a four-inning, 15-0 drubbing of Aruba, and a 7-2 victory against El Salvador. In her June 30 start against Argentina to open Super Round play, the 2024 All-CUSA Preseason Team selection racked up three hits, including a double as her side earned an 8-4 triumph. 
 
On July 3, Lunar stepped up to the plate in the seventh inning against the eventual champions from Canada. Facing a one-run deficit with a runner on second base, the catcher launched a 1-1 pitch to deep left-center field, giving her club a lead that would prove to hold in a 2-1 victory. 
 
Across the tournament, Lunar tallied 11 hits in 32 at-bats, garnering a .344 batting average and an OPS of .858. Her two extra-base hits helped drive in four runs as she rounded the bases four times of her own. The catcher also notched three free bases, including being hit by two pitches. In 11 total appearances, the soon-to-be senior for Kathy Rodolph's club notched a seven-game hitting streak sparked by back-to-back multi-hit outings. 
 
Catcher Kendal Lunar, on her favorite moment from Colombia: "I'd say the memory I'll always take with me is hitting a two-run home run to give us the lead against Canada in the top of the seventh inning. The love I got from my teammates and coaches was just unreal and it helped us get a big win to ultimately advance one step closer towards the ultimate goal of the [2028 Los Angeles] Olympics."
 
In 2026, the Venezuelan club will unite once again in preparation for the 2026 WBSC World Cup Group Stage, which will be jointly hosted between Lima, Peru, Prague, Czechia and Oklahoma City. All three cities will host a six-team group, with Lima hosting Venezuela. Each six-team group will play a single round robin, and the top four teams in the standings will advance to the playoffs. The World Cup will serve as the main qualifier for the Olympics two summers after, which is set to host softball as a sport for the sixth time ever and first since Tokyo 2020.
 
For complete coverage of NM State Softball during the 2026 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Softball), Twitter (@NMStateSoftball) and Instagram (@NMStateSoftball).