Posted: May 17, 2025
Comets streak to state final with two more wins
Yuba
(39-9-1)
1
Palomar
(44-4)
10
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yuba | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
|
Palomar | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
SARATOGA, CA (5/17/2025) – Josephine Heuberger broke a scoreless tie with a three-run home run, Nevaeh Haywood continued her strong pitching in the circle and Zoe Karam provided the final blow with a walk-off three-run homer as Palomar College continued its winning ways Saturday with a 10-1 victory over Yuba in the Comets' second elimination game of the day at the California Community College Athletic Association State Softball Championship.
By winning its fourth straight must-win game, the Comets improved to 44-4 on the season and advanced to the state championship final against College of San Mateo. The two squads will meet Sunday at noon at West Valley College for the second time in the double-elimination tournament after the Bulldogs scored a 4-2 triumph over Palomar in the opening round on Thursday.
Earlier Saturday, it was Heuberger who provided the decisive blow with a three-run triple to spark the Comets' 4-1 win over El Camino. Palomar, the No. 3 seed from the South Region, took the field again for the evening matchup against Yuba, the No. 3 seed from the North which won its first two games of the tournament before losing to San Mateo, 5-2, earlier Saturday.
Palomar and Yuba were scoreless through the first two innings, but a leadoff single by freshman left fielder Taylor Armstrong was followed two outs later by a walk to sophomore third baseman Breanna Lutz, setting the table for Heuberger. The sophomore second baseman delivered with a three-run shot over the right-field fence on a full-count pitch.
The Comets weren't done there as Karam singled and freshman designated player Lauren Doepping walked before freshman right fielder Alexis Huey and sophomore catcher Isabella De Filippis connected on back-to-back triples to expand Palomar's lead to 6-0.
Yuba got on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the fifth inning, but Palomar sealed the deal with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, the final three delivered by Karam on the 13th home run of the season for the sophomore first baseman, a game-ending blast to center field for Palomar's second mercy-run rule win of the tourney.
Haywood followed a seven-inning effort against El Camino with six more strong innings against Yuba to end the 49ers' season at 39-9-1. The sophomore right-hander allowed just two hits with one walk, one hit batter and four strikeouts while improving her record to 24-3.
Palomar had 10 hits at the plate for the second straight game, with Hueberger, Karam and Armstrong all providing two hits apiece.
Palomar kept its state title hopes alive earlier in the day with its victory over El Camino as the Comets broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning on a bases-loaded triple to right field by Hueberger.
El Camino had eliminated the South's top seed, Orange Coast, with a 10-8 win Friday night, and the No. 4 seed from the South took a 1-0 lead against Palomar in the top of the third inning on two walks, an error and a sacrifice fly.
The Comets tied the score in the bottom of the fifth on consecutive one-out singles by Lutz, Heuberger and Karam. The score remained 1-1 until the bottom of the sixth, when freshman center fielder Gisele Gonzalez drew a one-out walk and freshman shortstop Nalia Nuanez and Lutz both followed with singles to load the bases.
Heuberger delivered her triple to right to clear the bases and provide Palomar with the winning margin. The Comets' second baseman also played a pivotal role on a clutch double play in the top of the seventh inning as Haywood pitched out of trouble despite allowing a single and a walk. Lutz and Heuberger turned a 5-4-3 twin-killing to help keep the Comets' season alive.
Haywood earned her 23rd win of the season with a complete-game effort, limiting El Camino to one run on four hits with five walks, one hit batter and four strikeouts while helping to end the Warriors' season at 39-9. Lutz and Heuberger each had three hits and Nuanez added two to pace Palomar's 10-hit attack.
College of San Mateo has won three tournament games without a loss and brings a 42-3 record to Sunday's final. The Bulldogs are the No. 2 seed from the North and Palomar would be required to win two games against San Mateo to claim a sixth state crown.