Comets clinch conference record perfection

Palomar’s softball team huddle up after beating Imperial Valley College 25-0 on April 23 at Palomar’s softball field. The Comets’ offense scored a season high 25 runs, in part to a combined 5 home runs and 15 RBI’s from outfielder Keilani ‘KK’ Fronda and third baseman Maci Lerno, and perfect pitching performances from Dani Cowan, Maci Lerno, and Kristina Carbajal. The win over the Arabs gave the Comet’s a perfect 18-0 conference record for the first time since 2005. Scott Colson/The Telescope

Palomar head softball coach Lacey Craft waves in base runners Carlie Daniel and Paige Falconeiri on Kristina Carbajal’s RBI double in the 3rd inning to put Palomar up 15-0 against Imperial Valley College on April 23 at Palomar’s softball field. The Comets’ offense scored a season high 25 runs, in part to a combined 5 home runs and 15 RBI’s from outfielder Keilani ‘KK’ Fronda and third baseman Maci Lerno, and perfect pitching performances from Dani Cowan, Maci Lerno, and Kristina Carbajal. The 25-0 win over the Arabs gave the Comet’s a perfect 18-0 conference record for the first time since 2005. Scott Colson/The Telescope — Palomar head softball coach Lacey Craft waves in base runners Carlie Daniel and Paige Falconeiri on Kristina Carbajal’s RBI double in the 3rd inning to put Palomar up 15-0 against Imperial Valley College on April 23 at Palomar’s softball field. 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.

Palomar outfielder Keilani ‘KK’ Fronda launches her second homerun of the game in the 4th inning against Southwestern College on April 16 at Palomar’s softball field. Fronda went 4-4 with 2 homeruns, a double, and 5 RBI’s in the Comet’s 11-3 win over the Jaguars. The win improved Palomar’s conference record to a perfect 16-0 record with one conference game left. Scott Colson/The Telescope

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