Caldwell and Rivas headline All-PCAC team

SAN MARCOS, CA (5/2/2023) -- After an offensive onslaught all season, Palomar College claimed their ninth consecutive conference championship and 40th overall. The Palomar Comets headlined this season's All-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Teams and awards. Sophomore standout pitcher India Caldwell went back-to-back being named the Pitcher of the Year and sophomore Aaliyah Rivas was named Player of the Year. Palomar's coaching staff consisting of head coach Lacey Craft and assistants Mark Eldridge, Megan Wachholtz and Allie Hughen, were named Coaching Staff of the Year.

Caldwell picked up where she left off last season, but came back better. As the Comets concluded a perfect conference season, going 12-0, Caldwell tossed her first career perfect game against Imperial Valley College on Wednesday afternoon as the Comet offense supported her with 18 runs on 22 hits. Caldwell led the conference in strikeouts with 46 and averaged 10.06 per seven. She allowed just two runs on 12 hits for an ERA of 0.44. Rivas, who was primarily the designated player for the Comets through conference, had a slash line of .571/.643/1.190. In 21 plate appearances, she had 12 hits, including three home runs, two doubles and a triple for 14 RBI. 

The Comets also landed six additional players on the first team, Allyson Amato (1B/UTL), Faith Steffany (OF), Ellison Hazlett (C), Malachy Russell-Millen (2B/UTL), Guiliana "GiGi" Clavel (P) and Itzell De Los Rios (3B/UTL). Additionally, the Comets landed three on the second-team: Jonessa Hebreo (OF), Elisa Haas (SS/UTL) and Cadee Herrmann (OF).

Amato has been a leader for the Comets all season and made the move across the diamond to first base from third. She was perfect in conference this season over at first with 55 put outs and one assist. At the plate she had four doubles, one triple and two home runs. Amato had 16 RBI and walked four times. She also had four stolen bases.

Steffany, a freshman from Rancho Buena Vista, finished the conference season with a slashline of .536/.552./1.036. She totalled five doubles, three triples and one home run and had eight RBI. She didn't strikeout one time in conference and walked once. She also had three stolen bases. 

Hazlett, the starting catcher and vocal leader on the team, finished the conference season with a .519 average and 10 RBI. Behind the plate, she caught two runners stealing and never had anyone steal on her. Hazlett had 76 putouts and seven assists. She recorded just one error. 

Russell-Millen started at second base in almost every conference game this season. In 36 plate appearances she had 14 hits for an average of .519. The sophomore infielder totaled three doubles, two triples and a home run for seven RBI. She walked six times and had two stolen bases. In the field she recorded 21 put outs and 17 assists. 

Clavel, another standout pitcher for the Comets, has been a star in the circle and at the plate this season. With a bat in her hands she reocrded six hits, three of which were doubles, in 13 plate appearances. She totaled four RBI and walked twice. She finsihed with a slashline of .545/.615/.818. In the circle, she started five games and made nine appearances. In the 32 innings pitched, Clavel allowed just five runs on 20 hits, but only one run was earned for an ERA of 0.22. She finished with 34 strikeouts and eight walks. She pitched three complete shutout games for the Comets.

De Los Rios has been a stud at third base for the Comets the majority of the season. On 21 chances, she had five put outs and 14 assists. At the plate, she recorded 15 hits and hit .469. De Los Rios finished the conference schedule with three doubles, two triples and a home run for 15 RBI.

Hebreo turned it on for the Comets in the last few weeks of conference play, where the bulk of their games were played. In 11 games, she was hitting .632 with 12 hits, 12 runs and three stolen bases. The outfielder also worked six walks and was perfect in the field with three put outs and one assist. Haas, like Hebreo, turned it on over the last few weeks. In 40 plate appearances, she had 16 hits and two doubles. Haas recorded six stolen bases. Herrmann had 29 plate appearances in conference play  and hit .318 in conference. She had seven hits and four stolen bases.