Palomar’s softball team congratulates outfielder Keilani ‘KK’ Fronda and shortstop Kali Pugh after scoring on designated hitter Carlie Daniel’s RBI double against Riverside City College on April 15 at Palomar’s softball field. Fronda and Pugh both went 3-4 in the Comets’ 9-4 win over the Tigers in a rematch of the 2013 state title game when Palomar brought home a championship with a 7-2 win. (Scott Colson/The Telescope)
The Palomar College softball team, led by Head Coach Lacey Craft, far exceeded its own expectations when they became the first team in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference to go undefeated since 2005.
The Comets finished their season with an overall record of 31-4 and 18-0 in the conference, and also had seven players voted onto the all-PCAC First Team. Freshman shortstop Kali Pugh was voted as the conference’s Player of the Year and state Player of the Year; while sophomore Dani Cowan was voted as Pitcher of the Year.
Coach Craft, who was voted as the conference’s Coach of the Year and state Coach of the Year, sounded excited about the team’s record season, while looking forward to the upcoming playoffs.
“We finished ranked No. 1 in the state, and I felt that was a great accomplishment for this year’s team,” she said. “I’m kind of looking forward to where we’re heading in the playoffs. It’s kind of like starting over.”
Palomar faced-off in the first round of the regional playoffs against 16th-ranked San Bernardino Valley College on May 3.
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